China is building an unprecedented high-speed rail system that is expected to exceed 30,500 kilometers (19,000 miles) by 2020. With this project, China is planning to connect the capitals of its 27 provinces and offer speedy train routes to commuters and travellers. The system includes 11 high-speed rail lines. To date, over 19,000 kilometers of the system are operational, significantly reducing travel time for its citizens.

WSP was mandated to provide professional services on four sections of the China High-Speed Rail (HSR) program with a combined line length of over 800 kilometers, 100 tunnels totaling 260 kilometers, and 280 bridges. This project’s main challenge was that it extended over vast remote areas which some even were uninhabited regions in the mountains.

WSP provided services such as project management, systems assurance, systems integration, Safety and risk management and construction supervision services on four sections of the China HSR program.

Our involvement began in 2005, on the 476 kilometers (285 miles) high-speed passenger dedicated line, linking Zhengzhou and Xi’an, two ancient capitals of China located in Henan and Shaanxi provinces. As part of a consortium, we provided project management advice, systems assurance advice and construction supervision services for this new line, which included 38 tunnels totalling 75 kilometers (47 miles), and 140 bridges totalling 225 kilometers. The project was undertaken on a highly accelerated schedule and opened in 2010. It now saves users up to six hours in travel time between these major cities.

From 2005 to 2009, we worked on the 161-kilometer Shijiazhuang – Taiyuan Line, where we provided construction supervision services for 32 tunnels totalling of 74 kilometers (47 miles), and 82 bridges with a total length of 33 kilometers. Services included building the 27.8-km (17.2 miles) Taihangshan tunnel and the 11.5-km (7.1 miles) Nanliang tunnel, two of the longest on the Chinese HSR system.

We also worked on these two lines:

Changsha to Kunming, Guizhou Section, Construction Supervision Package 5 & 6

Client: Chang Kun PDL Guizhou Company

Duration: 2010 – 2016

The Changsha to Kunming Line (Chang-Kun Line), which is part of the 2,066 kilometers (1,283 miles) Shanghai to Kunming line, is one of its essential lines.  It is one of four East - West HSR corridors. The 1,167 kilometers (725 miles) long Chang Kun Line goes through mountainous terrain. Due to the size and complexity of the project, as well as logistical challenges arising from the remote location, the construction stage was divided into 6 construction supervision contracts and 12 construction contracts.

WSP was awarded (in JV with the Beijing Tieyan Construction Supervision Co.,Ltd) the construction supervision package 5 & 6 for the Guizhou section. Our main responsibilities are to provide international expertise, which includes chief supervising engineers, construction supervision team leaders and resident engineers to support the local teams.