Nanjing is now officially set to have three high-speed railway stations by the time this decade is out, with the go ahead being given for another gigantic rail hub, one strategically placed to compliment the two already operating in the Southern Capital.
On 31 January, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Transport revealed that the plan for Nanjing North Railway Station as a comprehensive transportation hub had received final approval from the Nanjing Municipal Government.
The Nanjinger last reported on progress as to this giant undertaking in October of 2019, a time when it was envisaged that Nanjing North would begin operations in 2025. Then the world went pear shaped, putting the project 3 years behind schedule.
Now though, it appears Nanjing North Railway Station is back on track.
Located in Jiangbei New Area, close to the existing Linchang Station on Metro Line 3, Nanjing North will be big, with 16 platforms, as reports Nanjing Daily.
This will make it about two thirds the size of the monstrous Nanjing South. Much of the site for Nanjing North is presently utilised as a depot by the Nanjing Metro.
The new northern rail hub for Nanjing shall largely focus on providing regional services, connecting up currently-underserved parts of Jiangsu and Anhui, together with slightly further afield destinations, such as Hubei Province and other parts of east-central China.
Most excitingly, Nanjing North will also be our local stop for trains running on the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu high-speed line that is presently under construction.
Much like its bigger cousin in the south, Nanjing North Railway Station will form the core of the new economic zone that shall also comprise a residential, conference, catering and entertainment complex.
But unlike Nanjing South which is served by four metro lines, travellers to and from its northern brother may have access to no less than five; lines 3, 4, 15, 18 and S4. Of these, it is hoped that the connections with lines 3, 4 and S4 may open simultaneously with the Station itself, reports The Paper.
Construction of Nanjing North Railway Station, on the Station building itself, is tentatively planned to commence during the fourth quarter of this year.
