The Harbin-Mudanjiang High-speed Railway ended coordinated tests and started trial operations on Nov 18. It is scheduled to officially commence operations by the end of this year.

The railway had been undergoing the tests since Sept 17. Over a two-month period, passenger test trains have been used to examine systems and projects including power supply, subgrades, communication, tunnels, bridges, passenger services and emergency response to ensure they all meet requirements.

Over the next 30 days, trial operations will be conducted to test and assess the availability, safety and reliability of the equipment and the overall system; and also to check the training of operating personnel and hold emergency drills.

The schedule of trains running on lines connected to the Harbin-Mudanjiang Railway will be adjusted to accommodate the new schedule of operations.

In addition, the Mudanjiang-Suifenhe Railway will be able to accommodate faster trains, giving Suifenhe –– a port bordering Russia –– a high-speed rail service for the first time.

The Harbin-Mudanjiang High-speed Railway is one of the key projects included in Northeast China's fast passenger transportation network.

The 293-kilometer line links Harbin, the provincial capital of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, with Mudanjiang, a city on the Russian border. It will connect to the Russian border areas through Suifenhe port.

The new line will have 11 stations, including Harbin, Xinxiangfang north, A’che north, Maoer Mountain, Shangzhi south and Yabuli west.

It will only carry passengers and is designed for speeds of around 250 km per hour. Once it is completed, it will shorten the journey time between Harbin and Mudanjiang to around 2 hours from the current 4 hours and a half.

Construction on the high-speed line started in December 2014.

Once the line officially starts operations, it is expected to increase trade and economic activity between China and Russia, as well as help to rejuvenate the old Northeast China industrial base.

Also, the Harbin-Mudanjiang High-speedway Railway will serve as an important ice and snow tourism line as it passes through Heilongjiang’s popular scenic areas such as Yabuli Ski Resort and Weihu Mountain Studio City.

A train pictured on the Harbin-Mudanjiang High-speed Railway during the trial operations period. [Photo/people.cn]

A train speeds across a bridge above fields along the Harbin-Mudanjiang High-speed Railway. [Photo/people.cn]