Kaiyang branch electrification achieves major milestone on Sichuan-Guizhou Railway

The Tiantai traction substation. [Photo by Wei Zhengling]

At 16:30 on Aug 13, the Tiantai traction substation of the Kaiyang branch of the Sichuan-Guizhou railway line, located in Kaiyang county, Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, was successfully powered up in a single attempt.

In March this year, the Guizhou Power Supply Section, Guizhou Signal Section, Guizhou Track Maintenance Section, and other units under China Railway Chengdu Group Co began work on the electrification upgrade of the 28-kilometer line from Xiaozhaiba Station to Zhongxin Station on the Kaiyang branch.

The traction substation is crucial for ensuring the safe, reliable, and stable operation of trains, and is often referred to as the "heart" of the traction power supply system. The successful powering and normal operation of the substation are key to providing support for the next phase of work and ensuring that the testing process can proceed smoothly.

The Tiantai traction substation serves as a "converter" between China Southern Power Grid and the railway, transforming the 110-kilovolt high-voltage electricity supplied by China Southern Power Grid into the 27.5 kV needed for electric locomotives, enabling trains to move rapidly along the tracks.

Once the electrification upgrade of the Kaiyang branch is completed, it will further enhance freight transport capacity, reduce transportation costs, and lower the energy consumption and environmental impact associated with diesel locomotives.

This project is significant for optimizing transportation, accelerating the external shipment of Kaiyang's phosphate mine products, and boosting the economic development of Kaiyang.