(Yicai Global) Dec. 30 -- China has opened the world's first autonomous railway with a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour, linking Beijing and Hebei province's Zhangjiakou years ahead of the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

China Railway Group has kicked off Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway, as well as Chongli railway, a 53-kilometer branch line to Chongli Olympic Village, the Beijing-based locomotive giant said in a statement. 

The 174-kilometer Beijing-Zhangjiakou route shortens the journey to 47 minutes from over 3 hours. During the Olympic Games, trains will be installed with special coaches for broadcasting and storing sports equipment.

China Railway started the project in December 2015 with a planned investment of CNY58.4 billion (USD8.3 billion).

Editor: Emmi Laine