The railway, built in 1904, was the main traffic line between Jinan, the capital of Shandong, and the seaside city of Qingdao, where some Olympic events will be held in 2008.

The train from Jinan to Qingdao normally takes about four to seven hours. After electrification, the trip will take only about three hours with the locomotive running at a maximum speed of 140-160 kilometers per hour, according to experts.

Competition from an expressway which only takes four hours by bus and the coming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, is the main reason for the electrification, said an official of the Jinan railway bureau.

The project is scheduled to end in 2004, and estimated to cost about 4.16 billion yuan (US$504 million).

(Edited from Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2002)