Experts celebrate as new high-speed rail opens in Zhejiang

The much-anticipated high-speed railway connecting Hangzhou and Wenzhou commenced operations on Friday, marking a milestone in Zhejiang province's transportation infrastructure. With this new line, the "one-hour transport circle" between Hangzhou and Wenzhou becomes a reality, connecting key urban areas and bringing high-speed rail access to regions that were previously unserved, such as Pujiang, Dongyang and Xianju, according to experts.

Zhang Yi, general manager of the Rail Transit Department of Zhejiang Communications Investment Group Co., said, "It strengthens the rapid connection between the southernmost part of the Yangtze River Delta, Wenzhou, and other central cities in the region, further accelerating the integration of the 'Yangtze River Delta on rails'."

The new line is 276 kilometers long and is designed for speeds of up to 350 km per hour. The journey from Hangzhou West to Yiwu and Wenzhou North can now be completed in just 34 minutes and 87 minutes, respectively.

The line's usefulness extends beyond convenient passenger transport. Towns and villages along the route are poised to benefit from the substantial development opportunities now available.

On Sept 4, Huang Shaowang, deputy director of the village committee of Huolu village, said, "The whole village is eagerly anticipating the opening of the railway. We are fully prepared to welcome tourists. Through the renovation of our village, we are creating a new model of rural development that combines agriculture, culture and tourism. The railway's opening will bring more tourists to our village, thereby increasing the income of our villagers."

The benefits of the railway also extend to Xianju county in Taizhou city, particularly in the development of its medical technology industries. Xianju is home to a medical device town just five kilometers from Xianju station on the railway.

In recent years, medical devices have become the strongest sector for entrepreneurship and innovation in Xianju, establishing it as a third regional hallmark after its famous yangmei fruit and the national 5A scenic spot Shenxianju, also known as God Immortal scenic area. The high-speed railway enhances Xianju's connections with Shanghai and Hangzhou, facilitating easier business travel and commuting for medical device town employees and improving market circulation and business development opportunities.

The railway has also brought significant advantages to Hengdian World Studios in Dongyang city. This national 5A tourist attraction, previously within a four-hour travel radius of the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian and Jiangxi regions, now sees that travel time reduced drastically.

Guo Jingang, director of the Comprehensive Transportation Hub Construction Management Center in Dongyang, said, "With the opening of the Hengdian station on the railway, Dongyang has its first high-speed rail connection. It now takes just over 30 minutes to travel from Hangzhou station to Hengdian station. This railway will make Dongyang's tourist resources more accessible, attracting more visitors and boosting the local tourism industry."

Once passengers arrive at Hengdian Station, they can reach Hengdian World Studios in just nine minutes by light rail, significantly easing travel for tourists and film industry professionals who previously had to transfer at Yiwu.

Hengdian World Studios Chairman Yang Zhiwei said, "It benefits filmmakers, tourists, and business travelers alike and greatly expands Hengdian's reach. With many industry professionals from first-tier cities, the railway makes it more convenient for them to travel to Hengdian for work. The high-speed rail also cuts travel time from Shanghai to Hengdian from three hours to one and a half and reduces the journey from Hangzhou by about an hour. In 2023, Hengdian World Studios had 19.8 million visitors. With the help of the high-speed railway, we hope to increase that number to 30 million by around 2025."

Bao Xiuming, director of Wenzhou Railway and Urban Rail Transit Construction Management Center, emphasized the broader impact. "In the long term, the improvement of the railway network will accelerate the flow of people, goods, capital and information, stimulate economic and social development along the line, and strengthen collaboration between Wenzhou and core urban clusters. It supports Zhejiang's efforts to build a demonstration zone for common prosperity and integrated development in the Yangtze River Delta," he said.