The first station capable of handling 10,000-tonne trains on the Jiangjunmiao-Naomaohu railway second-line project began operations on Aug 29. The railway is a key component of the northern corridor for Xinjiang coal transport, linking the Santanghu and Naomaohu regions, which hold rare oil-rich coal deposits.

The second-line project, running from Baishihu South station to Jiangjunmiao, spans the Changji Hui autonomous prefecture and Hami city in Xinjiang. The eastern section starts at Baishihu South station, extends west along the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, passes through Yiwu, Barkol, Mulei and Qitai counties as well as the northern part of the Zhundong economic development zone, connecting with the Wujiang railway in the west and the Buwu railway in the east.

The Bulak-Jiangjunmiao second-line section stretches 392.99 km, including 274.37 km within Hami city and 118.62 km in Changji Hui autonomous prefecture. A newly built 6.9-km connecting line links the Jianghei railway with the Jiang-Nao railway.

Total investment in the project reached 10.08 billion yuan, with construction starting in September 2023. Upon completion, the line will feature double-track electrification, boosting the railway's annual transport capacity to 150-200 million tonnes. The second-line project will significantly enhance the northern corridor's transport capability, and the railway is also the first in Xinjiang designed to heavy-haul standards.

The second-line project includes upgrades to 13 existing stations. Among them, five stations — Chahaquan, Wangyangtai, Kumusu, Mingshashan and Shiqiantan — will be equipped to handle passing and crossing of 10,000-tonne heavy-haul trains after renovation. To date, five stations on the Jiang-Nao railway second-line project have commenced operations.

Once fully completed, the second-line project will further optimize the overall layout of the northern corridor for Xinjiang coal transport, enabling coal resources to reach Ningxia, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Chongqing in northern and central China, converting Xinjiang's resource advantages into development momentum.

Since the start of this year, Xinjiang railway authorities have been ramping up efforts to ensure coal transport out of the region, promoting increased freight tonnage per train and expanding the number of 10,000-tonne trains on the Wujiang railway.

Load tests on key lines including the Golmud-Korla, Hongliuhe-Naomaohu and Linhe-Hami lines have raised traction loads from 5,000 tonnes to 5,200-5,800 tonnes.

Precise dispatch coordination has shortened wagon turnaround times, and an information-sharing mechanism now enables real-time data exchange on loading progress, train operations and unloading, with coal deliveries to Gansu and Ningxia reaching 40 trains per day.

From the start of this year through Aug 29, Xinjiang coal transport volume reached 66.52 million tonnes, up 6.35 million tonnes or 10.6% year on year.