'Super Metro' in YRD to feature three stations in Suzhou

Zhejiang province has recently approved the preliminary design of Water Town Tourism Intercity Railway and its connecting line in the province that runs from Jiashan to Xitang. The approval has made the seamless connection between Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, as well as the vision of "Yangtze River Delta (YRD) on Rail" possible.

The preliminary design report of the Jiangsu section of Water Town Tourism Intercity Railway was approved by Jiangsu province this April. With a design speed of 160 km/h, the section spans 27.314 km, passes through Fenhu Hi-tech Zone, Wujiang Economic and Technological Development Zone, and East Taihu Lake Tourism Zone, and includes three newly planned stations: Fenhu Station, Suzhou South Station, and Bache Station - all located within Wujiang district of Suzhou. Construction is expected to begin this month.

As a key part of Shanghai-Suzhou-Jiaxing Intercity Railway, Water Town Tourism Intercity Railway will connect with Shanghai Demonstration Zone Line and the Jiashan-Xitang Line at Water Town Living Room Station, enabling transfer between Shanghai, Suzhou, and Jiaxing at a single station.

With a total length of 132 km, Water Town Tourism Intercity Railway starts from Water Town Living Room Station in Shanghai Demonstration Zone, passes through Suzhou, Huzhou, and Jiaxing, and ends at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport.

Though the design speed is slower than that of a high-speed railway, the line features more frequent station stops, allowing more residents to access it from stations near their home. For this reason, many refer to it as a "Super Metro." Moreover, it will form an extensive rail network with such railways as Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou High-speed Railway, Nantong-Suzhou -Jiaxing-Ningbo High-speed Railway, and Rudong-Nantong-Suzhou-Huzhou Intercity Railway.

Shanghai-Suzhou-Jiaxing Intercity Railway, a flagship project promoting connectivity in the YRD integrated development zone, is comprised of Shanghai Demonstration Zone Line, Water Town Tourism Intercity Railway, and the Jiashan-Xitang Line and the Jiaxing-Fengnan Line in Zhejiang.

Source：iSuzhou