As China experienced a sharp rise in demand for transport, the conversion of a dilapidated railway line into a double-track electrified line between Hengyang and Liuzhou helped shift some road traffic towards rail, providing a less expensive and more environmentally-friendly option.
Context
In the early 2000s, transport experienced strong growth in China, accounting for 10% of energy consumption. Rail transport accounted for one third of passenger volume (measured in passenger-kilometers), compared to 53% for road and 13% for air transport. Yet rail transport is five to ten times more efficient than the other two modes of transport in terms of energy consumption per unit carried. It was therefore crucial to promote rail transport in order to prevent the development of energy and carbon-intensive transport.
The 1,000-km Xiang-Gui railway line connects Hengyang in Hunan Province with the Vietnamese border. The segment between Hengyang and Liuzhou, in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Province, used to be connected by a diesel locomotive on a stretch of single-track railway. It dated back to 1930, was in poor condition, and had reached its maximum capacity. The service was therefore poor, and passengers avoided taking the train.
Description
The purpose of the project supported by AFD and launched in 2008 was to provide a sustainable solution to the demand for the transport of passengers and goods on this railway. It sought to support Chinese public policies in the area of transport in order to reduce long-term energy consumption in the sector.
The project involved the construction of a double-track electrified railway line with high-speed capacity (up to 250 kilometers per hour for passenger trains) between Hengyang and Liuzhou. Funding from AFD enabled the procurement of supplies and equipment for electric traction.
Impacts
-
The project helped shift some road traffic towards rail, resulting in significant energy savings. It prevents the emission of 225,000 equivalent tons of CO2 per year.
-
The project increases the range of rail transport services, which is more affordable for the majority of the population. The quality of services has also been greatly improved, especially in terms of travel times.
-
The old line is now used for local freight transport.
09/01/2008
Project start date
01/09/2014
Project end date
17 years
Hunan - Guangxi
Financing tool
80 000 000
EUR
Achevé
Local authorities of Hunan and Guangxi
-
on the same region
-
on the same topic
-
on the same financial tool
Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentWater and SanitationSupporting rural development in the provinces of Binh Dinh and Hung Yen
