Looks like an airport doesn't it? But this is actually China's newest railway station built on a green field site west of Shanghai's domestic Hong Qiao airport. Planning intelligently, as is China's way, the station is connected to a brand new second terminal that was built at the same time. Called Hong Qiao hub, this has to be the most advanced transportation interchange in the world with seamless connection from plane to elevated motorway network to trains.
Ah yes. I nearly forgot to mention the trains...
Chinese made, travelling 350 kph (about 260 mph) on purpose built, elevated tracks. At only £30 for a family of three to travel first class the equivalent distance of London to Birmingham in less than 40 minutes, this puts the UK's Network Rail to shame (along with most other developed countries).
And this is not some white elephant "demonstration line" like the Shanghai Maglev. No - this is part of some more joined up thinking by China's forward-looking government to create a grid of the world's longest highspeed railway track connecting Shanghai in the East, Beijing in the North, Chengdu in the West and Hong Kong in the south. Oh, and its all nearly finished!
Still developing? I don't think this term is appropriate anymore.
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