China completes rail laying on the Chongqing–Kunming railway: launch expected in the first half of 2027

Final rail section laid

Rail laying has been completed on the Chongqing–Kunming high-speed railway: the last pair of steel rails, each 500 meters long, was laid in the Junlian tunnel on the border between Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. According to CGTN, cited by Kun.uz, this stage was an important step in preparing the line for commissioning. Railway authorities expect the line to be fully launched in the first half of 2027.

Route and engineering challenges

The line will connect Chongqingxi station in Chongqing with Kunmingnan station in Kunming and will run through the territory of Chongqing municipality and Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces. The railway crosses the Wumeng Mountains, which have complex geological conditions, so a significant portion of the route runs over bridges and through tunnels, requiring the solution of serious engineering challenges.

Significance for the network and the regions

Once the line is fully operational, travel time between Chongqing and Kunming is expected to shrink to roughly 2.5 hours. The railway is an important part of the Beijing–Kunming rail corridor and is part of China's national high-speed rail network covering eight north–south and eight east–west directions. The new line is expected to strengthen ties between the Chengdu–Chongqing economic cluster and the cities of central Yunnan, as well as boost trade and tourism.