On January 22, 2026, an approval document numbered "Chuanfa Gaiji [2025] No. 632" pressed the "acceleration button" for the development of the eastern region of Sichuan Province. Ten year plan, once implemented, the construction of the Suining Neijiang section of the Mianyang Suining Ziyang Neijiang railway has been officially approved. This is not only a railway, but also an economic backbone that runs through the central Sichuan region, marking a solid step towards the high-quality development of the comprehensive transportation system in the Chengdu Chongqing economic circle.

How to connect the four cities of Chuanzhong within 107 kilometers?

According to the approval, the project route starts from the Suining High tech Station in the Miansui section and extends southeast, passing through Anju District of Suining City, Anyue County of Ziyang City, and finally reaching Dongxing District of Neijiang City, where it leads to Neijiang North Station. The newly built main line has a total length of 107.797 kilometers and a designed speed of 250 kilometers per hour, making it a double track high-speed railway.

In addition to the main line, the project will also build a new Anju Station and simultaneously construct the Miansui Inner Railway Yard at Anyue Station on the Chengdu Chongqing High Speed Railway, achieving a "cross" cross station. In addition, in order to ensure efficient train operation, the line has also planned a connecting line from Suining to Neijiang, a dynamic track in Neijiang, and a storage yard, and has expanded and renovated Neijiang North Station. The entire construction period of the project is about 4 years.

From a longer-term perspective, the Mianyang Suining Railway is approximately 244 kilometers long with a total investment of 53.73 billion yuan, adopting a strategy of "one-time planning and design, step-by-step and segmented construction". Among them, the section from Mianyang to Suining has been approved by the end of 2022 and will start construction in June 2024. It is expected to be completed in 2028. The approval of the Suining Neijiang section this time means that this intercity railway mainline that crosses Sichuan from east to west has achieved the last crucial piece of the puzzle before the construction of the entire line.

Where does the 20.8 billion yuan funding come from?

How can funds be allocated for such a massive project? The approval document provides a clear answer. The estimated total investment for the project is 20.883 billion yuan, of which half (approximately 10.442 billion yuan) is capital.

This capital reflects the principle of "co construction and sharing": it is jointly borne by Suining, Ziyang, Neijiang and Shudao Investment Group Co., Ltd. Specifically, the three municipal governments are responsible for the land acquisition and demolition work and expenses within their respective administrative divisions, and bear part of the construction costs. Among them, the portion borne by Ziyang City is entirely for land acquisition and demolition costs. The remaining capital and investments outside of capital will be raised and utilized by Shudao Group through domestic bank loans.

This cooperation model not only clarifies local responsibilities and ensures the smooth progress of the project, but also ensures the professional construction and operational funding guarantee of the project by introducing provincial-level state-owned large enterprises. After completion, Miansui Nei Railway Co., Ltd. will be responsible for project construction and operation management, and entrust China Railway Chengdu Group to carry out operation and management.

Not just the road, but also the 'circle'

The significance of the Miansui Inner Railway goes far beyond simply connecting a few cities. Its construction will have multiple profound impacts.

Firstly, it will greatly improve the transportation network of the Chengdu metropolitan area. After the completion of the project, it will be connected to multiple mainline railways such as Xicheng High speed Railway, Chengda Wan High speed Railway, Shanghai Chengdu Railway, Mianyang Luzhou High speed Railway, etc., forming the fastest high-speed railway channel from Mianyang and Suining to Wuhan, Chongqing, Guiyang, as well as the Yangtze River Delta and Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area directions. The directions from Suining and Neijiang to Beijing and Kunming will also be more convenient.

Secondly, it directly benefits the people along the route. The railway will end the history of no railway connection between Santai County and Shehong City, allowing local residents to step into the "high-speed rail era" and enjoy convenient travel. At the same time, it will strengthen the "half-hour commuting circle" connection between cities such as Mianyang, Suining, and Neijiang and Chengdu, promoting the rapid flow of talent, capital, and information.

Finally, it is the strategic support for the construction of the Chengdu Chongqing economic circle. This project was included in relevant national plans as early as 2015 and is a key project in the national "14th Five Year Plan" for railway development. As an important component of the multi-level rail transit network in the Chengdu Chongqing economic circle, it will effectively promote the deep integration of the central Sichuan region into the national development plan and inject strong impetus into the rise of the central Chengdu Chongqing region.

A railway activates an area. The promotion of the Mianyang Suining Railway is a vivid epitome of the construction of a strong transportation province in Sichuan, and also a solid footprint for the Chengdu Chongqing economic circle to transform from a grand blueprint into a beautiful reality.Editor/Yang Meiling