The Harbin-Yichun High-Speed Railway, China's northernmost high-speed rail line, officially entered service on Monday.

The railway runs through a region of discontinuous permafrost in northeast's China's Heilongjiang Province, connecting the forest city of Yichun and Harbin, the provincial capital.

The south-bound first train departed from Yichunxi Railway Station, or Yichun West Railway Station, at 10:26 and is scheduled to arrive in Harbin at around 12:12, significantly reducing travel time between the two cities, according to China Railway Harbin Group Co., Ltd.

The new line spans 318 kilometers with a designed speed of 250 kilometers per hour and nine stations along the route.

Yichunxi Railway Station is currently the highest-latitude high-speed railway station in China and the largest newly built station along the entire line, with the capacity to accommodate 1,500 passengers waiting at the same time.

Located in a high-latitude, severely cold region where winter temperatures can plunge to minus 40 degrees Celsius, the station features special cold-resistant and frost-proof designs. The platform floor has been treated with anti-slip surfacing to improve friction and freeze resistance to ensure passenger safety and comfort in the harsh environment.

"In the initial period of operation, the railway department will arrange up to 19 pairs of bullet trains. It takes only 8 hours and 46 minutes to travel from Yichunxi [station] to Beijing Chaoyang station. The fastest journey between Harbin and Yichunxi [station] takes just one hour and 46 minutes," said Li Xiaowei, deputy director of the Passenger Transport Department, China Railway Harbin Group Co., Ltd.

As Yichun is nestled in the heart of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, a mountain range in Heilongjiang, the new rail line connects many of the area's ecological scenic spots to the country's high-speed rail network.

In addition to the Harbin-Yichun High-Speed Railway, three other major high-speed rail lines were opened to traffic on Monday in China, which is home to the world's largest high-speed rail network.