Ningbo-Zhoushan Railway Advances With Major Undersea Tunnel

China, September 2026 – The Jintang undersea tunnel forms a key component of the Ningbo-Zhoushan railway, a major rail infrastructure project designed to improve connectivity between Ningbo and Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province. The railway requires extensive engineering works across coastal and marine environments.

The tunnel runs from Beilun District in Ningbo toward Jintang town and passes beneath the seabed at a depth of approximately 92 metres. Its construction represents one of the technically demanding elements of the railway, requiring tunnelling techniques capable of operating under significant water and geological pressures.

The project highlights the growing role of high-speed rail in connecting major coastal cities and island-based communities. By providing a direct railway connection to Zhoushan, the line is expected to strengthen passenger transport links and support the movement of people and economic activity across the Ningbo-Zhoushan area.

The use of an undersea tunnel allows the railway to overcome geographical barriers that would otherwise require longer surface routes or alternative transport infrastructure. The project therefore illustrates how increasingly sophisticated tunnelling technology is enabling rail networks to extend across challenging coastal environments.

Progress on the Jintang tunnel forms part of China's broader development of high-speed rail and integrated transport infrastructure. Its construction demonstrates the scale of engineering required to extend rail connectivity through complex terrain and marine environments while supporting the development of more comprehensive regional transport networks.

Source: Global Times