Harbin–Qiqihar Intercity Railway

Harbin–Qiqihar Intercity Railway 哈齐客运专线
Overview
Status	Under Construction
Locale	Harbin, Qiqihar
Termini	Harbin Qiqihar South
Stations	9
Services	1
Operation
Operator(s)	China Railway High-speed
Technical
Line length	281.5 km (175 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Operating speed	250 km/h (155 mph)

Harbing-Mudanjiang ICR route map
Legend
Harbin–Mudanjiang ICR to Mudanjiang     Harbin–Jiamusi ICR to Jiamusi     Harbin–Dalian HSR to Dalian   Harbin Harbin North Zhaodong Anda Daqing East Daqing West Taikang Hongqiying East Qiqihar South

Harbin–Qiqihar Intercity Railway, also known as Ha Qi Passenger Dedicated Line, is a high-speed railway located with in Heilongjiang province, China. It will connect the provincial capital Harbin and the second largest city in the province of Qiqihar. Total length of the railway is 286 km with a design speed 250–300 km/h. It will travel from Harbin, via Suihua and Daqing, to Qiqihar. On July 5, 2009 construction started and it is expected for construction to be completed by the end of 2014, to be opened to revenue traffic in 2015. This line opened on August 17, 2015.

Overview

Harbin–Qiqihar Intercity Railway will feature 281.5 kilometers of new trackage, costing an estimated 35.5 billion yuan. It will be built as a passenger dedicated line, double-tracked electrified railway with a design speed of 250 km/h, but with allowances for a future speed of 300 km/h. Initial planning allows for 97 pairs of trains per day, transporting about 2,172,000 annually. Into the future with long-term planning predictions are for 129 pairs of trains daily, carrying 2,904,000 passengers each year. The rail line uses slab track, bridge or embankments for about 50% of the railway's length. After completion, it will take small groups with high-density runs. In the future, services will traverse the Harbin-Dalian High-Speed Railway and the under construction Harbin-Mudanjing & Harbin-Jiamusi Intercity Railways providing for a fast rail link across the province.

Harbin–Qiqihar Intercity Railway runs through Hadaqi Industrial Corridor, when completed, it is hoped to help revitalize the north-eastern old industrial base, which has become rundown and outdated in recent years.

Route

Since the beginning of the railway at Harbin Railway Station it will progress, with the existing conventional lines to the right, along the Songhua River. After crossing on the new Harbin to Qiqihar Railway Passenger Dedicated Line Songhua River Bridge to Harbin North Railway Station, following along to the right side of the existing conventioanl railway lines in the urban areas, progressing north then north-west through Hulan District before entering Zhaodong. Afterwards it continues north-west to Anda, Daqing and finally to the Qiqihar.

Stations

Harbin, Harbin North, Zhaodong, Anda, Daqing East, Daqing West, Taikang, Hongqiying East(overtaking station) and Qiqihar South

History

Planning Phase

• March 7, 2006 - Ministry of Railways and the Heilongjiang Provincial Government signed the "High-speed railway construction in Heilongjiang province summary of the talks", determining that the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" will see the construction of a Harbin to Qiqihar Intercity Railway.
• October 2007 - Tenders called for the design, financing and other prelimary activities.
• March 2008 - Ha Qi Passenger Dedicated Railway Project Expert Group meet in Daqing.
• April 2008 - A third of the preliminary work has been completed and the Ministry of Railways releases a summary of the talks on the Ha Qi Passenger Line .
• October 2008 - Ha Qi Passenger Dedicated Railway Project Expert Group conduct Qiqihar City and Zhaodong research.
• November 2008 - Land survey began.
• November 2008 - Demolition work began.
• July 2009 - Ha Qi Passenger Dedicated feasibility study report has been formally approved by NDRC.

Construction Phase

• July 5, 2009, officially started construction.

Opening

• August 17, 2015, entered into operation.

Controversy

Original plans called for the demolition of nearly century-old Ji Hongqiao, causing Harbin conservation experts and the public to bring attention to the issue, with some people and experts recommending design changes, related to heritage protection.

The original design of the project planned to demolish and rebuild the century-old railway bridge at Binzhou, through the joint efforts of conservation workers and volunteers, they eventually changed the original design, retaining the old bridge and a new railway bridge for the Harbin–Qiqihar Intercity Railway.