Shenzhen North Railway Station Sets Passenger Record with 116 Million

Shenzhen North Railway Station, one of China’s largest high-speed rail hubs, recorded a historic high in passenger traffic during the first 11 months of 2025, handling approximately 116 million passenger trips, according to official data from China’s railway authorities.The figure represents an increase of about 8.8 per cent compared with the same period last year, highlighting the continued expansion of rail travel demand amid China’s post-pandemic economic recovery and the rapid development of intercity transport networks.

Located at the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen North Railway Station serves as a key gateway linking southern China with major domestic destinations, including Guangzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Shanghai and Beijing. It also plays a strategic role in facilitating cross-border travel between mainland China and Hong Kong via high-speed rail connections.

Passenger volumes surged sharply during major public holidays. On the first day of the National Day holiday period, the station handled close to 400,000 departing passengers, setting a new single-day departure record. Similarly, the post–Spring Festival travel peak saw daily arrivals exceed 340,000 passengers, reflecting strong mobility demand among both commuters and long-distance travellers.

Industry observers note that the record-breaking performance underscores the growing importance of high-speed rail as a backbone of regional integration and economic activity. The rising passenger throughput also highlights the success of China’s long-term investments in rail infrastructure, particularly in densely populated urban clusters.

At the same time, the sustained growth in traffic is placing increasing pressure on station facilities, crowd management and connecting transport services. Transport experts have called for further upgrades in station capacity, digital passenger management systems and last-mile connectivity to ensure safe and efficient operations during peak periods.

With China continuing to expand its high-speed rail network and promote greater regional connectivity, Shenzhen North Railway Station is expected to remain one of the country’s busiest rail hubs, playing a pivotal role in supporting economic integration and sustainable mobility in the Greater Bay Area.

China Firm to Build Major Electric Railway in Chile, Signaling Deepening Infrastructure Ties

A Chinese state-owned construction consortium has secured a US$470 million contract to build a 26-kilometre electric commuter rail line in Chile’s capital region, marking a significant expansion of Chinese involvement in Latin American infrastructure projects.

The agreement, reached between a group led by China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) and Chile’s State Railway Company (Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado, EFE), covers the construction of the Santiago–Batuco electric railway, a project that aims to ease congestion and improve daily commuting for millions of residents in and around Santiago.

The line will feature eight stations and is designed to slash travel times between Santiago’s centre and northern suburbs from approximately 90 minutes by road to just 24 minutes by train. On completion, the railway is expected to serve around 35 million passenger trips annually, significantly enhancing regional mobility.

The contract was formalised at a signing ceremony on August 25, attended by Chilean transport officials and representatives from the Chinese consortium. According to reports, Chinese firms are also bidding on a separate US$220 million underground tunnel and station contract that forms part of the broader rail network development in the metropolitan area, indicating rising interest and competition among international engineering groups in Chile’s rail sector.

Analysts say Chinese construction companies have been actively seeking overseas opportunities as domestic infrastructure growth in China moderates, bringing their experience and competitive pricing to international markets. The Santiago–Batuco project exemplifies this strategic pivot, leveraging Chinese engineering and financing to support major commuter rail expansions abroad.

The electric rail initiative aligns with broader Chilean government efforts to modernise the country’s transport infrastructure, reduce road congestion and promote environmentally sustainable transit options. By electrifying key commuter corridors and integrating them with existing metro and bus networks, Chile aims to reduce carbon emissions and support equitable access to urban employment, education and services.

Construction of the line is expected to begin later this year, with phased completion targeted ahead of the end of the decade. Once operational, the new electric railway will represent one of the most prominent international rail infrastructure collaborations between China and Latin America to date.