Shanghai is gearing up for a major boost in its high-speed rail network with the opening of two new stations – Liantang Railway Station in Qingpu District and Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station.
The stations will be part of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou High-speed Railway which has entered its final testing phase and is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
A high-speed inspection train for the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou High-speed Railway races across Huzhou's Nanxun District.
The high-speed railway, which will connect Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Huzhou Railway Station in Zhejiang Province, spans approximately 163 kilometers with a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour.
The line will feature eight stations, including the Songjiang and Liantang stations. The other new stations include Suzhou South, Shengze, Huzhou Nanxun, and Huzhou East.
As a backbone of the Yangtze River Delta Intercity Rail Network, the high-speed railway is set to significantly improve accessibility within the Yangtze River Delta region with travel times drastically reduced.
The journey from Shanghai Hongqiao to Suzhou South will take just 20 minutes; travel between Shanghai and Huzhou just 40 minutes; the commute from Shanghai's Songjiang District to Huzhou's Nanxun District shortened to about half an hour.
The high-speed railway will offer an additional travel option between Hangzhou and Shanghai, with direct trains running between Hangzhou West Railway Station and Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.
Construction of the new stations is nearing completion. Work on the roof and exterior facade of Liantang station in Shanghai's Qingpu District is almost done and is preparing for its official opening.
Liantang Railway Station
Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station,the largest newly built station along the line, has completed its roof construction and is in the final stages of interior decoration and mechanical and electrical installation.
As a key node in the high-speed rail network connecting core cities in the Yangtze River Delta region, Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station, with its 9 platforms and 23 lines, will be the most accessible station for Shanghai passengers following the opening of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou High-speed Railway. Dubbed the "Songjiang Hub", its station nameplate was unveiled on October 17.
With the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou High-speed Railway scheduled to be operational by the end of the year, Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station will be opened simultaneously.
The design of Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station showcases the concept of "station-city integration" through its striking architecture with a combination of flowing horizontal lines and simple vertical lines.