Beijing–Zhangjiakou intercity railway explained

Beijing–Zhangjiakou intercity railway should not be confused with Beijing–Zhangjiakou Railway.

Beijing–Zhangjiakou intercity railway
Other Name:
  • Beijing–Zhangjiakou high-speed railway
  • Beijing-Zhangjiakou section of Beijing–Baotou passenger-dedicated line
Native Name:Chinese: 京张客运专线<br>京包客运专线京张段<br>京张城际铁路
Native Name Lang:zh-hans
Image Alt:Train passing
Type:High-speed rail
System: China Railway High-speed
Status:In operation
Locale:Beijing
Hebei province
Start:Beijing North
End:Zhangjiakou
Stations:10
Routes:1
Open: (Main line & Chongli branch)
(Yanqing branch)
Owner:Jingzhang Intercity Railway Co. Ltd.
Operator: CR Beijing
Depot:Beijing North Depot
Speed Km/H:350
Electrification: (Overhead line)
Map State:collapsed

The Beijing–Zhangjiakou intercity railway, also known as the Jingzhang intercity railway, Jingzhang high speed railway, Jingzhang section of Beijing-Baotou PDL, is a driverless high-speed railway between Beijing and Zhangjiakou in Hebei province, China. The line was opened on 30 December 2019, and is the world's first fully driverless high speed railway,[1] shortening the traveling time from Beijing to Zhangjiakou from 3 hours 7 minutes to 47 minutes.[2] It forms part of both the longer Beijing–Lanzhou corridor and the Beijing–Zhangjiakou–Datong–Taiyuan branch of the Beijing–Kunming corridor.

The main line has 10 stations. The Chongli Branch has two more stations, Zhaochuan South (reserved station) and Taizicheng. The Yanqing branch has another station, Yanqing railway station. The main line and the Chongli branch opened on December 30, 2019. The Yanqing branch opened on December 1, 2020.[3]

This route has a length of of double tracked high speed rail, with a maximum speed of 350km/h between Badaling West block post and Donghuayuan North. However, within urban Beijing in the south of Changping station, the maximum speed is restricted to 80,, respectively.[4] The rest of the line has a maximum speed of 250km/h.

The railway was originally scheduled to start construction in 2009.[5] However, because the Ministry of Railways adjusted the high-speed rail construction program, this was postponed until 2014.[6] This railway connects with the Zhangjiakou–Hohhot high-speed railway and Datong–Zhangjiakou high-speed railway in Zhangjiakou.

Route description

Leading north from Beijing North railway station the line passes the stations of Qinghe, Shahe and Changping. It enters a tunnel under the Great Wall at Badaling and arriving at Badaling Great Wall railway station, avoiding the famous switchback, zigzag conventional railway line. North of this, a branch from the tunnel connects to Yanqing in preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games venues there. After entering Hebei province, there is a station at Donghuayuan North and the line runs next to the Beijing-Zhangjiakou highway across the Guanting Reservoir before arriving at the stations at Huailai, Xiahuayuan North and Xuanhua North before terminating at the existing Zhangjiakou railway station.

The total length of this project was, of which is in Beijing and is in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province. The project had an estimated investment cost of 23.62 billion Yuan. Construction of the unit was carried out by the "Beijing-Zhangjiakou Intercity Railway Limited", a company incorporated in November 7, 2013. Registered capital of 100 million yuan. Shareholders are in this company are the Beijing Railway Bureau (60.02%), Beijing Infrastructure Investment Co. Ltd. (formerly the Beijing Subway Group Co., Ltd.) (32.42%) and Zhangjiakou Winton Holdings Limited with 7.56% of total shares.

