The rail-laying of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's first electrified railway was completed on Monday.

The railway, which will be part of the trans- continental railway network linking China's coastal regions with southern European countries, connects the region's Jinghe, Yining and Horgos.

Construction of the railway, with an investment of 6 billion yuan (US$877 million) started in 2004. It is expected to open to traffic in November.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2009)