China's high-speed rail system project is ambitious. In 2008, the MOR planned to build 25,000 km (16,000 mi) of high-speed railways with trains reaching normal speeds of 350 km/h. China invested $50 billion on its high-speed rail system in 2009 and the total construction cost of the high-speed rail system is $300 billion. The main operator of regular high-speed train services is China Railway High-Speed (CRH).
China's conventional high-speed railway network is made up of four components:
- upgraded pre-existing rail lines that can accommodate high-speed trains,
- a national grid of mostly passenger dedicated HSR lines (PDLs),
- other newly built conventional rail lines, mostly in western China, that can carry high-speed passenger and freight trains, and
- certain regional "intercity" HSR lines.
Most of the rail lines now under construction belong to one of the three latter categories.
In 2016, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) planned to build "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed railway network, which replaced "Four Vertical and Four Horizontal".
The following is a list of High-speed railway lines in China.
National "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed railway network
The national "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed railway network (simplified Chinese: “八纵八横”高速铁路主通道; traditional Chinese: “八縱八橫”高速鐵路主通道; pinyin: “Bā Zòng Bā Héng” Gāosù Tiělù Zhǔ Tōngdào) is a proposed high-speed railway network, which according to the "Mid-to-Long Term Railway Network Plan" (revised in 2016), includes eight verticals passageways and eight horizontals passageways.
The proposed lines include:
Eight verticals passageways
Coastal Passageway (沿海通道): Dalian (Dandong)-Qinhuangdao-Tianjin-Dongying-Weifang-Qingdao (Yantai)-Lianyungang-Yancheng-Nantong-Shanghai-Ningbo-Fuzhou-Xiamen-Shenzhen-Zhanjiang-Beihai (Fangchenggang). The route includes Dandong–Dalian Intercity Railway, Harbin–Dalian High-Speed Railway (Shenyang-Dalian section), Qinhuangdao–Shenyang High-Speed Railway, Tianjin–Qinhuangdao High-Speed Railway, Tianjin–Dongying Railway, Dongying-Weifang Railway, Jinan–Qingdao Second High-Speed Railway (Weifang-Qingdao section), Qingdao–Rongcheng Intercity Railway (Qingdao-Yantai section), Qingdao–Lianyungang Railway, Lianyungang–Yancheng Railway, Xinyi–Changxing Railway (Yancheng-Hai'an section), Nanjing–Qidong Railway (Hai'an-Nantong section), Shanghai–Nantong Railway, Shanghai–Hangzhou Passenger Railway, Hangzhou–Ningbo High-Speed Railway, Ningbo–Taizhou–Wenzhou Railway, Wenzhou–Fuzhou Railway, Fuzhou–Xiamen Railway, Xiamen–Shenzhen Railway, Shenzhen–Maoming High Speed Railway, Maoming–Zhangjiang Railway, Hepu–Zhangjiang Railway, Qinzhou–Beihai High-Speed Railway and Qinzhou-Fangchenggang Railway. Branch: Weifang–Laixi High Speed Railway.
Beijing-Shanghai Passageway (京沪通道): Beijing-Tianjin-Jinan-Nanjing-Shanghai (Hangzhou), including Nanjing-Hangzhou, Bengbu-Hefei-Hangzhou, paralleling with Beijing-Tianjin-Dongying-Weifang-Linyi-Huai'an-Yangzhou-Nantong-Shanghai. The route includes Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway (main line), Nanjing–Hangzhou Passenger Railway, Hefei–Bengbu High-Speed Railway and Shangqiu–Hangzhou High-Speed Railway (Hefei-Hangzhou section, branch). The east line includes Beijing–Tianjin Intercity Railway, Tianjin–Dongying Railway, Dongying–Weifang Railway, Weifang–Linyi Railway, Linyi–Huai'an Railway, Lianyungang–Zhenjiang High-Speed Railway, Nanjing–Qidong Railway (Hai'an-Nantong section) and Shanghai–Nantong Railway.
Beijing-Hong Kong (Taipei) Passageway (京港（台）通道): Beijing-Hengshui-Heze-Shangqiu-Fuyang-Hefei (Huanggang)-Jiujiang-Nanchang-Ganzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong (Kowloon). The main line includes Beijing–Bazhou High-Speed Railway, Bazhou–Shangqiu High-Speed Railway, Shangqiu–Hangzhou High-Speed Railway (Shangqiu-Hefei section), Hefei–Jiujiang Railway, Fuyang–Huanggang–Jiujiang High-Speed Railway, Nanchang–Jiujiang Intercity Railway, Nanchang–Ganzhou High-Speed Railway, Ganzhou–Shenzhen High-Speed Railway and Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway (Shenzhen-Hong Kong section). The branch line includes Hefei–Fuzhou High-Speed Railway, Nanchang–Fuzhou Railway, Yongtai–Putian Railway, and Pingtan–Taipei High-Speed Railway, which throughs Taiwan Strait Tunnel.
