The first phase ofthe Tonghurailway, orthe Nantong-Shanghai railway, will operate from July 1 with 46 bullet train round trips a day, China Railway Shanghai Group announced on Tuesday.

There will also be six cargo train round trips a day.

The first phase of the railway project is theZhaodian-Huangdusection, stretching 137.5 kilometers with nine stations.

It starts inNantongand ends inShanghai’s JiadingDistrict. The railway cuts the travel time between Shanghai andNantongto 90 minutes from four hours.

It crosses the Yangtze River, and its nine stations are Zhaodian, Nantong West, Zhangjiagang North,Zhejiagang,Changshu,TaicangPort, Taicang, TaichangSouth andAntingWest.

It has a designed speed of 200 kilometers per hour.

The railway will connect northernJiangsuandShandongprovinces viaYancheng-Nantongrailway, which is at present under construction, Lianyungang-Yanchengrailway, Nanjing-Qidongrailway andXinyi-Changxingrailway, and linkZhejiangProvince via the Shanghai-Kunminghigh-speed railway, the group said.

It will improve the rail network of the Yangtze River Delta region and regional transport system, and is of major significance in promoting regional integration of the delta region.

From July 1, 1,165 train trips will run daily in the Yangtze River Delta region, 53 more than present.