Construction of the first electrified railway in northwest China's Xinjiang Urgur Autonomous Region, the Jinghe-Yining-Horgos railway, was officially launched in Yining City on 22 Nov.

The railway starts from Jinghe County in the east, stretching cross Tianshan Mountain, via Yining County in Yili River valley, and finally reaches the border port of Horgos. It has a total length of 286 kilometres and an investment of 6 million Yuan. There are altogether 17 stations along the railway and the construction is scheduled to complete by 2008. The railway is supposed to have great significance in the acceleration economic development along the line and the consolidation of China's northwest frontier.

By People's Daily Online