On October 17, with the passage of cargo train number 22314 through Platform 12 at Meishan Station, the expansion and renovation of the Meishan Station on the new Chengdu-Kunming Railway was officially completed. This marks a significant milestone that will enhance the rail capacity for container transportation, ensuring that it meets the demands of modern logistics.
The new Chengdu-Kunming Railway starts from Chengdu South Station and traverses through various locations in Sichuan province—including Chengdu, Meishan, Leshan, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, and Panzhihua—as well as Yunnan province, reaching Kunming Station. This railway is classified as a national Class I double-track electrified line with a designed speed of 160 kilometers per hour. Meishan plays a crucial role as the gateway to southern Sichuan, southwestern Sichuan, and Yunnan, sharing economic linkages and infrastructure with the Chengdu area. The region boasts rapidly growing industries, evidenced by companies like Yahua New Materials, Tongwei Photovoltaics, and Tianhua Lithium Energy, suggesting significant potential for growth in freight services.
Before the renovations, Meishan Station, located in the Dongpo District of the city, had only six departure tracks (including two mainline tracks) and seven freight tracks, which made its capacity insufficient to accommodate the growing demand for container services. Thus, the expansion was essential; it aimed to increase the number of departure tracks and optimize the functionality of two freight yards to fully unleash the station’s freight capacity.
Liu Minghe, the Chief Dispatcher of Chengdu-Kunming Railway Co., highlighted the importance of this expansion. “The renovation of Meishan Station is necessary to improve container cargo operation conditions and enhance the efficiency of container operations at the station. It also plays a vital role in transforming local railway freight services to meet modern logistics standards,” he explained. The project, undertaken by China Railway No. 8 Engineering Group, involved the construction of a new freight line and a container yard, along with the installation of container gantry cranes, four new departure tracks, and support facilities.
According to reports, before the renovation, Meishan Station handled a total container volume of 2.2 million tons throughout 2023. With the upgrades now in place, this number is expected to reach 3 million tons by 2025, and potentially 3.75 million tons by 2030. This expansion will significantly enhance the new Chengdu-Kunming Railway’s ability to meet the increasing demands for passenger and freight transportation in the region, thus fostering rapid economic development.
