The modernisation of the 258 km long railway line from Jiamusi in the Chinese province of Heilongjiang to the Tongjiang transhipment terminal on the Russian border has begun. The project, which is estimated to cost €725.1 million (CNY 5.69 billion), is due to be completed within three years. The modernisation will increase freight capacity from the current 18.8 million to 37.2 million t per year, alleviating a bottleneck on one of China's main routes to Russia and Western Europe. The work also includes an increase in container handling capacity in Tongjiang as well as the improvement of facilities for bulk transport, including coal and iron ore, and the construction of seven new railway stations.