Stations

Main Line

Station
Name
ChineseTotal distance (km)Travel TimeHigh-speed rail
transfers
Metro and local rail
transfers
PlatformsTracks served
by platform
Location
Beijing North00 (via)611BeijingXicheng
Qinghe11
48Haidian
Shahe21Beijing Northeastern Circle Railway
Beijing Northwestern Circle Railway
1Changping
Changping31Beijing–Baotou railway
Beijing–Tongliao railway
28
Badaling Great Wall56Yanqing Branch
(via Badaling West block post)
(via Badaling)24Yanqing
Donghuayuan North7724HebeiZhangjiakouHuailai
Huailai9824
Xiahuayuan North125Chongli Branch25Xiahuayuan
Xuanhua North15224Xuanhua
Zhangjiakou172Zhangjiakou–Hohhot high-speed railway
Datong–Zhangjiakou high-speed railway
Jingbao Railway
Zhangji Railway
616Qiaodong

Yanqing Branch

Yanqing branch opened on December 1, 2020.

Station
Name
ChineseTotal distance (km)Travel TimeHigh-speed rail
transfers
Metro and local rail
transfers
PlatformsTracks served
by platform
Location
Badaling Great Wall56 (via Badaling)24BeijingYanqing
Badaling West block post八达岭西线路所Main Line
Yanqing
Kangzhuang-Yanqing railway
34

Chongli Branch

Also known as "Chongli railway" or "Winter Olympics Branch". The Chongli branch opened in December 2019 from to . A extension from to opened on 6 January 2022.[7] [8] The section from Taizicheng to Chongli is also part of the future Taizicheng-Xilinhot railway.

Station
Name
ChineseTotal distance (km)Travel TimeHigh-speed rail
transfers
Metro and local rail
transfers
PlatformsTracks served
by platform
Location
Xiahuayuan North125Main Line25HebeiZhangjiakouXiahuayuan
Zhaochuan South (reserved station)Xuanhua
Taizicheng17734Chongli
Chongli193Taizicheng-Xilinhot railway (U/C)

2022 Winter Olympic Games

The Beijing-Zhangjiakou intercity railway is considered a crucial and vital link between all three venue clusters for the 2022 Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing. The urban area of Beijing will host most of the indoor skating, ice hockey and curling events plus the opening and closing ceremonies. Yanqing District, a suburban district of Beijing, will host Alpine skiing plus the luge and bobsleigh. Zhangjiakou, a city in Hebei Province, will host Nordic skiing, snowboarding and freestyle skiing. This railway places all venues within one hour of each other.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Passengers flock to experience first trip. Zhang Yu. China Daily. 2019-12-31.
  2. News: 何凡 . 京张高铁张家口站正式运营 张家口全面跨入高铁时代 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191230195717/http://www.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2019-12/30/c_1125405373.htm . dead . December 30, 2019 . 31 December 2019 . 新华网 (Xinhua Agency) . 2019-12-30.
  3. Web site: 京张高铁延庆支线今晨通车 清河到延庆只用26分钟. 2020-12-01.
  4. Web site: http://zhengwu.beijing.gov.cn/bmfu/bmts/t1409565.htm . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104520/http://zhengwu.beijing.gov.cn/bmfu/bmts/t1409565.htm . dead . 2016-03-04 . zh:京张高铁正线设10座车站 全长174公里-便民提示-首都之窗-北京市政务门户网站. 2016-03-04. 2018-04-22.
  5. Web site: http://zhengwu.beijing.gov.cn/bmfu/bmts/t1069072.htm . zh:京张京唐城际铁路下半年动工 . 2015-08-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923140310/http://zhengwu.beijing.gov.cn/bmfu/bmts/t1069072.htm . 2015-09-23 . dead .
  6. Web site: http://bjyouth.ynet.com/3.1/1201/16/6705784.html . zh:京沈、京张、京唐城际铁路将缓建 . Beijing Youth Paper (Chinese: 北京青年报) . 2012-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120618101307/http://bjyouth.ynet.com/3.1/1201/16/6705784.html . 2012-06-18 .
  7. Web site: 崇礼线太子城至崇礼段开通运营.
  8. Web site: 崇礼铁路太子城至崇礼段开通运营.