On January 16th, the Dangyang−Yuan’an railway project was officially launched in Hualinsi town, Yuan’an county. It marks another achievement of the "major project startup month" in Yichang. Relevant staff from Hubei Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Railway Office of Hubei Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Wuhan Railway Bureau, Hubei Provincial Communications Investment Group Co.ltd, and railway design and construction companies attended the launching ceremony. Zhang Jiasheng, deputy secretary of Yichang Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and mayor of Yichang, announced the start of construction.

　　Zhang Jiasheng stressed that transportation construction came before economic development. The Dangyang−Yuan’an railway project was an important move of Hubei Provincial Committee of CPC and Hubei provincial government to support Yichang in speeding up its construction of the provincial sub-center. It was with ardent expectations of Yichang Municipal Committee of CPC and Yichang municipal government, embodied years of anticipation of people in the area along the railway and in the whole city, and would give great impetus to Yichang’s green development, transformation and development. The two counties of Yuan’an and Dangyang should consciously carry forward the spirit of being masters. Related departments should always keep in mind the overall situation, work together, cooperate closely and do all they can to provide the most considerate services and create the best environment for construction companies so as to ensure smooth going of the project. We hoped that contractors could conduct safe construction against time in a scientific and meticulous way to make sure that the railway was one with high starting point, high standard management, high efficiency and high quality, and the project was one of premium quality, of development, of wealth-making, and of clean governance so as to hand in a satisfactory answer sheet to Yichang citizens.

　　As an important part of the provincial 13th five-year plan and mid-long term railway network plan, the Dangyang−Yuan’an railway is a key provincial and municipal transport infrastructure project. Stretching 63.38 km, it will connect 6 towns and counties, namely Yuquan in Dangyang, Hualinsi, Mingfeng, Yangping, Jiuxian and Leizu in Yuan’an County. There will be four new stations (Ganxi Station, Yuan’an Station, Jiuxian Station and Leizu Station) and one rebuilt station (Yanwumiao Station). With an estimated investment of 3.669 billion yuan and 65% of the project being bridges and tunnels, the railway will be completed in 36 months.

　　It’s understood that the completion of the project is conducive to scientifically developing and utilizing the phosphorite resources in western Hubei and will serve as a green channel for phosphorite transportation. More importantly it will help promoting the construction of an intermodal system in the Three Gorges area, perfecting Yichang’s comprehensive transportation and propelling economic and social development in western Hubei and surrounding regions. At the same time, it will end Yuan’an’s history of having no railway.

　　Leaders of the Yichang government Wu Kangnian, Zhang Peng, Secretary-General of Yichang municipal government Jiang Zhengxiong and others attended the launching ceremony.