Chongqing-Lanzhou high speed railway tunnel in Gansu completed

Construction workers celebrate finishing the tunnel on May 30. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xinchengzi Tunnel, located in Longnan city in Gansu province and one section of the Chongqing-Lanzhou high speed railway, was completed on May 31, after more than seven years of construction.

The tunnel is 9,164 meters in length and was constructed by No 11 Bureau of the China Railway Construction Corporation.

The Chongqing-Lanzhou high speed railway line is expected to be completed and opened for service by the end of 2016. It will enable high speed train travel between Chongqing municipality and Lanzhou city in Gansu province via Nanchong and Guangyuan in Sichuan province.

The Lanzhou-Chongqing railway project is estimated to need a total investment of 77.4 billion yuan ($11.74 billion), of which the Gansu Provincial Government is to invest about 43 billion yuan.

Once completed, the line will cut rail travel time between the two cities to 6.5 hours from 17.5 hours.

Edited by Peter Nordlinger