New railway infrastructure boosts transport capacity in S China

On July 30, a container train carrying approximately 2,800 metric tons of iron ore arrived from Zhanjiang, Guangdong, and made its way to the newly constructed cargo line in the Chishui Railway Freight Yard in Wuzhou, Guangxi. This arrival marked the opening and operation of two new railway lines, including a new coal loading line and a container handling line.

The project, which represents an investment of nearly 330 million yuan ($46 million), began construction on August 31, 2023. It was designed with a focus on intelligence, environmental sustainability, and modernization. Key components of the development include two new railway loading and unloading lines, a closed quantitative coal loading building, and the deployment of unmanned electric locomotives. These enhancements were made alongside the existing three tracks of the Chishui railway dedicated line.

This project introduces unmanned electric traction vehicles in South China for the first time, shifting the Chishui railway dedicated line primarily focus from coal to higher-value-added items like electronic devices and industrial profiles.

The project, a collaborative effort between the railway department and various participating units, completed the construction of the coal loading line and container handling line by the end of July 2024 and commenced operations shortly after that.

Upon full project completion, the railway's transport capacity is expected to increase from 2.5 million tons to over 12 million tons per year. This expansion is projected to cut comprehensive logistics costs by over 100 million yuan annually for steel, power, and other physical enterprises. By enhancing Guangxi's role in intermodal transportation, the project is set to reduce regional logistics costs.

The new infrastructure is set to serve as a crucial link between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the southwestern region, positioning itself as a nationally recognized multimodal transport demonstration project.