CHENGDU, Sept.16 -- A high speed rail (HSR) linking Chengdu and Chongqing, both in southwest China, is expected to be operational by the end of the year, local authorities said Wednesday.

The 308-km railway will reduce travel time between the two cities from around two hours to about one and a half hour during its initial operational stage.

On Wednesday, engineers began to test the new line, which stretches 185 km across Sichuan Province and runs 123 km through Chongqing City. A total of 309 bridges and 38 tunnels were built along the main line.

The railway is part of a major east-west high-speed rail corridor project included in China's national high-speed railway development plan.