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China opened a bullet train line in Gansu, boosting regional and economic connections.
China reached another significant milestone in the development of its railway infrastructure with the inauguration, at the end of June, of a new bullet train section in Gansu province, in the northwest of the country. The new line connects the provincial capital, Lanzhou, to the city of Wuwei, stretching 193 km and operating with trains reaching speeds of up to 250 km per hour. This section is part of a larger project that aims to integrate the Northwest region, including the capital of Xinjiang, Urumqi, into the national railway network.
Expanding China's bullet train railway network
The Lanzhou-Wuwei line not only increases regional connectivity, but also marks the exceeding of targets set for the expansion of bullet train railways in China by 2030.
The country already has an extensive network of 45 thousand km of bullet train lines, the result of a strategic plan initiated in 2004 with the Medium and Long Term Railway Network Plan.
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This plan was revised in 2016 to bring forward objectives, including the creation of the so-called “eight verticals and eight horizontals”, which aim to significantly improve interconnection between regions.
Social and economic impacts of the new line
The development of this infrastructure is not limited to improving urban mobility.
It also plays a crucial role in rural revitalization and poverty reduction, supporting China's ongoing program to eradicate extreme poverty.
According to Manmohan Parkash, a transport specialist at the Asian Development Bank, the discipline and qualifications of the Chinese workforce have been fundamental to the success of the projects, which introduce new efficiency techniques and practices into railway management.
Local benefits and tourist potential for the new bullet train line
The new high-speed line not only increases passenger transport capacity, but also opens up new opportunities for freight transport, directly benefiting regions such as Tianzhu, an ethnic Tibetan-majority county known for its agriculture, livestock farming and tourism.
The opening of a station in this region promises to boost the sale of local products, such as yak meat, contributing to local economic development.
Hao Yuqin, from the Tianzhu Cultural Tourism Company, highlights the potential of the new station to attract tourists and encourage new businesses, in addition to strengthening the regional economy.
The expectation is that high-speed infrastructure will not only facilitate access to services and markets, but also help contain internal migration, offering opportunities within the communities themselves.
The future of China after the inauguration of this project
With the success of these projects, China not only reinforces its position as a global leader in transportation infrastructure, but also sets new standards for sustainable and inclusive economic development.
The continued expansion of the bullet train rail network not only connects cities and regions, but also strengthens commercial and cultural ties within the country and beyond its borders.
The opening of the Lanzhou-Wuwei line represents not only a technological breakthrough, but also a significant step towards a more integrated and prosperous future for China and its peripheral regions.
