Today, with the increasing improvement of Jiangsu's high-speed rail network, the planning and construction of the Yantai-Xichangyi Railway has become the focus of heated discussions. The railway line was originally planned to be detoured via Wuxi, but the plan has sparked widespread discussion among experts and the public. Many voices believe that the Yantai-Xichangyi Railway should choose more direct lines, such as the Yantai Changyi or Huaitai Changyi lines, which can better play the geographical and economic advantages of southern and northern Jiangsu.
Let's take a look at the economic data and population size of the city involved in this route. Yancheng, as the northern gate of Jiangsu, has been booming economically in recent years, with a steady increase in population size. Changzhou, as an important economic town in southern Jiangsu, its GDP and per capita income are among the top in the province, Wuxi, although the economy is developed, but in this railway planning, it is not the best transit station.
Considering Changzhou's economic status in southern Jiangsu and its close ties with cities such as Shanghai and Nanjing, many have suggested that the Yantai-Xichangyi Railway should be changed to a direct link from Yancheng to Changzhou via Taizhou, and to connect to the Shanghai-Nanjing Intercity Railway in Changzhou. In this way, it can not only better meet the traffic needs of cities along the route, but also effectively shorten the travel time from northern Jiangsu to southern Jiangsu and promote the balanced development of regional economy.
At the same time, the imminent completion of the Changtai Railway Bridge also provides strong support for this plan. As a transportation artery connecting Changzhou and Taizhou, the Changtai Railway will form a seamless connection with the Yantai-Xichangyi Railway once completed, and quickly form a high-speed rail channel in northern and southern Jiangsu. This passage will greatly shorten the travel time from Yancheng to Wuxi, Shanghai and other places, and strengthen the connection and cooperation between cities along the route.
In addition, considering the construction progress and long period of the Jingjiang Jiangyin Corridor, it is undoubtedly wise to give priority to the construction of the Yancheng-Taizhou section, the Changzhou-Yixing section and the Changtai railway. This will bring more convenient transportation conditions to the regions along the route and promote the rapid growth of the regional economy.
To sum up, the planning of the Yantai-Xichangyi Railway should pay more attention to actual needs and economic benefits. By optimizing route selection and speeding up construction schedule, we can better play the important role of the high-speed rail network in promoting regional economic development. Let's look forward to the early completion and opening of this high-speed rail project!