The 164-km Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou High-Speed Railway began operation on December 26, connecting the three destinations in just 55 minutes at a designed speed of 350 kph.

This milestone marks another leap forward in integrating the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region with the aim of bolstering its high-quality development.

This achievement of linking Shanghai, Suzhou in Jiangsu province and Huzhou in Zhejiang province, aligns with the vision of enhancing infrastructure connectivity emphasized at a symposium on advancing the YRD's integrated development in November 2023. In 2024, the YRD accelerated its transportation network expansion, launching seven railway projects and adding over 600 kilometers of high-speed rail lines, the highest in China.

Other transformative projects include the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High-Speed Railway’s record-setting shield tunneling under the Yangtze River, the ongoing construction of the Ma'anshan Yangtze River Road-Rail Bridge on the Chaohu-Ma'anshan Intercity Railway, and the nearly completed Huaibei-Suzhou-Bengbu Intercity Railway in Anhui province. These initiatives exemplify the region's relentless drive for connectivity.

Meanwhile, in Shanghai, the construction of the Shanghai East Railway Station near Pudong International Airport is reshaping regional logistics. This mega project, spanning 1.387 million square meters, will host 15 platforms and 30 tracks, reinforcing Shanghai's role as a global transport hub.

Railways are propelling the YRD's economic momentum. High-speed logistics hubs and industrial parks have streamlined transportation, reducing regional logistic costs. Over 40 percent of new energy vehicles are manufactured in the YRD region, and the export value of electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products there account for more than 50 percent of the national total.

As of late 2024, the China Railway Shanghai Bureau Group has achieved 18.5 percent growth year on year in railway construction investment, with high-speed rail mileage exceeding 7,700 kilometers—leading the nation. The accelerated development of railway transportation in the YRD region continues to fuel its economy.