Nanjing–Tongling railway

Nanjing–Tongling railway or Ningtong railway (simplified Chinese: 宁铜铁路; traditional Chinese: 寧銅鐵路; pinyin: níngtóng tiělù), is a single-track railroad in eastern China between Nanjing in Jiangsu Province and Tongling in Anhui Province. The line is 208 km (129 mi) long. Major towns along route include Nanjing, Maanshan, Wuhu and Tongling. With the opening of the parallel Nanjing–Anqing intercity railway in 2015, the line is mostly used for freight traffic.

Nanjing–Tongling railway
Nanjing–Tongling railway after the snowfall in Tongling
Overview
Native name	宁铜铁路
Locale	Jiangsu, Anhui
Termini	Nanjing Tongling
Service
Operator(s)	China Railway
History
Opened	1935
Technical
Line length	208 km (129 mi)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Route map km elev Beijing–Shanghai railway from Beijing Nanjing–Xi'an railway from Xi'an Nanjing–Qidong railway from Nantong Nanjing West 0 Nanjing Shanghai–Nanjing ICR to Shanghai Hongqiao Xingweicun Beijing–Shanghai railway to Shanghai 3.941 Zijinshan 11.180 Cangbomen start of new route 16.180 Guanghuamen Ningsheng railway (closed 1958) 22.414 Zhonghuamen Shanghai–Nanjing ICR from Shanghai Hongqiao 29.424 Xishanqiao Nanjing–Hangzhou HSR from Hangzhou East 33.264 Jianning, Nanjing South end of new route Beijing–Shanghai HSR to Beijing South Nanjing–Anqing ICR to Anqing Nanjing Iron Ore Company siding 37.922 Guxiong Xinjian 46.095 Jiangningzhen 54.300 Tongjing 60.400 Anjiang 63.161 Cihu 66.764 Ma'anshan 73.463 Caishi 79.315 Huangmeishan 84.600 Dangtu 92.490 Mao'ershan 96.680 Taqiao 102.119 Wuhu East 105.428 Wanli 109.066 Huayushan Huainan railway from Huainan Nanjing–Anqing ICR from Nanjing South 113.399 Wuhu Qingyijiang (closed) Huolonggang Anhui–Jiangxi railway to Yingtan Baliwan Shiweizhen Eqiao Fanchang 153 Fanchang North Fengxiangdun Lujiang–Tongling railway from Lujiang Zhongming Shun'an Shizishan Tongling–Jiujiang railway to Jiujiang Nanjing–Anqing ICR to Tongling, Anqing Lixin 196 Tongling West km

Line description

The line follows the southern bank of the Yangtze River from Nanjing to Tongling. The eastern third of the line was built in 1935 as the Nanjing–Wuhu railway and the western two-thirds from Wuhu to Tongling was completed in 1968. In 2010, a second track was proposed for the Nanjing to Wuhu section.

However, according to the latest news, this railway will remain single track but will be electrified, which will enable freight trains to carry more goods but not improve the average speed on the line.

The opening of the Tongling–Jiujiang railway in 2008, extended the line along the southern bank of the Yangtze beyond Tongling all the way to Jiujiang in Jiangxi Province. As of late 2012, published schedules show direct services from Nanjing to Nanchang and points south and west.

It is now also possible to travel from Shanghai to Chongqing, the capital of R.O.C. between 1937-1945, by train via Shanghai–Nanjing railway, Nanjing–Wuhu–Tongling railway, Tongling–Jiujiang railway, Jiujiang–Wuhan railway, Wuhan–Yichang railway, and Yichang–Chongqing railway. This railway group has become the most important Yangzi River railway system which is along the bank of Yangzi River and across middle part of China from eastern to western parts.

It is proposed to reroute the line in the suburbs of Nanjing to run via Nanjing South railway station through a double-track and electrified section, partly in tunnel. The easement of the old line would be used for an extension of line 8 of the Nanjing Metro.

Rail connections

• Nanjing: Beijing–Shanghai railway, Nanjing–Qidong railway, Nanjing–Xi'an railway, Shanghai–Nanjing intercity railway, Hefei–Nanjing passenger railway
• Wuhu: Anhui–Jiangxi railway
• Tongling: Tongling–Jiujiang railway

See also

• List of railways in China
• Nanjing–Anqing intercity railway, a high-speed railway running on a parallel route