China’s first cross‑sea suburban railway opens for passenger services in Ningbo

According to the State‑owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Ningbo, the Ningbo‑Xiangshan suburban railway, also known as Ningbo Rail Transit Line 12, went into official operation on 22 September.

The infrastructure project forms a key component of the metropolitan‑area development plan for Zhejiang Province. Total investment for the scheme stands at 26.756 billion yuan. Running for 61.45 kilometres in total, the new suburban line includes ten stations, two of which are underground facilities while the remaining eight are elevated stops. 

Starting from Xiaoyangjiang Station in Yinzhou District in the north, the railway runs southwards through a string of towns including Yunlong, Hengxi, Tangxi and Xianxiang. It then crosses Xiangshan Harbour, continues via Xianxiang, Daxu and Dancheng on the Xiangshan peninsula, and terminates at Damuwan Station.

Serving as the main transport corridor for the southern wing under Ningbo’s urban layout framework, Line 12 extends the overall operational mileage of Ningbo’s urban rail network to 360 kilometres following its opening. The fastest journey between central Ningbo and Xiangshan now takes less than 30 minutes. The new rail service cuts travelling times substantially for local residents. 

It eases traffic pressure on existing road routes such as the Yong‑Guan Expressway. Better transport links strengthen connections between the city centre and the southern coastal zone. The route connects six districts and one county across the region, supporting the development of an integrated urban framework for Ningbo built around rapid rail transport networks.