Harbin-Dalian High Speed Train Starts Operation Today

[cinoti]

SHENYANG, China, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- The world's first high-speed railway in areas with extremely low temperature, which runs through three provinces in northeastern China, started operation on Saturday as part of the country's efforts to revitalise the old industrial base, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

Four trains with the initial of "G" left the stations in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang, Changchun, capital of Jilin, Shenyang, capital of Liaoning, and Dalian, port city in Liaoning, simultaneously at 9am Saturday to mark the operation of the 921-km line.

The high-speed railway with designed speeds of up to 350 km per hour went into service after passing a two-month test during which the region had been hit by blizzards and harsh cold as low as 40 degrees Celsius below zero.

"The operation of Harbin-Dalian high-speed railway signals a great progress in the building of a 'four-vertical' and 'four-horizontal' high-speed rail network," said Lu Chunfang, vice minister of the Ministry of Railways.

So far, China has 8,600 kilometres of operating high-speed railways, ranking it first globally.

 

[cinoti]

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's first high-speed rail line in the country's freezing high-latitude regions is ready for service, the Ministry of Railways announced Saturday.

The railway linking northeastern Chinese city of Harbin and port city of Dalian will start service on Dec. 1, marking the world's first long high-speed line running through regions with extremely low temperatures during winter.


With speeds of up to 350 km per hour, the 921-kilometer railway will go through the country's three northeastern provinces -- Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, as part of the planned Beijing-Harbin high-speed railways.

It is one of the four north-south lines China aims to finish by 2015.

Unlike current high-speed lines in operation, temperatures along the new route are likely to plunge to 40 degrees Celsius below zero.

With snow and frozen land, the inclement climate conditions created numerous stumbling blocks during the construction process.

Zhou Li, a MOR official in charge of technology, said the ministry have conducted 22 research projects to target technology obstacles, including steady monitoring of the track condition and overhead contact system.

He said from September to November, the line has undergone 3,030 trial tests in various weather conditions, ranging from normal, low temperature, to heavy snow and even blizzards.

"Test statistics show safety can be guaranteed even if the trains are running at 300 km per hour in winter," he said.

To minimize the impact of extreme weather on the operation, the ministry has created emergency plans, such as speed reductions and temporary halts, to ensure safety.

Being the first of its kind, the ministry is being cautious by adopting two different schedules. The speed during the winter season (Dec. 1 to March 31) will be 200 km per hour, with the summer period (April 1 to Nov. 30) being 300 km per hour.

The ministry said ticket prices will vary depending on the schedule.

With 23 stops along the route, including that at the renowned industrial base Shenyang city, the line will cut travelling times between the two cities to about four hours from nine hours.

China aims to create a high-speed railway backbone network featuring four east-west lines and four north-south lines by the end of 2015, according to a five-year plan on China's transport system approved by the State Council, China's cabinet.

China currently has more than 6,800 km of high-speed railway lines that run at a speed above 200 km per hour. The total length is expected to reach about 18,000 km by 2015

 

[cinoti]

AC style for HSR

Harbin-Dalian is the world's first HSR operating under extreme cold weather.

Harbin winter can be as cold as -35 to -40C

Dalian to Shenyang, second class costs 110 RMB, some 900-1000 ruppes

special designed wagons and rails are anti-freeze.

 

[Ray]

Best of luck.

I hope the danger of the Frost heaving (frost heave) has been eliminated.

I believe northeast China's climate posed a challenge to the design and parts of the line was rebuilt due to deformation caused by frost heaving.

I am told that during winters (December to March) it will operate in a "winter mode", with the maximum running speed of 200 km/h (rather than 300 km/h in the "summer mode", during the rest of the year).

This is the second engineering challenge that China has achieved; the first one being the Tibet railways where the problem was due to perma frost!

 

[cinoti]

Outside temperature is already below zero

Gaojie---HSR stewardess meet before departure.

info desk

 

[Ray]

The stewardess will freeze with those frocks if the temperature is below zero.

 

[cinoti]

The stewardess will freeze with those frocks if the temperature is below zero.

Trains and stations are all ACed, actually, they all dress like this in the winter. Russian ladies even braver. They already got used to it.

these are some street shot in Harbin when day temperature is below -31C.

 

[cinoti]

Enjoying an icecream bar under -20 C.

Auntie had a good time by icy lake.

grandpa does some warm up before jumping in pool

Auntie, it is a basket ball!!!

 

[Ray]

Yes, I remember in the old times, it was important matter of prestige not to feel cold.

The Indians were made fun of because they wore warm clothing!

 

[satish007]

The stewardess will freeze with those frocks if the temperature is below zero.

Ray , you are so kind.

 

[cir]

A couple of more HSRs are set to open in the next 1-3 months.

When are they gonna start work on the Beijing-Shenyang HSR that will become the second fast link between the two cities?

 

[cir]

A few recent shots from Hongqiao Railway Station, Shanghai's largest among 5 stations located across the city:

A CRH380B train pulling into (or leaving?)Cangzhou West Station in Hebei province:

A more or less packed train:

 

[Ray]

This will be a great help for travellers during the Chinese New Year.

I presume the turnaround time will be less and so more frequency will the norm.

What are the arrangements for those who will be carrying suitcases which may be too large for the overhead luggage racks?

 

[cir]

 

[Ray]

[

Shown earlier.

Give some new photos.

Also how will the luggage larger than that which can be carried in the luggage rack be taken on board?

As a tourist we will have more that just a handbag and so the question.

 

[cir]

Enough of HSR pictures, let's have something new.

Lhasa-Singatse Line

Shuangqucun Tunnel(length 2128m, altitude 3850m above sea level, completed)

 

[cir]

The latest 25T cars(affectionally called the "green skins") for migrant workers, peasants and generally those who can't afford HSR:

 

[cir]

gosh, what went wrong above?

why am I not given the option for correction?

 

[cir]

Lots of HXD1 locomotives being overhauled at a depot:

 

[cir]

Beijing-Moscow International Train: