The speedy construction also significantly reduced commuting times between two cities.

16:54, Sun, Feb 15, 2026 Updated: 16:59, Sun, Feb 15, 2026

China new train

The seven-hour train journey was reduced to 90 minutes thanks to a nine-hour overnight operation (Image: Getty)

A major rail operation in the Chinese city of Longyan has dramatically cut journey times after an intensive overnight engineering project linked an existing station to a newly constructed railway line. Until recently, Longyan - a city of about 2.7 million people - relied on a single active passenger station. Travel between Longyan and Nanping, 300km away, used to take seven hours by train. Following the upgrade, that journey now takes just 90 minutes.

The breakthrough came after a carefully timed nine-hour closure of rail services, during which engineers connected a new stretch of track to three existing railway branches. The entire plan was the result of three months of detailed research, simulations and preparation designed to ensure the work could be completed with minimal disruption.

Platform

The station's platform (Image: Supplied)

With millions of residents depending on rail services for commuting within the city and to surrounding areas, any prolonged closure could have caused major delays and road congestion. To avoid that, the project was split into seven separate work zones, all operating simultaneously, critically reducing the total time required.

The scale of manpower and machinery concentrated into such a narrow time frame made the operation one of the most ambitious of its kind. In total, around 1,500 workers were deployed, as.com reported. They were supported by 23 excavators and seven service trains.

After approximately eight and a half hours of continuous overnight work, the station was ready to reopen.

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The construction process was a masterfully coordinated gig. Each of the seven work zones had specialist teams assigned to specific tasks. Some focused on signalling systems, control technology and monitoring equipment, while others handled ground preparation, removal of old materials and resurfacing work involving asphalt and concrete.

Excavators and service trains operated without interruption, effectively forming a moving supply chain that transported materials, removed debris and kept crews supplied throughout the night. The operation required near-exact timing to ensure each phase connected seamlessly with the next.

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The line now supports train speeds of up to 124 miles per hour.

China has invested heavily in rail infrastructure over the past two decades as part of broader economic development and regional integration strategies. The country has built a reputation for what are known as short-window operations - large infrastructure upgrades completed within extremely limited service closures, particularly on active rail lines. These projects demand precise scheduling and intensive coordination.