The Ministry of Railways said Tuesday in Beijing that passenger transportation and goods transportation would have separate routes along the new railway, which would help relieve the heavy transportation burden in north and northeast China and lay the foundation for the construction of more high-speed railways.

The total length of the newly constructed section between Qinhuangdao and Shenyang is 404.64 kilometers, and was built at a cost of 15.7 billion yuan (US$1.9 billion), starting in October 1999, said sources with the ministry.

The new railway has adopted many new technologies in its construction, marking the great progress of China's technical skills in railway construction.

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2003)