Xinjiang Uygur intends to build trans-China railway to Bohai Sea ports

THE northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region plans to upgrade its northern inter-regional railway with an ambitious rail project to build the shortest rail line from central Asia region to Bohai Sea, reports Xinhua.

According to the upgrade plan, the regional government aims to develop it to be the nearest rail route centred on the Northern Xinjiang Rail in central Asia region to Bohai Bay. After that upgrade, the railway will connect to the Bohai Sea in the east through Ejina and Baotou regions and extend to central and west Asia even Europe in the west through Zhundong-Fuyun-Beitun-Jeminay checkpoint and Zhundong, Karamay, Tacheng, Baketu checkpoint. Construction is expected to start before 2015 as it is in the current five-year plan.

Investment in the Xinjiang rail infrastructure is expected to reach CNY120 billion (US$19.51) to CNY150 billion during the 12th Five-year Plan period. The region also expects track to run 8,200 kilometres by 2015.