On October 6th, the Shanghai Railway Bureau Group shared some exciting updates about the Hangzhou-Wenzhou High-Speed Railway, which officially opened on September 6th. This new rail line connects Hangzhou to Yiwu and Wenzhou and has quickly become a major success, transporting over 720,000 passengers in its first month of operation.
Can you provide an overview of the Hangzhou-Wenzhou High-Speed Railway and its route?
The Hangzhou-Wenzhou High-Speed Railway spans 276 kilometers with a top speed of 350 kilometers per hour. It starts at the Tonglu East Station in Hangzhou and travels through Jinhua, Taizhou, and Wenzhou before reaching Wenzhou South Station via the existing Hangzhou-Shenzhen railway. The line includes nine stations: Tonglu East, Pujiang, Yiwu, Hengdian, Pan’an, Xianju, Nanshui River, Wenzhou North, and Wenzhou South. This railway represents a new era of high-speed travel for regions like Xianju, Pan’an, Dongyang, and Pujiang, allowing them to join Zhejiang’s “one-hour traffic circle.”
What are the current operational statistics for this line?
Currently, the Hangzhou-Wenzhou High-Speed Railway operates at a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour. In its early days, the railway department ran as many as 38 trains daily to meet various passenger needs, utilizing a flexible pricing strategy that offers discounts and different ticket prices. Impressively, over 470,000 passengers boarded or disembarked at the five newly constructed stations—Pujiang, Hengdian, Pan’an, Xianju, and Nanshui River—in just one month.
How has the local tourism sector reacted to the railway’s launch?
Local tourism departments have significantly boosted their investments in the travel market following the railway’s opening. They’ve implemented attractive incentives, such as free admission to scenic spots with a train ticket purchase, which has effectively drawn in numerous visitors. A representative from the Xianju County Culture and Tourism Bureau noted a nearly 30% increase in visitors to attractions like Shenshanju since the railway commenced operations.
What other changes can travelers expect in the areas served by this line?
Guo Jingang, Director of the Dongyang Comprehensive Transportation Hub, explained that 16 new bus routes have been introduced since the high-speed railway launched, greatly enhancing access to popular sites like Hengdian. The connection between the railway station and various tourist destinations has never been more seamless.
What impact has the new railway had on daily passenger volumes at stations in the region?
Yang Jianhong, head of marketing at Hangzhou Station, reported that daily passenger numbers at Hangzhou West and Tonglu East stations have surged to nearly 26,000. Specifically, Hangzhou West Station is now experiencing over 24,000 travelers each day—an increase of about 4,000 since the railway’s debut, amounting to an impressive 20% growth.
Lastly, could you discuss the performance of this railway in terms of passenger statistics?
Jiang Youzhong, head of marketing at the Jinhua Railway Bureau, noted that Hengdian Station is leading the five new stations in passenger volume, averaging over 3,000 travelers per day since the railway opened.
As the Hangzhou-Wenzhou High-Speed Railway continues to flourish, it appears there is much to look forward to for both locals and visitors alike!
