The Shanghai-Wuhan-Chengdu express rail line will be fully operational this month when the section between Chongqing and Lichuan opens.

It will take just eight hours for passengers to travel from Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, to Chongqing when the express line comes into service on Dec 28, halving the present journey time, according to railway authorities in Wuhan.

Meanwhile, the journey time from Wuhan to Chengdu will be shortened to 10 hours, it said.