The Zhangtang railway in northern China’s Hebei province designed to transport coal from neighboring Inner Mongolia is expected to commence operation by November 30, 2015, local media reported.

The railway started construction on the communication system, signaling, power transformation, and overhead lines of the railway project on July 19, the Hebei Daily reported.

The 528.5 km-long railway is the first phase of a railway project for coal transportation from coal-rich Inner Mongolia. It links Hebei’s Zhangjiakou city to Caofeidian port, a major coal transfer port.

In the future, the railway will extend to Ordos of Inner Mongolia, becoming another major coal dedicated railway after Daqin and Shuohuang rail lines.

Zhangjiakou is also a major railway junction that links with Zhangji (Zhangjiakou to Ulanqab of Inner Mongolia) and Jingbao (Beijing to Baotou of Inner Mongolia) rail lines, both are important transportation routes for coal-rich Inner Mongolia.