Shanghai's first airport link railway connecting the major international aviation hubs of Pudong and Hongqiao is set to begin official operations within this year, reducing travel time between the airports to just 40 minutes.

Shanghai Shen-Tie Investment Co Ltd, the investor and constructor of the joint venture railway projects in Shanghai on behalf of the municipal government, made the announcement on Dec 4.

The initial section to be put into operation within this year will include seven stations along the route, running from Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 to Pudong Terminals 1 and 2. There is one stop at the Shanghai International Resort, which accommodates Shanghai Disney Resort.

Another two stations on the eastern extension of the route that is going to operate soon — Pudong Airport Terminal 3 and the Shanghai East Railway Station — will be connected after the construction of the facilities are completed.

"Passengers riding the city's metro may realize transfers at most stations along this 68.6 kilometer railway line, which goes through the districts of Minhang and Xuhui and Pudong New Area," said Lin Qiang, deputy Party secretary and general manager of Shanghai Shen-Tie Investment.

"The layout of the stations resembles that of a metro station, with no waiting halls. Passengers can proceed directly to the platform after passing through the turnstiles," he said.

According to the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, trains on the route will reach a maximum speed of 160 km per hour, almost four times that of the city's metro trains. It also said the full journey on the route will cost 26 yuan ($3.58) with a starting fare of 4 yuan, and the maximal frequency can reach three minutes per train.

Many Shanghai residents are excited about the prospects of convenient travel, as some will no longer have to endure around two hours on the metro to reach Pudong Airport. They said such development will provide residents with greater flexibility in choosing airports for flights, enhancing travel experiences for both locals and visitors.

For residents in the Yangtze River Delta region, taking a high-speed train to Hongqiao and then transferring for a flight at Pudong Airport is a common practice. Such travelers will also benefit from the new route.

Sheng Ying, a resident of Suzhou city, Jiangsu province, said she had just returned from a round trip to Hong Kong last week. Due to time constraints, she had to opt for flights to and from Hongqiao Airport as it was convenient to connect to Hongqiao Railway Station for her high-speed train journey home.

"With this airport link railway in place, I might consider flights to and from Pudong Airport as well in the future, which usually offer more flight ticket discounts," said Sheng, 39.

The airport link railway is the east-west backbone line in Shanghai's city railway network. Since its initial design, it was prepared to become interconnected into the national and intercity railway networks in the Yangtze River Delta region to better meet the needs of the integrated development of the delta region and Shanghai's urban development toward the future.

Covered by 5G network, the trains are all equipped with charging facilities at the seats and carriage connections to cater to passengers' needs.

Regarding to two stations on the eastern extension of the railway route, Pudong Airport Terminal 3 kicked off construction in November and is expected to complete construction in 2028, while the Shanghai East Railway Station is scheduled to begin operations in 2027.