China Railway

China's easternmost high-speed rail, from Mudanjiang to Jiamusi in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, officially commenced operations on Monday, according to an announcement released by China Railway Harbin Group Co through its Wechat account. 

Located in the eastern area of Heilongjiang Province, the Mudanjiang-Jiamusi rail is part of the Shenyang-Jiamusi high-speed rail route with a total length of 372 kilometers and a design speed of 250 kilometers per hour. 

Now in operation, the high-speed train will take just two hours from Mudanjiang city to Jiamusi city which will not only reduce travel time, but also further improve the rail transport network in the northeast, and boost the transformation of resource-based cities along the route, analysts said. 

A chief engineer from China Railway said that the Mudanjiang-Jiamusi rail is China's most "frost-resistant" high-speed railway given its path through alpine areas which often sees frequent frost and heavy snow. Engineers selected cold-resistant power signal equipment and installed snow melting systems in order to ensure the safety of rolling stock in sub-zero conditions.

The Electric Multiple Units of the route can operate with at temperatures of minus 30 to 40 degrees Celsius following modification to the body structure, braking system and door and window components, so as to adapt to low-temperature conditions, wind and snow.

Global Times