Hohhot's CRH (China railway high-speed) service station, a key adjunct project in the Hohhot-Zhangjiakou Railway, finished construction and went into operation on Nov 13. All high-speed trains at the Hohhot railway bureau will receive maintenance and repair at the station, which is the first of its kind in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and a key infrastructure for high-speed trains.

Inner Mongolia's first CRH service station goes into operation goes into operation on Nov 13. [Photo by Lian Zhen/Xinhua]

The service station is 3 kilometers east of the East Hohhot Station and covers an area of 46.6 hectares. It involves an investment of 677 million yuan ($110.46) and has an inspection room, a temporary repair room, a train exterior washing room, a storage yard and 299 repair facilities. It was built with high standards, sound functions, and a high degree of automation and modernization.

“At the moment, Hohhot’s service station has the capacity of repairing I and II electric multiple units,” said Zeng Yiqiang, deputy director of the station. The train unit will receive maintenance and repair at night after running in the daytime, and the service station serves as their home.

Inner Mongolia's first CRH service station goes into operation goes into operation on Nov 13. [Photo by Lian Zhen/Xinhua]

The service station covers various high-tech equipment in the fields of communication, signaling, electric power, electrification and vehicle engineering, as well as repair systems, including multiple units management, safety interlocking monitoring, shunting security monitoring and control, pantograph dynamic detection, wheel set tread on-line monitoring and tool material distribution.

The Hohhot-Baotou CRH will use CRH5 models that are suitable to run in high and cold areas in North China. It will apply multiple units and have an overall trip speed of 250 kilometers an hour. The train will offer first and second class seats, as well as dining services. It can accommodate 622 passengers. Dynamic inspection and tests have been going on recently to ensure safe operations.

Edited by Liu Yufen and Michael Thai