During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, “Hubei on Rail” has developed into a comprehensive high-speed railway network, with operating mileage rising to rank among the top five nationwide and achieving high-speed railway connectivity between all cities. Located in the central part of China's railway network, Hubei province connects north and south, links east and west, and serves as a vital national railway hub.

　　On September 28, 2025, the Xiangyang-Jingmen High Speed Railway commenced operation, reducing the fastest travel time between Xiangyangdong Railway Station and Jingmenxi Railway Station to just 29 minutes. This significantly shortened travel time between central Hubei cities and marked the formation of the province’s first circular high-speed railway. On December 26, the Wuhan-Yichang section of the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High Speed Railway along the Yangtze River officially opened, enabling the fastest travel time between Wuhan and Yichang to be just 69 minutes. This created a rapid passenger transport corridor between the Jianghan Plain and western Hubei, bringing multiple cities along the route into the high-speed railway era and providing a solid foundation for coordinated regional development. Data show that in 2025, CR-Wuhan completed 11.3 billion yuan in infrastructure investment, demonstrating the strong growth momentum of “Hubei on Rail.”

　　With an extensive railway network in place, vitality continues to surge. In 2025, CR-Wuhan transported a total of 196 million passengers and 95.678 million tons of freight, both achieving year-on-year growth. The simultaneous growth of passenger and freight flows highlights the dynamic development momentum of “Hubei on Rail.”

　　Meanwhile, railways have further enhanced Hubei’s role as a gateway for opening up. In 2025, a total of 902 CRE trains (Wuhan) were operated, representing a year-on-year increase of 19.3%. These “steel camel caravans,” loaded with “Made in China” products, are heading to global markets and bringing back high-quality goods from around the world, building an international bridge for Hubei to become a new inland hub of openness.

　　From a “thoroughfare of nine provinces” to a “gateway connecting all regions,” from “a network of high-speed railways” to “global connectivity,” “Hubei on Rail” is moving toward an even broader future.