China approves US$ 9.3 billion for a new high-speed rail line integrating Shanghai International airport
China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has given the green light to a major new high-speed rail link between Shanghai and Hangzhou. It is part of a broader push to expand the country’s already vast rail network.
The 222.8 km line will connect Shanghai East—a new station under construction near Pudong Airport—to Hangzhou in just 40 minutes. Both cities are already linked by a high-speed train. The new line will cut nearly a third off the current fastest journey.
The $9.35 billion project will serve nine stations. It includes new stops at Fengxian, Shanghai Jinshan, Pinghu City, and Linping. Existing stations at Situan, Jiaxing South, Tongxiang, and Hangzhou West will be upgraded to handle the expected surge in traffic.
For Shanghai East, the project marks a significant milestone. The station is set to become a key transportation hub, linking Pudong Airport with high-speed rail for the first time. The project will boost the airport’s competitiveness with its rivals in China, including Hong Kong.
The new line is expected to drive economic integration between Shanghai and Zhejiang province, supporting growth in the Yangtze River Delta, one of China’s most dynamic economic regions.
Tibet to get further integrated to China rail network
The NDRC also approved construction of a 234.5 km line in Tibet on the Sichuan-Tibet Railway. The $3.1 billion project will initially open with five stations. It will improve access in a region where rail development can be logistically challenging.
Meanwhile, construction will begin next month on the Yining–Aksu line in Xinjiang, a region bordering Central Asia. The 794 km single-track electrified line will require six years to build and carry a price tag of $5.3 billion. Designed for speeds up to 160 km/h, it will feature 24 stations, half of them equipped with passing loops to support mixed passenger and freight traffic.
These three projects highlight Beijing’s strategy of enhancing connectivity. With more than 45,000 km of high-speed rail already in operation, China continues to cement its position as the world leader in high speed train network.
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