Ningbo–Taizhou–Wenzhou Railway
Encyclopedia
The Ningbo–Taizhou–Wenzhou Railway is a dual-track
, electrified
, high-speed rail line
in Zhejiang Province on the eastern
coast of China
. The line, also known as the Yongtaiwen Railway, is named after the three primary cities along route: Ningbo
, whose abbreviated Chinese name is Yong, Taizhou
and Wenzhou
. The line has a total length of 282.4 kilometres and forms part of China's Southeast Coast High-Speed Rail Corridor. Construction began in October 2005, and the line opened to commercial service on September 28, 2009. Trains running on the line reach top speeds of 250 kilometres per hour, and the shortest trip between Ningbo and Wenzhou takes 1 hour 12 minutes.
, Ninghai, Sanmen, Linhai
, Taizhou, Huangyan
, Luqiao
, Wenling
, Yueqing
, Yongjia
, and Ouhai. At Ningbo, the line joins the Xiaoshan-Ningbo Railway and the Hangzhou-Ningbo Passenger Dedicated Line
. At Wenzhou, the line joins the Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway.
follow the routes of older conventional railroads, but there were no railways on the southeast coast prior to the building 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 Yongtaiwen Line proceed.
Construction began commenced in 2005 and track-laying was completed on May 15, 2009. Commercial service began on September 28, 2009.
train D3115, running from Hangzhou
to Fuzhou South
came to a halt over a viaduct near Wenzhou South
after losing its power. Shortly afterwards, CRH train D301, running from Beijing South
to Fuzhou
, rear-ended the stationary D3115. The accident led to 35 deaths and 211 injuried, raising concerns about the safety of the fast-expanding high-speed railway network of China.
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 Zhejiang Province on the 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...
coast of 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 Yongtaiwen Railway, is named after the three primary cities along route: Ningbo
Ningbo
Ningbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...
, whose abbreviated Chinese name is Yong, Taizhou
Taizhou, Zhejiang
Taizhou is a prefecture-level city in middle eastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China...
and Wenzhou
Wenzhou
Wenzhou is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. The area under its jurisdiction, which includes two satellite cities and six counties, had a population of 9,122,100 as of 2010....
. The line has a total length of 282.4 kilometres and forms part of China's Southeast Coast High-Speed Rail Corridor. Construction began in October 2005, and the line opened to commercial service on September 28, 2009. Trains running on the line reach top speeds of 250 kilometres per hour, and the shortest trip between Ningbo and Wenzhou takes 1 hour 12 minutes.
Route
The Ningbo–Taizhou–Wenzhou Railway follows the rugged but prosperous coast of Zhejiang. Major cities and towns along route include FenghuaFenghua
Fenghua is a county-level city in the north of Zhejiang province, China. It is under the jurisdiction of Ningbo prefecture-level city. The city and its administrative hinterlands has a population of over 480,000....
, Ninghai, Sanmen, Linhai
Linhai
Linhai is a city in Taizhou prefecture, Zhejiang Province situated on the banks of the Lin River in Eastern China. Its wall attracts many tourists...
, Taizhou, Huangyan
Huangyan District
Huangyan District is a district of Taizhou, a city in Zhejiang Province, China. Huangyan has an area of 988 km² and a population of approximately 570,000. It has an average annual precipitation of 1676mm and an annual average temperature of 17°C.-History:In 1989, Huangyan County was upgraded...
, Luqiao
Luqiao District
Luqiao District is a district of Taizhou in Zhejiang Province, China.The district has an area of 276.6 km² and a population of approximately 425,200....
, Wenling
Wenling
Wenling is a coastal county-level city in the municipal region of Taizhou, in southeastern Zhejiang province, China. It borders Luqiao and Huangyan to the north, Yuhuan to the south, Yueqing to the west, looks out to the East China Sea to the east...
, Yueqing
Yueqing
Yueqing , sometimes mis-pronounced and mis-spelled as "Leqing", is a county-level city under the administration of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, in eastern China...
, Yongjia
Yongjia County
Yongjia County is a county in the southeast of Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China, located north of the city proper of Wenzhou, which administers the county. The Nanxi River Scenic Area is located within this county, and the river has been nominated on the tentative list of UNESCO...
, and Ouhai. At Ningbo, the line joins the Xiaoshan-Ningbo Railway and the Hangzhou-Ningbo Passenger Dedicated Line
Hangyong Passenger Railway
Hangyong Passenger Railway is a planned railway between Hangzhou and Ningbo, that spans approximately 150 kilometers, with a design speed of . It is currently under construction, and is scheduled to open in December 2011....
. At Wenzhou, the line joins the Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway.
History
The Ningbo–Taizhou–Wenzhou Railway is the first railway to be built on the east coast of Zhejiang. 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 building 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 Yongtaiwen Line proceed.
Construction began commenced in 2005 and track-laying was completed on May 15, 2009. Commercial service began on September 28, 2009.
Accident
On 23 July 2011, CRHChina Railway High-speed
China Railway High-speed ; ) is the high-speed rail system operated by China Railways.Hexie Hao is the designation for high-speed trains running on this rail system. At the middle of the run, all trains were marked "CRH" on the centre of the head vehicle and the side of the walls of each vehicle...
train D3115, running from Hangzhou
Hangzhou Railway Station
Hangzhou Railway Station is located in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. It is affiliated to Shanghai Railway Bureau, and is also the terminal of Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway. The station is ranked first-class....
to Fuzhou South
Fuzhou 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:...
came to a halt over a viaduct near Wenzhou South
Wenzhou South Railway Station
Wenzhou South Railway Station is a railway station located in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China, on the Wenfu Railway & Yongtaiwen Railway which operated by Shanghai Railway Bureau, Ministry of Railways of the PRC.-History:...
after losing its power. Shortly afterwards, CRH train D301, running from Beijing South
Beijing south railway station
The current Beijing South Railway Station is a large railway station on the south side of Beijing that opened on August 1, 2008. The new station replaced the old Beijing South Station, first known as the Majiapu Railway Station and later known as the Yongdingmen Railway Station before 1988, which...
to Fuzhou
Fuzhou Railway Station
Fuzhou Railway Station is a railway station located in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China, on the Wenzhou–Fuzhou Railway, Nanping–Fuzhou Railway, and Fuxia Railway which operated by Nanchang Railway Bureau, Ministry of Railways of the PRC....
, rear-ended the stationary D3115. The accident led to 35 deaths and 211 injuried, raising concerns about the safety of the fast-expanding high-speed railway network of China.