Saturday, September 21, 2024 The Ningbo-Zhoushan high-speed rail connects mainland China to the Zhoushan Islands, offering innovative transport solutions and boosting regional connectivity. China is investing 27 billion yuan ($4.12 billion) in the development of the Ningbo-Zhoushan high-speed railway in Zhejiang province.
This 77-kilometer project aims to connect the Zhoushan islands to the mainland, enhancing regional connectivity. Construction began in November 2022, with completion expected by 2028. The railway line will feature dual-purpose rail-road infrastructure, including the world’s longest combined railway-highway bridge and the third-longest undersea tunnel.
Once operational, the high-speed rail will support China’s Belt and Road Initiative and promote integration in the Yangtze River Delta, reducing travel times between Ningbo, Zhoushan, and Hangzhou to 26 and 77 minutes, respectively. The route begins at Ningbodong station and ends in Dinghai district on Zhoushan Island, incorporating seven stations. Trains will travel at speeds up to 250 km/h, significantly shortening travel times.
The Jintang Undersea Tunnel, a critical segment of the railway, spans 16.18 kilometers and reaches depths of 78 meters. Two tunnel boring machines, Dinghai and Yongzhou, are employed for the excavation and are set to meet mid-sea.
The Xihoumen railway-highway bridge, stretching 3.11 kilometers, will connect Jintang and Cezi Islands with a 1,488-meter main span, featuring dual railway tracks and three highway lanes on each side. Key players in the project include the China Railway Bridge Science Research Institute, overseeing the design, and China Railway’s 14th Bureau Group, responsible for undersea tunneling.
China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group and China Railway No.4 Engineering Group are constructing the Xihoumen bridge..
