Fuzhou–Xiamen Railway
Encyclopedia
The Fuzhou–Xiamen Railway is a dual-track
, electrified
, high-speed rail line
in eastern
China
. The line, also known as the Fuxia Railway, is named after its two terminal cities Fuzhou
and Xiamen
, both coastal cities in Fujian Province. The line has a total length of 274.9 kilometres and forms part of China's Southeast Coast High-Speed Rail Corridor. Construction began in 2005, and the line entered into operation on April 26, 2010. Trains running on the line reach top speeds of 250 kilometres per hour.
and Xiamen Station
including Fuqing
, Hanjiang
, Putian
, Xianyou, Quanzhou
, Jinjiang, Xiamen North
, Xinglin and Gaoqi. Bridges and tunnels account for over 37% of the line's total length.
follow the routes of older conventional railroads, but there were no railways on the southeast coast prior to the introduction of high-speed rail. Historically, the southeast coastal region relied on maritime transportation, and rugged terrain made railway construction more expensive. In the first half of the 20th century, warfare and political instability delayed railway construction. During the Cold War
, the southeast coast faced the threat of invasion from Republic of China on Taiwan and all railways were built inland. Only when political tensions across the Taiwan Strait
eased in the late 1990s did planning of the Fuzhou-Xiamen railway take place.
The project was approved by the State Council
in July 2004. Construction began in September 2005 and was completed in December 2009. Commercial operation began on April 26, 2010. Unlike later Chinese high-speed rail lines which were built to higher speed standards of 300 or 350 km/h, the Fuzhou-Xiamen Line was built to the 250km/h standard with the capacity for upgrade to 300 km/h.
The opening of high-speed rail line greatly reduced travel times by rail on the coast of Fujian. Passenger train service on the line average 200 km/h. The trip from Fuzhou to Xiamen on the non-stop express train takes 1 hr. 28 min. compared to the 10-hour train ride via railroads that cut inland. The trip by long-distance bus on the express highway takes 2.5 to 4 hours.
In the first year of operation from 2010 to 2011, the line carried over 18 million passengers, averaging 50,000 per day, and reported occupancy rates exceeding 100%
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
, electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
, high-speed rail line
High-speed rail in China
High-speed rail in China refers to any commercial train service in the China with an average speed of or higher. By that measure, China has the world's longest high-speed rail network with about of routes in service as of June 2011 including of rail lines with top speeds of...
in eastern
East China
East China is a geographical and a loosely-defined cultural region that covers the eastern coastal area of China.Although an intangible and loosely defined concept, for administrative and governmental purposes, the region is defined by the government of the People's Republic of China to include...
China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The line, also known as the Fuxia Railway, is named after its two terminal cities Fuzhou
Fuzhou
Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
and Xiamen
Xiamen
Xiamen , also known as Amoy , is a major city on the southeast coast of the People's Republic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province with an area of and population of 3.53 million...
, both coastal cities in Fujian Province. The line has a total length of 274.9 kilometres and forms part of China's Southeast Coast High-Speed Rail Corridor. Construction began in 2005, and the line entered into operation on April 26, 2010. Trains running on the line reach top speeds of 250 kilometres per hour.
Route
The Fuzhou-Xiamen Railway follows the rugged but prosperous coast of Fujian with 14 stations between Fuzhou South StationFuzhou South Railway Station
Fuzhou South Railway Station is a railway station located in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China, on the Wenfu Railway and Fuxia Railway which operated by Nanchang Railway Bureau, Ministry of Railways of the PRC.-History:...
and Xiamen Station
Xiamen Railway Station
Xiamen Railway Station is a railway station located in Xiamen, Fujian, China, on the Yingxia Railway & Fuxia Railway which operated by Nanchang Railway Bureau, Ministry of Railways of the PRC.-External links:*...
including Fuqing
Fuqing
Fuqing is a county-level city of Fuzhou in Fujian, China.It is located in the eastern part of the province, borders the East China Sea, just southeast of Fuzhou and 45 kilometers from Changle International Airport of Fuzhou. Fuqing city has geographical advantage, for its location between...
, Hanjiang
Hanjiang District, Putian
Hanjiang District, Putian is a district of Fujian Province, China. It is under the administration of Putian city....
, Putian
Putian
Putian is a prefecture-level city in eastern Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders Fuzhou City to the north, Quanzhou City to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east.-Administration:...
, Xianyou, Quanzhou
Quanzhou
Quanzhou is a prefecture-level city in Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders all other prefecture-level cities in Fujian but two and faces the Taiwan Strait...
, Jinjiang, Xiamen North
Xiamen North Railway Station
Xiamen North Railway Station is a railway station located in Xiamen, Fujian, China, on the Fuxia Railway which operated by Nanchang Railway Bureau, Ministry of Railways of the PRC.-History:...
, Xinglin and Gaoqi. Bridges and tunnels account for over 37% of the line's total length.
History
The Fuzhou-Xiamen Railway is the first railway between Fujian's two important most cities, Fuzhou, the provincial capital, and Xiamen, the province's most prosperous city. Most high-speed rail lines in ChinaHigh-speed rail in China
High-speed rail in China refers to any commercial train service in the China with an average speed of or higher. By that measure, China has the world's longest high-speed rail network with about of routes in service as of June 2011 including of rail lines with top speeds of...
follow the routes of older conventional railroads, but there were no railways on the southeast coast prior to the introduction of high-speed rail. Historically, the southeast coastal region relied on maritime transportation, and rugged terrain made railway construction more expensive. In the first half of the 20th century, warfare and political instability delayed railway construction. During the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the southeast coast faced the threat of invasion from Republic of China on Taiwan and all railways were built inland. Only when political tensions across the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
eased in the late 1990s did planning of the Fuzhou-Xiamen railway take place.
The project was approved by the State Council
State Council
State Council may refer to:In politics:* State Council of the Soviet Union, was the chief administrative authority of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics...
in July 2004. Construction began in September 2005 and was completed in December 2009. Commercial operation began on April 26, 2010. Unlike later Chinese high-speed rail lines which were built to higher speed standards of 300 or 350 km/h, the Fuzhou-Xiamen Line was built to the 250km/h standard with the capacity for upgrade to 300 km/h.
The opening of high-speed rail line greatly reduced travel times by rail on the coast of Fujian. Passenger train service on the line average 200 km/h. The trip from Fuzhou to Xiamen on the non-stop express train takes 1 hr. 28 min. compared to the 10-hour train ride via railroads that cut inland. The trip by long-distance bus on the express highway takes 2.5 to 4 hours.
In the first year of operation from 2010 to 2011, the line carried over 18 million passengers, averaging 50,000 per day, and reported occupancy rates exceeding 100%
Competiveness
Occupancy rate on the Fuxia Line is among the highest of China's high-speed railways. The line offers competitive fares and passes through large cities with well-developed public transportation and high demand for intercity travel. As of February 2011, a regular ticket from Fuzhou to Xiamen costs ¥85, and a first class ticket costs ¥103. Drivers making the same trip by express highway will pay ¥300-400 including gas and tolls, and spend 1.5 more hours on the road. During the Lunar New Year festival, the peak season for intercity travel, the number of long distance bus trips between Fuzhou and Xiamen fell from 98 per day in 2010 to just 7 per day in 2011. Long distance bus ridership from Fuzhou to Xiamen fell by 83%, to Quanzhou by 63%, to Jinjiang by 50%, to Shishi by 25% and to Putian by 38%.See also
- List of railways in China
- Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway
- Xiamen-Shenzhou Railway