High-speed train attendants welcome passengers to the G55505 train. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]
A new high-speed railway line connecting Shanghai to the cities of Suzhou and Huzhou in East China’s Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces began trial operations on Nov 23, marking a milestone in an infrastructure project set to further integrate the economically vital Yangtze River Delta region.
At 9:27 am, the first trial operation train, G55505, departed from Shanghai Hongqiao Station, running along the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou high-speed rail line, and arrived at the destination Huzhou Station in Zhejiang at 10:10 am.
The 163-kilometer Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou high-speed rail line has a designed operating speed of 350 km/h. The entire line features eight stations, with two existing stations and six new ones.
Passengers onboard the G55505 train. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]
Upon completion, the high-speed rail journey from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Huzhou Station will be reduced from around two hours to about one hour.
The trial operations will continue for around a month, with the line expected to be ready for official operations by late December, according to China Railway Shanghai Group.
“The Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou high-speed rail is a significant infrastructure interconnection project for Shanghai, Suzhou and Huzhou. It is also a key project for the Yangtze River Delta region’s high-speed rail network integration, densification and enhancement,” said Feng Chenglin, deputy head of the Shanghai railway hub project of China Railway Shanghai Group Co Ltd.
High-speed train attendants celebrate the trial operation of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou high-speed rail line. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]
Feng noted that after its official opening, the new line will effectively alleviate transport pressure on the Shanghai-Nanjing and Shanghai-Hangzhou rail corridors.
“This is crucial for promoting high-quality integrated development in the region,” Feng added.
Wei Qiang, a senior engineer from the China Railway Shanghai Group Co Ltd, said that the trial operations mainly involve testing operating schedules, simulating faults, conducting emergency rescue drills, and on-schedule operations in line with test outlines.
,https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20241125/bc803cba993a4d2692764016777196b8.html