BEIJING - The Nanchang-Changsha high speed railway in South China will start operation on September 16, facilitating easy connection between China's central regions and prosperous east.

The 342-km railway covers seven stations with a maximum speed of 350 km. It is expected to cut travel time between the two cities from 3.5 hours to 1.5 hours, the China Railway Corporation said.

The railway, part of the central section of the Shanghai-Kunming railway, will serve as a quick channel for people and goods transport between the country's central areas and the Yangtze River Delta.

Trial operation of the railway started in July after four years of construction beginning in 2010.

China had the world's longest high speed railway network with the operation length over 10,000 km by the end of 2013. Seven more lines are scheduled to be completed this year.