Really improved efficiency! -Numbers- read the surging power of railway passenger and freight transportation

In an insightful update from the China National Railway Group, reporters learned that in the third quarter of 2024, the national railway freight volume exceeded 1 billion tons, marking a historic high for cargo shipments in a single quarter.

According to the data, the railway system transported a total of 1.004 billion tons of goods during this period, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 3.8%. On average, there were 182,000 freight cars loaded each day, which represents a growth of 4.1%.

Key energy transportation corridors, including the Daqin, Haoji, and Lanzhou-Xinjiang railways, have been running heavy freight trains to enhance efficiency. Coal shipments reached 520 million tons, up by 3.5% compared to the same time last year, with the transportation of coal from Xinjiang seeing an impressive 38% increase, totaling 21.59 million tons.

The national railway has also rolled out high-quality express freight services, aimed at building a countrywide fast cargo logistics network. The combination of “train + road transport” for multi-modal transport has now reached all provincial capitals, while the “train + shipping” services have been extended to major ports across the nation.

Impressively, the railways dispatched 9.58 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers in the third quarter, marking a significant 17.3% increase year-on-year. Additionally, enhancements to the 95306 platform’s smart service capabilities have led to over 97% of electronic shipping documents being utilized, resulting in a cumulative savings of approximately 42.34 billion yuan for businesses.

Moreover, an integral part of the “Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal” high-speed rail network along the coast, the Weifang to Yantai high-speed rail line is set to officially commence operations on October 21. Once operational, this line will allow travelers to journey from Weifang North Station to Yantai Station in just 78 minutes.

The Weifang-Yantai high-speed railway stretches 237 kilometers, linking Weifang’s Chángyì Station, passing through Qingdao, and reaching the Zhi’fu Station in Yantai. Designed for speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour, it features nine stations along its route, allowing cities like Laizhou and Zhaoyuan to connect to the national high-speed network, further facilitating communication within the Shandong Peninsula urban cluster.

Entirely funded by the Shandong provincial government, the construction and operational management of the Weifang-Yantai line was entrusted to the China National Railway Group’s Jinan Bureau. Upon its opening, up to 20 high-speed trains will run daily, enabling trips from Weifang North Station to Laizhou, Zhaoyuan, and Yantai in as little as 24, 34, and 78 minutes, respectively.

The inauguration of the Weifang-Yantai high-speed railway will significantly ease travel for passengers along the route, ultimately promoting greater connectivity within the region.