The Xiamen–Shenzhen railway, also known as the Xiashen railway, (Chinese: 厦深铁路) is a dual-track, electrified, high-speed rail line connecting the major coastal cities of Xiamen in Fujian and Shenzhen in Guangdong. The line has a total length of 502.4 km (312.2 mi) and forms part of China's Hangzhou–Fuzhou–Shenzhen passenger-dedicated railway.[1] Construction of the Xiashen line began on November 23, 2007, and the line entered into operation on December 28, 2013.[2]
Quick Facts Hangzhou–Fuzhou–Shenzhenhigh-speed railway Xiamen–Shenzhen Section 杭福深高速铁路厦深段, Overview ...
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The line is designed for trains running at top speeds of 250 kilometres per hour (155 mph), and has reduced travel time between Xiamen and Shenzhen from 11 hours to 3 hours and 40 minutes when start operation. Speed has been increased since April 10, 2021 and travel time reduced again to 2 hours and 30 minutes[1] Currently, CR Guangzhou offers C-train services from Shenzhen North to Shenzhen Pingshan, Huizhou South and Shanwei.
The Xiamen–Shenzhen railway is the first railway to be built on the southern coast of China. Most high-speed rail lines in China follow the routes of older conventional railways, but there were no railways on the southeast coast before the arrival 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 Xiashen Line proceed.
Construction of the Xiashen Line commenced in November 2007 and the line was initially expected to open in 2011. But the anticipated completion was repeatedly delayed due to further safety reviews and inspections after the Wenzhou High-Speed rail crash. In December 2012, the anticipated opening date was pushed to October 2013.[3] Test runs did not commence until November 2013.[4] The line officially opened on December 28, 2013 with trains running from Shenzhen North to Shanghai Hongqiao.[2][5]
In 2017, cumulative ridership of the line exceeded 53 million passengers, with daily services increased to 101 trains in each direction.[6]
In February 2021, it was announced that operating speeds on the line would be increased from 200 to 250 kilometres per hour (124 to 155 mph) starting on 10 April, resulting in the fastest journeys between Xiamen North and Shenzhen North being reduced to 2.5 hours.[7]
