On the morning of August 31, 2022, the launching ceremony of the construction of the Zibo-Boshan railway reconstruction project, which was participated by the China Railway 14th Bureau, was held in Zichuan.

Zibo to Boshan Railway

The Zibo-Boshan Railway starts from Zhangdian District, Zibo City in the north, passes through Economic Development Zone, Zichuan District, and reaches Boshan District in the south. It runs parallel to S294 (Zhangbo Road) and runs through the central and southern part of Zibo City in a north-south direction. It is an extension of Jiaoji Railway. The main line of the existing line has a total length of 39.753km.

In order to meet the passenger flow travel between Zhangdian, Zichuan and Boshan groups, the Zibo Municipal Government plans to use the existing Zhangbo Railway channel resources to double-track and electrify the Zhangbo Railway, and to operate locomotives. In order to shorten the travel time (within 45 minutes one-way between Boshan Station and Zibo Station), shorten the spatial distance, and promote the rapid development of local economy.

The main construction contents of the Zibo-Boshan Railway Reconstruction Project: A new 8.6-kilometer double line will be built in the section from Zibo to the south, and the existing single line will be electrified. From Nanding to Boshan, the second line will be increased or decreased by 30.5 kilometers along the existing line, and electrification will be implemented simultaneously. The whole line of passenger trains has implemented the line closure and peaceful reconstruction project. There are 9 stations on the whole line, of which 5 existing stations are rebuilt and 4 passenger stations are newly built (South Dingbei, Shuangyang, Zichuan South and Boshan North). In this design, the feasibility study station plan is partially adjusted. According to the requirements of the construction unit, the existing Zichuan Station has increased passenger traffic, and the names of 3 stations have been modified: Nandingzhen Station is changed to Nanding North Station; Shuangyang Town Station is changed to Shuangyang Town Station. Yang Station; Baita Town Station was changed to Boshan North Station. There are 9 stations on the whole line, and the remaining 8 stations except Nanding handle passenger transportation.

The Zhangbo Railway was built in May 1903. It was initially constructed by the Dehua Shandong Railway Company and was completed in June 1904. It was mainly used to transport coal. It was nationalized in 1923 and was gradually renovated. Since 1975, the Zhangbo Line has been gradually transformed by replacing concrete pillows, re-paving gravel ballast beds, reinforcing roadbeds, masonry slope protection, renovating crossings, and overhauling bridges and culverts. At present, Zhangbo Railway has 5 stations: Zibo Station, Nanding Station, Zichuan Station, Da Kunlun Station and Boshan Station. It only handles freight business, not passenger transportation. The existing railway is single-track, and the traction type is internal combustion (DF4c locomotive) . Editor/He Yuting