On March 24, 2026, according to information on the website of the National Development and Reform Commission, the proposal for the construction of the Qianjiang Jishou Railway project was approved. This means that this highly anticipated high-speed railway line is one step closer to official construction and will bring new development opportunities to the areas along the line.

The high-speed rail network is gradually taking shape

The Qianjiang Jishou Railway is a crucial link in the transportation network. It is an important component of the Chongqing Hunan high-speed railway, belonging to the auxiliary channel and regional connection line of the national eight vertical and eight horizontal Chongqing Xiamen corridor, and also part of the high-speed passenger transport corridor from Chengdu Chongqing to the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area.

The total length of the line is 222 kilometers, with a total investment of about 44.8 billion yuan. It starts from Qianjiang Station of the Yuxia High speed Railway, passes through Qianjiang, Youyang, Xiushan in Chongqing, Huayuan, Baojing, Jishou and other places in Xiangxi Prefecture, Hunan, and finally connects to Jishou East Station of the Zhangjihuai High speed Railway. Three new stations, Youyang West, Xiushan North and Huayuan, will be built along the entire line.

Looking back at its planning process, every step was solid and orderly. At the end of 2021, it was included in the "Multi level Rail Transit Plan for the Chengdu Chongqing Economic Circle" and the National 14th Five Year Railway Development Plan, laying the foundation for project research and construction; In September 2022, China Railway Group launched survey and design work; In May and October 2024, pre feasibility study and feasibility study review will be conducted respectively; On January 9, 2026, the project proposal was evaluated and evaluated by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Railway Administration, and finally received approval in March.

Adding impetus to regional development

The construction of this railway is of great significance. It can enhance the transportation capacity of regional high-speed rail channels, improve the quality of railway channels between the Chengdu Chongqing region and the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, and promote economic exchanges and cooperation between regions. For revolutionary old areas and ethnic regions along the route, high-speed rail will bring more development opportunities, promote local industrial upgrading and tourism development. Keywords: infrastructure, railway transportation

Meanwhile, it is also crucial for the construction of Chongqing's high-speed rail network. We will further improve the Chongqing rice shaped high-speed rail network, achieve high-speed rail connectivity in every county in the southeastern region of Chongqing, significantly shorten the time and space distance between the main urban area of Chongqing and the southeastern area of Chongqing, and move from the 5-hour ordinary railway era to the 1.5-hour high-speed railway era, strengthening regional integration development.Editor/Cheng Liting