Xinhua News reported that China will invest CNY 120 billion to build a second railway traversing the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The report said that construction is expected to begin next year, and the new line will facilitate the transport of agricultural products and minerals, mainly coal, out of Xinjiang, by relieving congestion on the existing line.

Since its first railway launched in 1962, Xinjiang has built more than 3,000 kilometer of railways with another 2,200 kilometer of track under construction.