Recently, the construction of the Jinan-Zaozhuang High Speed Railway officially commenced. As an essential radial route in Jinan’s high speed railway network and a new passage between the economic circles of the Shandong provincial capital and southern Shandong, the railway will handle intercity passenger flows between Jinan, