Member's Documents
People's Republic of China: Yichang-Wanzhou Railway Project
Published by: Independent Evaluation Department, Asian Development Bank
SDGs: SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
The Yichang-Wanzhou Railway was the first railway to be developed in the low-income region of Hubei Province, and it constituted an important 377 km component in the central People's Republic of China (PRC) railway corridor, linking Yichang in Hubei Province and Wanzhou in Chongqing Municipality. Due to the difficult terrain, the railway required numerous bridges (including two over the Yangtze River) and tunnels—74% of its total length is bridges and tunnels, which is the highest percentage among the PRC railways constructed before 2010. The government recognized the project as the most technically challenging railway project when it was constructed given the complex topographical, geological, engineering, and hydrogeological conditions.
Overall, the project is rated successful. The project was implemented successfully despite being the PRC's most technically challenging railway project when the project was completed. It is part of one of the PRC's most important national transport corridors. The project achieved its main objectives of increasing corridor capacity, removing transport barriers, and reducing transport costs. It contributed to economic growth and poverty reduction in the project area and potentially in the western PRC.
It is recommended that use of the line's single-track section be reviewed. There is no passenger railway station between Lichuan and Wanzhou although the section is 89 km long. Eight pairs of trains per day are operated on the single-track section against a maximum capacity of 12 pairs of trains. As there is still capacity to increase the number of trains, a feasibility study is recommended to determine how best to use this capacity. This analysis should include the option of opening passenger railway stations in the section, as this would bring benefits to local people.
