Chongqing–Changsha high-speed railway

Chongqing–Changsha high-speed railway
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	China Railway
Locale	China
Termini	Chongqing Changsha
Service
Operator(s)	China Railway High-speed
History
Opened	2022-09-26 (Changsha–Yiyang–Changde) 2022-12-27 (Changde–Qianjiang) 2025-06-27 (Chongqing East–Qianjiang)
Technical
Line length	404 km (251 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Operating speed	350 km/h (220 mph)

The Chongqing–Changsha high-speed railway was originally envisaged under China’s “Eight Verticals and Eight Horizontals” plan as a single 339 km line designed for 200–250 km/h service. Its operational segments also form part of the broader Xiamen–Chongqing corridor. However, the corridor entered operation in three stages rather than as one continuous build:

1. The Changsha–Yiyang–Changde intercity HSR (65 km at 350 km/h) opened on 2022-09-26.
2. The Changde–Qianjiang section (97 km at 350 km/h) opened on 2022-12-27.
3. The Chongqing East–Qianjiang segment of the Chongqing–Xiamen HSR (242 km at 350 km/h) opened on 2025-06-27.

Through-running trains now link Chongqing and Changsha in approximately 3 h 53 min at up to 350 km/h.

History

Planning

In 2014-10, the State Council approved a direct Chongqing–Changsha HSR (339 km, 250 km/h) as part of the national “Eight Verticals and Eight Horizontals” network.

Phased construction and opening

China Railway split the project into three interlinked contracts:

• Changsha–Yiyang–Changde: opened 2022-09-26.
  
• Changde–Qianjiang: opened 2022-12-27.
  
• Chongqing East–Qianjiang: opened 2025-06-27.

Current operation

These segments now form a continuous high-speed corridor, reducing journey times by over half.

Route

Chongqing East → Qianjiang → Changde → Yiyang South → Changsha West

See also

• High-speed rail in China
• Xiamen–Chongqing corridor