According to the news of 12 March by China News Agency from Chengdu, as revealed by person in charge of the Chengdu Headquarters of the 2nd Prospect and Design Institution of the Ministry of Railways, the feasibility study of the section running from Yuxi to Mengzi along the Kunming/Hekou Railway of the "Pan-Asia Railway" compiled by the aforesaid institution has passed the examination and approval of the Ministry of Railways while the plan for the eastern section of the "Pan-Asia Railway" has entered into preparation for kicking off the project.

According to the report of "Tianfu Morning Post" the Pan-Asia Railway project has already been listed by the state into the "medium-and-long-term plan for railway network" from 2003 to 2020. With Singapore as staring point the "eastern section plan" for the railway runs through Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phnom-Penh, Hochiming City and Hanoi, extending a total length of 5500 kilometers. The eastern section sees the shortest section needed to be constructed and the facilities along the old railways can be brought into full play and so it's easier to be put into execution.

The section running from Yuxi to Mengzi has a total length of 147 kilometers and the project will be carried out in line with the Grade 2 standard of the state for railway construction and in the meantime enough spaces and conditions have been put aside for the construction of a Grade 1 railway. The railway is designed to use Diesel as driving engine with its highest speed to reach 120 kilometers per hour. The railway section sets off from Kunming in the north and joins with Vietnam by passing through Hekou Port at the Yunnan border.

Besides, the 2nd Prospect and Design Institution of the Ministry of Railways has also worked out the plans for the middle section and western section of the Pan-Asia Railway, ready for choice for the construction of the railway that runs from Kunming to Singapore.

By People's Daily Online