en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Bazhong-Nanchong High-Speed Railway (Banan High-Speed Railway) in Sichuan, which has been in operation for two full years, has cumulatively transported over 26 million passengers. Shudao Railway Investment Group stated that the daily number of train services on this line has increased by 30% compared to the initial phase of operation, with continuous capacity expansion and steady improvement in passenger carrying capacity and operational efficiency.
The Banan High-Speed Railway officially commenced operations on June 27, 2024. Spanning a total length of 149 kilometers, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of 69.76% and a total investment exceeding 20 billion yuan, the line runs from Bazhong East Station in the north to Nanchong North Station in the south. It is the first high-speed railway in Sichuan Province to be fully funded and independently constructed by local authorities. Since its opening, Bazhong and Yilong have been connected to the national high-speed rail network, addressing the transportation shortcomings of the old revolutionary base areas in northeastern Sichuan.
Leveraging the high-speed rail network, travel efficiency in the old revolutionary base areas of northeastern Sichuan has significantly improved. Currently, travel time from Bazhong to both Chengdu and Chongqing is approximately two hours. The line directly serves 91 stations across 10 provinces and 39 cities nationwide, integrating the old revolutionary base areas into the "Two-Hour Economic Circle" of the Chengdu-Chongqing region. With the future completion of the Chengdu-Dazhou-Wanzhou Railway, travel time from Bazhong to Chengdu will be further reduced.
The improvement in transportation conditions has reshaped the travel and lifestyle patterns of residents along the route. "Day trips and cross-city living" are becoming the norm, breaking down geographical barriers for cross-city commuting and starting businesses or finding employment in other cities. Passenger flow on the Banan High-Speed Railway to and from the Chengdu-Chongqing region, the Pearl River Delta, and the Yangtze River Delta has grown steadily. Commuting time for students at universities and colleges along the line has been significantly shortened, accelerating the two-way flow of population in the region.
In its two years of operation, the Banan High-Speed Railway has evolved from a mere transportation corridor into an engine for regional development, driving the concentration of people, goods, capital, and information along the route, and transforming transportation location advantages into industrial development strengths.
The cultural tourism industry is a core beneficiary of the high-speed railway's empowerment. The line connects 12 red landmarks, including the Red Army Martyrs Cemetery of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Revolutionary Base Area and the Former Residence of Zhu De, as well as 8 national-level ecological scenic spots such as Guangwu Mountain and Micang Mountain, promoting the integration of red study tours and eco-tourism. Data shows that in 2025, key scenic spots along the route received nearly 4 million tourists, a year-on-year increase of over 16%. In the first quarter of 2026, tourist numbers at Guangwu Mountain and Micang Mountain scenic areas increased by 16.79% and 24.56% year-on-year respectively. The cultural tourism market continues to heat up, driving the quality improvement and revenue growth of supporting industries such as homestays and agritainment along the route.
The passenger flow dividend is also continuously activating rural revitalization and the development of specialty industries. Leveraging convenient transportation, the sales channels for 17 types of local specialty agricultural products, including Tongjiang Tremella, Nanjiang Yellow Goat, and Yilong Rice, have been expanded. Brand awareness and market coverage have steadily improved, with online and offline sales networks accelerating their coverage nationwide, effectively increasing farmers' incomes.
In terms of regional coordinated development, the Banan High-Speed Railway has promoted the deep integration of Bazhong and Nanchong into the Chengdu-Chongqing Dual-City Economic Circle. In the two years since its opening, 176 industrial investment projects have been implemented along the route, with a total investment of 158.29 billion yuan, significantly enhancing the efficiency of regional industrial collaboration.
A relevant official from Shudao Railway Investment Group stated that going forward, the company will continue to leverage its advantages in railway investment, construction, and operation, deeply explore the value of transportation empowerment, and further activate new momentum for high-quality development in the old revolutionary base areas of northeastern Sichuan.
