Accelerating Construction of Yong-Tai-Wen High-Speed Railway to Boost Coastal Transport Links

Accelerating the construction of the Yong-Tai-Wen High-Speed Railway is of great practical significance for unblocking the coastal corridor of the national high-speed railway network, promoting regional cooperation between the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta, and implementing national transport structure adjustments, it was stated during the National Two Sessions.

As a key component of the national coastal railway corridor, the Yong-Tai-Wen High-Speed Railway connects the Tong-Su-Jia-Yong High-Speed Railway to the north and the Wen-Fu and Fu-Xia-Shen High-Speed Railways to the south. Currently, construction of the Tong-Su-Jia-Yong High-Speed Railway (to the north) and the Wen-Fu High-Speed Railway (to the south) has already started, while the Yong-Tai-Wen High-Speed Railway has not yet launched the bidding process for survey and design.

Included in the relevant plans for the integrated transport development of the Yangtze River Delta, the Yong-Tai-Wen High-Speed Railway will connect with the Tong-Su-Jia-Yong High-Speed Railway, the Wen-Fu section of the coastal high-speed railway, and railway networks in Fujian and Guangdong provinces. It will vertically realize rapid links between the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta, two major national economic engines, playing a vital role in expanding the depth of coastal and riverine development space, optimizing regional resource allocation, and promoting inter-regional cooperative development.

The existing Yong-Tai-Wen Railway now operates 95 train pairs between Ningbo and Yunlong, and 92 pairs between Yunlong and Ninghai, with capacity fully utilized during peak hours. With the start of construction of the Tong-Su-Jia-Yong and Wen-Fu High-Speed Railways, and the signing of a strategic agreement between the Zhejiang Provincial Government and China State Railway Group to build a sea-rail intermodal demonstration zone, the existing Yong-Tai-Wen Railway will take on more freight functions.

Growing transportation demand on the coastal corridor calls for accelerated construction of the Yong-Tai-Wen High-Speed Railway. The time is now ripe to push ahead with the project, which will not only strengthen the high-standard coastal high-speed passenger corridor but also facilitate the existing Yong-Tai-Wen Railway to support the high-quality development of sea-rail intermodal transport.

Preliminary work for the Yong-Tai-Wen High-Speed Railway has made steady progress in recent years. As an important part of the coastal corridor in the national "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed railway network and a key intercity line in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, the project has seen consolidated foundations since the establishment of a preparatory office led by the Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission in 2018.

The pre-feasibility study report was completed and submitted to China State Railway Group in December 2020. In March 2025, experts conducted an internal review of the pre-feasibility study for Ningbo West Station and related projects, basically approving the plan and clarifying the need to accelerate research on the southern route, pointing the way for the project’s advancement.

It is suggested that China State Railway Group should accelerate the preliminary work, include the project in the national railway "15th Five-Year Plan", approve the pre-feasibility study review as soon as possible, and support the start of construction during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. In addition, it should guide the in-depth study of the line and station layout of the Yong-Tai-Wen-Fu High-Speed Railway in Ningbo in light of the site selection of Ningbo West Station, and guide the launch of bidding for survey and design.