SHENYANG - The first coastal express railway in northeast China was officially put into use on Thursday, injecting new vigor to the old industrial belt.

The 290.7 km Danda Railway links the coastal cities of Dandong and Dalian in Liaoning Province. Trains can run at speeds of 200 km per hour, according to Shenyang Railway Bureau.

Construction of the railway for both passenger and cargo transportation began in 2010. Initially, 24 passenger trains and 34 freight trains will run on the line each day.

The railway, the first between the two important port cities, will boost the local economy, said a railway official.

Connected with the Shenyang-Dandong high-speed railway (HSR) and the Harbin-Dalian HSR, the new route is an important addition to the railway network in Liaoning.

Dandong is the key hub for trade, investment and tourism between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.