Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai led his country to build numerous railways during his 27 years in office, but he could not see one leading to his hometown: it is now completed - 28 years after his death. 

After trial operation with freight trains, the first railway line in Zhou's hometown of Huai'an City in east China's Jiangsu Province opened to passenger trains early this month.

The 280 kilometer railway runs from Huai'an City to Nantong City, which is also in Jiangsu.

The newly-opened line is a section of the railway linking Xinyi City in Jiangsu and Changxing City in neighboring Zhejiang Province.  

(CRI July 12, 2004)