Daqin Railway, a vital coal transportation route in northern China, initiated a 30-day spring maintenance on 1 April 2024. The aim is to enhance transport efficiency and ensure coal supply for the upcoming peak summer period.
The Daqin line plays a crucial role in delivering over 400 million tonnes (mnt) of coal annually to more than 300 large power plants and over 6,000 industrial enterprises across 26 provinces in China.
The maintenance, scheduled for 3 hours each day, involves 13,000 workers simultaneously operating on the 653-km line, supported by large construction machinery from 10 regional branches under China Railway.
This year’s maintenance plan includes replacing 214.13 kilometers of rails, 124,000 sleepers, and 77 turnout units. Over 1,000 kilometers of lines require fixing and polishing. Additionally, the workload includes maintenance of power supply systems, signaling equipment, and communication cables, surpassing previous years’ efforts.
To ensure timely completion, 57 units of 14 large construction machineries and 218 small road maintenance machines will be deployed for thorough inspections and extensive upgrades of the Daqin railway.
Previous maintenances typically reduced daily shipments to about 1 mnt/day, similar to the year-to-date average volume of 1.08 mnt. If the maintenance follows a similar pattern, the overall supply may be less impacted.
In conclusion, Daqin Railway’s spring maintenance aims to optimise transport efficiency and ensure uninterrupted coal supply during the upcoming peak summer period. With extensive upgrades and thorough inspections, the railway is expected to resume operations promptly, mitigating potential disruptions in coal transportation.