According to plans, during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, China will build no less than 23,000 kilometers of new railways with a total investment of no less than RMB 2.8 trillion. If some investment projects compiled by local governments are included, the railway investment during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period will far exceed RMB 2.8 trillion. Preliminary market forecasts indicate that 2017 will continue to be a peak year for the construction of high-speed railways in China.

This article only predicts the high-speed railway lines that will start construction in 2017 and does not represent actual results. Due to the long construction cycle of high-speed railways and the many factors involved in starting construction, some lines originally scheduled to start at the end of 2016 may be delayed to 2017, and some lines scheduled to start at the end of 2017 may be delayed to 2018. Therefore, if there are discrepancies between the predictions in this article and the actual construction starts, readers' understanding is appreciated. The scope of high-speed railways defined in this article is 250 km/h, 300 km/h, and above 350 km/h.

I. Predicted Lines to Start Construction in 2017

Preliminary market forecasts indicate that in 2017, China's new high-speed railway lines are expected to reach 4,272.58 kilometers, with lines at speeds of 300 km/h and above accounting for about 74.20% of the total, or 3,177.75 kilometers.

II. Introduction to Predicted Lines to Start Construction in 2017

Hefei-Huai'an Railway

Project Overview: The Hefei-Huai'an Railway is an important part of the Hefei-Qingdao corridor. Once completed, it will enable Huai'an to access the northeast and southwest directions in a deeper manner. The current route alignment is not clear, with a debate between the southern and northern routes. The preliminary plan is to build a new 270-kilometer railway with an investment of RMB 35 billion and a design speed of 250 km/h.

Latest Progress: In May 2016, the project was included in the "Three-Year Action Plan for Major Transportation Infrastructure Projects" and is scheduled to start construction in 2017.

Baotou-Yinchuan High-Speed Railway

Project Overview: The new Baotou-Yinchuan High-Speed Railway project is a key project of the "13th Five-Year Plan" railway construction in Inner Mongolia and Ningxia. It passes through Baotou, Bayannur, Erdos, Wuhai in Inner Mongolia, and Shizuishan, Yinchuan in Ningxia, with a total length of over 550 kilometers and a design speed of 250 km/h.

Latest Progress: In June 2016, TieSanYuan won the bid for the survey and design project of the new Baotou-Yinchuan Railway; in October 2016, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia jointly held a symposium to promote the construction of the Baotou-Yinchuan High-Speed Railway, planning to start construction in 2017; in November 2016, relevant units organized a field survey along the Baotou-Yinchuan High-Speed Railway.

Yancheng-Nantong High-Speed Railway

Project Overview: The Yancheng-Nantong High-Speed Railway starts from the Yancheng Station and connects to the Xu-Su-Huai-Yan Line, passing through Chengnan New Area, Tinghu District, Dafeng District, Dongtai City, Hai'an County, and Rutian City before entering Tongzhou District and connecting to the Shanghai-Tongzhou Railway at Pingdong Station. The total length is 159 kilometers, with a new main line of 148 kilometers and a design speed of 250 km/h. The total investment is estimated to be RMB 19.2 billion. Construction is planned to start in 2017 and be completed in 2020.

Latest Progress: In August 2016, the environmental impact assessment of the Yancheng-Nantong High-Speed Railway was publicly announced; in October 2016, the feasibility study report of the project passed expert review; in November 2016, the feasibility study report of the project was approved.

Jinan-Laiwu Intercity Railway

Project Overview: The Jinan-Laiwu Intercity Railway starts from the planned Jinan East Station, crosses the Jiaoji Railway along the East Ring Expressway, enters Zhangqiu, and reaches Laiwu Snow Lake after passing through Jinan Botanical Garden and Wenzu Street in Buzhen Town, Zhangqiu. It continues south to Laiwu East Station and Laiwu Steel City District. The total length is 115.831 kilometers, with a design speed of 250 km/h.

Latest Progress: In April 2014, the Jinan-Laiwu Intercity Railway was included in the "Adjustment Plan for the Intercity Railway Planning of Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration in the Bohai Rim Region (2014-2020)" approved by the National Development and Reform Commission; in April 2016, Shandong Provincial Development and Reform Commission organized experts to conduct a site survey of the planned route of the Jinan-Laiwu Intercity Railway and held a pre-feasibility study review meeting; in November 2016, the feasibility study of the Jinan-Laiwu Intercity Railway was completed, and construction is planned to start in 2017.

Guangzhou-Shanwei Railway

Project Overview: The Guangzhou-Shanwei Railway main line runs from Guangzhou Station to Shanwei Station of the Xiamen-Shenzhen Railway, passing through Guangzhou, Huizhou, Shanwei, and other cities. The main line is 238.80 kilometers long, with 231.494 kilometers of new construction. There are a total of 10 stations, including Guangzhou Station, Guangzhou East Station, Xintang Station, Zengcheng South, Luofu Mountain, Boluo, Huicheng South, Huicheng East, Chishi, and Shanwei, with 6 new stations. The total investment is RMB 51.3 billion.

Latest Progress: In May 2016, the project was included in the "Three-Year Action Plan for Major Transportation Infrastructure Projects" and is scheduled to start construction in 2017; in August 2016, the second environmental impact assessment of the Guangzhou-Shanwei Passenger Dedicated Line was released; in September 2016, the feasibility study report of the Guangzhou-Shanwei Passenger Dedicated Line was submitted for approval.

Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway

Project Overview: The Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway is part of the Beijing-Zhengzhou-Chongqing-Kunming diagonal railway corridor. It passes through Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan, with a total length of about 720 kilometers and a design speed of 350 km/h. The project is estimated to cost about RMB 117 billion.

Latest Progress: In July 2016, the National Development and Reform Commission released the "Medium- and Long-Term Railway Network Plan" (2016-2025), which included the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway in the "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed railway network; in late November 2016, the feasibility study report of the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway passed expert review.