Published : 03/11/2025

On the morning of 3 November 1997, the 41 members of the National Acceptance Committee for the Beijing-Kowloon Railway solemnly signed their names on the "Beijing-Kowloon Railway Project Acceptance Certificate".

With this, the world-renowned Beijing-Kowloon Railway, which had been in trial operation for 14 months, officially passed the national acceptance inspection.

The "Acceptance Certificate" at the time stated: "The overall quality of the design and construction of the Beijing-Kowloon Railway is excellent, representing a model of high-quality, rapid, and efficient railway construction."

The Beijing-Kowloon Railway, spanning nine provinces and municipalities including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Hubei, Jiangxi, and Guangdong, has a main line stretching 2,553 kilometers.

Construction commenced in sections from north to south starting in November 1992. The track-laying was completed ahead of schedule at the Jiangxi-Guangdong provincial border in November 1995.

On April 1, 1996, temporary operational flow control was implemented along the entire line. In August of the same year, the Ministry of Railways organized a preliminary inspection and acceptance of the entire line.

Starting September 1, the railway was placed under provisional management and operation by the Beijing, Jinan, Zhengzhou, Shanghai, and Nanchang Railway Administrations, as well as the Guangzhou Railway (Group) Corporation.

On 28 October 1997, members of the National Acceptance Committee inspected the entire Beijing-Kowloon line for five days, and began holding meetings in Beijing on 2 November of the same year.

The acceptance committee unanimously affirmed the high quality of the Beijing-Kowloon Railway project. They found the route alignment and overall layout to be rational, with substantial transport capacity and provisions for future development. All technical standards were appropriately selected, and the engineering design complied with national and ministerial regulations for new railway construction.

The technology and equipment employed were advanced and comprehensive, representing the scientific and technological level of the 1990s. Project management and construction methods were innovative, and the robust quality assurance measures resulted in a 100% pass rate and an excellence rate exceeding 90%, marking a significant step forward in overall engineering quality.

Furthermore, the project was completed swiftly with well-controlled investment. The design and construction phases emphasized land conservation and reclamation, while environmental protection measures met national approval requirements. The as-built documentation was also complete and accurate.

The entire project fulfilled the requirements of the design task specification. The committee gave the design and construction an overall excellent rating, declaring the Beijing-Kowloon Railway a model of high-quality, rapid, and efficient railway construction. They therefore approved the project for official acceptance.