Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway starts full-line trial operation

The high-speed railway linking Xi’an City, southwest China's Shaanxi Province and Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province, on Tuesday started full-line trial operation, according to China Railway Xi'an Bureau Group.

At 08:39 on Tuesday, the 55302 test train departed from Xi'an East Railway Station, heading along the main line of the Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway toward Shiyan East Railway Station.

A trial operation of a high-speed rail line is a comprehensive, full-process live test conducted before official operation. It simulates real operational standards to verify system performance under near-actual conditions.

"By testing train running times and equipment operating state, we will calibrate and verify all theoretical parameters against on-site conditions, to create the conditions for safe and punctual train operation in the future," said Wang Hongtao, deputy director of the transport department of China Railway Xi'an Bureau Group.

The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway starts from Xi'an East Railway Station, passes through the cities of Xi'an and Shangluo in Shaanxi, as well as Shiyan in Hubei, and connects to the already-operating Wuhan-Shiyan high-speed railway at Shiyan East Railway Station. The newly built main line spans approximately 256 kilometers with a design speed of 350 kilometers per hour.

"The entire line of the Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway runs through the Qinling Mountains, with extensive sections of bridges and tunnels. Bridges and tunnels account for over 90 percent of the railway's total length. We strictly followed fine-construction standards, and all track indicators have met the operational requirements for a speed of 350 kilometers per hour," said Fu Wei, chief engineer of the Xi'an high-speed railway infrastructure section of China Railway Xi'an Bureau Group.

The line is a key part of China's national high-speed railway network. Starting from its north terminus, Xi'an East Railway Station, it connects the Xi'an-Yan'an and Xi'an-Ankang high-speed railways, and is linked via connecting lines to major trunk routes such as the Xuzhou-Lanzhou high-speed railway. Its southern end seamlessly integrates with the already-operating Wuhan-Shiyan high-speed railway, forming a fast passenger corridor between Xi'an and Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei.

Upon operation, the railway service is expected to shorten travel time from Xi’an to Shiyan to an hour, from Xi'an to Hubei's Xiangyang City to approximately two hours, and from Xi’an to Wuhan to just three hours.

China follows a nuclear strategy of self-defense and a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, which has always been stable, consistent and predictable, a defense spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Chen Xi, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press briefing in Beijing while responding to a media query about some claims that China is expanding its nuclear arsenal.

"China follows a nuclear strategy of self-defense and a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons. We always keep our nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security, and never engage in any forms of nuclear arms race, playing a significant role in maintaining global strategic stability. China's nuclear policy has always been stable, consistent and predictable. Relevant parties should stop making unfounded speculations and groundless propaganda," said Chen.