Beijing-Harbin, Beijing-Hong Kong (Macau) Passageway (京哈～京港澳通道): Harbin-Changchun-Shenyang-Beijing-Shijiazhuang-Zhengzhou-Wuhan-Changsha-Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong, and Guangzhou-Zhuhai-Macau. The route includes Harbin–Dalian High-Speed Railway (Harbin-Shenyang section), Beijing–Shenyang High-Speed Railway, Beijing–Shijiazhuang High-Speed Railway, Shijiazhuang–Wuhan High-Speed Railway, Wuhan–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway and Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway. The branch line includes Guangzhou–Zhuhai Intercity Railway and Zhuhai–Macau Intercity Railway.
Hohhot-Nanning Passageway (呼南通道): Hohhot-Taiyuan- Zhengzhou-Xiangyang-Changde-Yiyang-Shaoyang-Yongzhou-Guilin-Nanning. The routes includes Beijing–Baotou Railway (Hohhot-Datong section), Datong–Puzhou Railway (Datong-Taiyuan section), Taiyuan–Jiaozuo High-Speed Railway, Zhengzhou–Jiaozuo Intercity Railway, Zhengzhou–Wanzhou High-Speed Railway, Xiangyang–Yichang Railway, Yichang–Changde Railway, Changsha–Yiyang–Changde Intercity Railway, Yiyang–Shaoyang Railway, Shaoyang–Yongzhou Intercity Railway, Hengyang–Liuzhou Intercity Railway (Yongzhou-Guilin section), Hunan–Guangxi Railway (Guilin-Liuzhou section), and Liuzhou–Nanning Intercity Railway.
Beijing-Kunming Passageway (京昆通道): Beijing-Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan-Xi'an-Chengdu (Chongqing)-Kunming, including Beijing-Taiyuan-Zhangjiakou-Datong. The route includes Beijing–Shijiazhuang High-Speed Railway, Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan high-speed railway, Datong–Xi'an Passenger Railway (Taiyuan-Xi'an section), Xi'an–Chengdu High-Speed Railway, Chengdu–Kunming Railway, Chongqing–Kunming High-Speed Railway. The branch line includes Beijing–Baotou Railway (Beijing-Datong section) and Datong–Xi'an Passenger Railway (Datong-Taiyuan section).
Baotou (Yinchuan)-Hainan Passageway (包（银）海通道): Baotou-Yan'an-Xi'an-Chongqing-Guiyang-Nanning-Zhanjiang-Haikou (Sanya). The route includes Baotou–Xi'an Railway, Chongqing–Xi'an High-Speed Railway, Chongqing–Guizhou High-Speed Railway, Guizhou–Nanning High-Speed Railway, Nanning–Qinzhou Railway, Qinzhou–Beihai High-Speed Railway, Hepu–Zhanjiang Railway, Guangdong–Hainan Railway, Hainan Eastern Ring High-Speed Railway, and Hainan Western Ring High-Speed Railway. The branch line is Xi'an–Yinchuan Railway.
Lanzhou (Xining)-Guangzhou Passageway (兰（西）广通道): Lanzhou (Xining)-Chengdu (Chongqing)-Guiyang-Guangzhou. The route includes Chengdu–Lanzhou Railway, Xining–Chengdu Railway, Chengdu–Guiyang High-Speed Railway, and Guiyang–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway.
Eight horizontals passageways
Suifenhe-Manzhouli Passageway (绥满通道): Suifenhe-Mudanjiang-Harbin-Qiqihar-Hailar-Manzhouli. The route includes Mudanjiang–Suifenhe Railway, Harbin–Mudanjiang Intercity Railway, Harbin–Qiqihar Intercity Railway, and Qiqihar–Manzhouli Railway.
Beijing-Lanzhou Passageway (京兰通道): Beijing-Hohhot-Yinchuan-Lanzhou. The route includes Beijing-Zhangjiakou Intercity Railway, Zhangjiakou–Hohhot High-Speed Railway, Jining–Baotou Railway (Hohhot-Baotou section), and Baotou–Lanzhou Railway.
