The Hangzhou-Wenzhou High-Speed Railway starts operating on Sept 6 with the first train departing from Wenzhou North Railway Station in Wenzhou at 9 am. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The Hangzhou-Wenzhou High-Speed Railway started operating on Sept 6 with the first train departing from Wenzhou North Railway Station in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province at 9 am.

Simultaneously, a train departed from Hangzhou West Station in Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang.

This marked the official operation of the artery that connects northern and southern Zhejiang.

The new railway spans approximately 276 kilometers and is designed for speeds of up to 350 km per hour. It serves nine stations.

During the initial phase of operation, railway authorities will arrange passenger trains for regular and peak hours. Up to 38 sets of trains will run daily, with travel times as fast as 34 minutes from Hangzhou West Station to Yiwu Station and 87 minutes to Wenzhou North Station.

The high-speed railway has been under construction since 2017. It has connected not only the urban business circles of Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, and Jinhua-Yiwu, but also established rapid transportation links with other urban clusters and core areas of the Yangtze River Delta region.