New Shanghai-Hangzhou line to slash travel times

The National Development and Reform Commission has approved the feasibility study for a new high-speed railway connecting Shanghai and Hangzhou, according to an announcement on its website on Aug 21.

The project involves an investment of 67.10 billion yuan ($9.34 billion) and will cover about 223.8 kilometers.

Known as the Shanghai-Zhapu-Hangzhou High-Speed Railway, the line will serve as the second direct high-speed rail link between Shanghai and Hangzhou.

It will start from Hangzhou West Railway Station, pass through Jiaxing in Zhejiang province, and connect to the under-construction Shanghai East Station.

Trains will operate at speeds of up to 350 km/h, with planned stops at Shanghai East, Jiaxing South, and Hangzhou West stations, among others.

Once operational, travel time between locations such as Linping North Station in Hangzhou and Shanghai Pudong International Airport is expected to be around 40 minutes.

Long-term plans also envision a future Shanghai-Hangzhou super high-speed maglev line, with space already reserved for the project in Hangzhou's urban planning.