Maoming–Zhanjiang high-speed railway


Maoming–Zhanjiang high-speed railway, also known as the Mao-Zhan Railway, is a Chinese high-speed railway located wholly in western Guangdong province. The project was funded jointly by the, now defunct, Ministry of Railways and the Guangdong Provincial Government. Construction commenced on March 21, 2009 and was opened to traffic on December 28, 2013. It is expected to enhance development in western Guangdong and provide a link to Hainan Island and its popular tourism market. Currently as of December 2015, despite being complete, no high-speed services use this line. Conventional trains will continue on all services along this line until the neighbouring high-speed projects will allow for fast services to destinations across Pearl River Delta.

Route

The railway roughly parallels the conventional speed Guangzhou–Maoming Railway with some sections being renovated, upgraded and improved for high-speed running or new trackage installed. Beginning in the city of Maoming at Maoming East railway station the line runs west, parallel to the Guangzhou–Maoming Railway, until it branches off to Maoming railway station. Continuing west it reaches Wuchuan, Tangzhui and Tangkou before terminating in Zhanjiang.

Main technical specifications

According to the plans, the Mao-Zhan Railway from Tangkou Station accesses the existing Litang-Zhanjiang Railway to reach downtown Zhanjiang. Therefore, from the perspective of planning and construction, the terminus for most services should be at Zhanjiang station in the urban centre. However, most of the current traffic deviates onto the Guangdong–Hainan Railway to stop at Zhanjiang West railway station, thus giving cause to some misunderstanding and inconvenience by travellers. Also from the perspective of railway administration, Zhanjiang Railway Station belongs to the Nanning Railway Bureau, while Zhanjiang West Railway Station belongs to the Guangzhou Railway Bureau.