A train pictured on a test run prior to the opening of the first phase of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantongrailway on July 1.

The Shanghai-Suzhou-NantongYangtze River Railway Bridge.

The first phase of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantongrailway which operates from July 1 will cut the travel time between Shanghai andNantongin neighboring Jiangsu Province to an hour and six minutes from the current three and a half hours, China Railway Shanghai Group announced on Monday.

The number of trains on the route will be different on working days, weekends and festivals, with up to 44 round trips a day, the group said.

There will be six cargo train round trips a day.

The railway cuts out transfers in Nanjing, thus cutting the travel time between Shanghai andNantongsignificantly, the group said.

The first phase of the project is theZhaodian-Huangdusection, stretching 143 kilometers.

It starts inNantongand ends in Shanghai'sJiadingDistrict.

It crosses the Yangtze River, and has nine stations — Zhaodian, NantongWest,ZhangjiagangNorth,Zhangjiagang,Changshu,TaicangPort,Taicang,TaicangSouth andAntingWest.

It has a designed speed of 200 kilometers per hour and will improve the rail network of the Yangtze River Delta region and regional transport system, and be of major significance in promoting regional integration.

The new railway line from Shanghai's Jiading District to Nantong in Jiangsu Province.