About 100 billion yuan (US$12.1 billion) has been allocated for railway construction in eastern Zhejiang Province over the next six years, according to a deal signed by the Zhejiang provincial government and the Ministry of Railways.
This will ensure that Zhejiang becomes the first province in China with the most advanced railway network by the year 2010.
According to the province's railway development plan, which includes building some new railroads, express trains will run directly through the province to the southern region, forming a major rail artery linking China's top two economic zones, the Shanghai-centered Yangtze River Delta and the Guangzhou-centered Pearl River Delta.
The province also decided to connect all of its cities with railways. In addition, some major railway lines like the Shanghai-Hangzhou and other trans-province lines will be improved into electric rail by 2010.
Sources from the provincial government said construction of some electric rails has kicked off. The Zhejiang-Jiangxi trans-province line, for instance, will be changed into the best electric railroad in China on completion.
Earlier this year, the State Council approved medium- and long-term plans for railway construction in China.
Under the state plan, railways in operation will be extended from the current 72,000 kilometers to 100,000 kilometers by 2020.
(Xinhua)