Qingdao-Yinchuan Passageway (青银通道): Qingdao-Jinan-Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan-Yinchuan. Most parts of the route are the same as Qingdao–Taiyuan high-speed railway under "Mid-to-Long Term Railway Network Plan" (revised in 2008). The other route includes Taiyuan–Zhongwei–Yinchuan Railway.
Europe-Asia Transport Passageway (陆桥通道): Lianyungang-Xuzhou-Zhengzhou-Xi'an-Lanzhou-Xining-Urumqi. Most parts of the route are the same as Xuzhou–Lanzhou High-Speed Railway under "Mid-to-Long Term Railway Network Plan" (revised in 2008). The other routes include Lianyungang–Xuzhou High-Speed Railway and Lanzhou–Xinjiang High-Speed Railway.
Yangtze River Passageway (沿江通道): Shanghai-Nanjing-Hefei-Wuhan-Chongqing-Chengdu, including Nanjing-Anqing-Jiujiang-Wuhan-Yichang-Chongqing, and Wanzhou-Dazhou-Suining-Chengdu. Most parts of the route are the same as Shanghai–Wuhan–Chengdu high-speed railway under "Mid-to-Long Term Railway Network Plan" (revised in 2008). The other routes include Nanjing–Anqing Intercity Railway, Anqing Railway, Hefei–Jiujiang Railway (Anqing-Jiujiang section), Wuhan–Jiujiang Passenger Railway, Wuhan–Shiyan Intercity Railway (Wuhan-Xiangyang section), Zhengzhou–Wanzhou High-Speed Railway (Xiangyang-Wanzhou section), Chongqing–Wanzhou Intercity Railway, and Chengdu–Chongqing Intercity Railway.
Shanghai-Kunming Passageway (沪昆通道): Shanghai-Hangzhou-Nanchang-Changsha-Guiyang-Kunming. The route is the same as Shanghai–Kunming High-Speed Railway under "Mid-to-Long Term Railway Network Plan" (revised in 2008).
Xiamen-Chongqing Passageway (厦渝通道): Xiamen-Longyan-Ganzhou-Changsha-Changde-Zhangjiajie-Qianjiang-Chongqing. The route includes Longyan–Xiamen Railway, Ganzhou–Longyan Railway, Ganzhou–Changsha Railway, and Chongqing–Changsha High-Speed Railway.
Guangzhou-Kunming Passageway (广昆通道): Guangzhou-Nanning-Kunming. The route includes Nanning–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway and Nanning–Kunming High-Speed Railway.
National "Four Vertical and Four Horizontal" high-speed railway network (defunct)
The centerpiece of the MOR's expansion into high-speed rail is a new national high-speed rail grid that is overlaid onto the existing railway network. According to the MOR's "Mid-to-Long Term Railway Network Plan" (revised in 2008), this grid is composed of eight high-speed rail corridors, four running north-south and four going east-west, and has a total of 12,000 km. Most of the new lines follow the routes of existing trunk lines and are designated for passenger travel only. They are known as passenger-designated lines (PDL). Several sections of the national grid, especially along the southeast coastal corridor, were built to link cities that had no previous rail connections. Those sections will carry a mix of passenger and freight. High-speed trains on HSR Corridors can generally reach 300–350 km/h (190–220 mph). On mixed-use HSR lines, passenger train service can attain peak speeds of 200–250 km/h (120–160 mph). This ambitious national grid project was planned to be built by 2020, but the government's stimulus has expedited time-tables considerably for many of the lines. This plan is replaced by the "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed railway network.
Completed lines Partially completed lines. Click [show] for details.
Four North-South HSR corridors and constituent lines
Four East-West HSR corridors and constituent lines
According to the "Mid-to-Long Term Railway Network Plan" (revised in 2008), the MOR plans to build over 40,000 km (25,000 mi) of railway in order to expand the railway network in western China and to fill gaps in the networks of eastern and central China. Some of these new railways are being built to accommodate speeds of 200–250 km/h (120–160 mph) for both passengers and freight. These are also considered high-speed rail though they are not part of the national HSR grid or Intercity High Speed Rail.
Completed lines Partially completed lines. Click [show] for details.
Class I high-speed railways
Intercity railways are designed to provide regional high-speed rail service between large cities and metropolitan areas that are generally within the same province. They are built with the approval of the central government but are financed and operated largely by local governments with limited investment and oversight from the China Rail Corporation. Some intercity lines run parallel to other high-speed rail lines but serve more stations along the route. Intercity HSR service speeds range from 200–350 km/h (120–220 mph).
Operational lines are marked with green background.
