Work has begun on a 264km section of Chongqing-Shanghai Railway Line that connects Chongqing and Lichuan, Hubei province. It is the most challenging of the entire line as it winds its way through mountainous terrain. About 80 per cent of the section will comprise bridges and tunnels. The construction will cost more than Rmb27bn, shared by Chongqing government and the Ministry of Railways. Upon completion in 2013, it is expected to give a big boost to the local economies along the line, which have long been inhibited by poor transport connections.
The 2,082km Chongqing-Shanghai Railway Line, via Wuhan, will be a landmark project connecting east, middle and west parts of the country. By 2013, the journey time between Chongqing and Shanghai will be more than halved to eight hours.