The Xi’an–Shiyan high-speed railway began operations on June 30, 2026, covering 257 kilometers and serving seven stations. Trains run at speeds up to 350 kilometers per hour, connecting Xi’an in Shaanxi Province with Shiyan in western Hubei.
Engineering and Geographic Challenges
The new line crosses the Qinling Mountains, a major geographic barrier between northern and southern China. Over 90% of the railway’s length consists of bridges and tunnels to navigate the difficult terrain. A key feature is the Yunyang Hanjiang River Rail Bridge, a steel-truss cable-stayed structure with a 420-meter main span and a composite girder–truss deck design.
Travel Time Reductions and Network Integration
Travel time between Xi’an and Shiyan
has been reduced from more than six hours on older conventional lines to about one hour on the new high-speed route. The line starts at the newly opened Xi’an Dong station and links directly with the existing Wuhan–Shiyan high-speed railway, forming a continuous 350 km/h corridor between Xi’an and Wuhan. This connection cuts travel time between the two cities from 4 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 41 minutes.
Rolling Stock and Investment
China Railway Xi’an Group operates the line, primarily using CR400AF and CR400BF Fuxing trainsets traveling at 350 km/h. The project commenced construction in 2021 with a total investment of 47.7 billion
yuan. Lead designer Mao Lei characterized the railway as traversing “a natural geological museum” due to the route’s passage through diverse and significant geological features.
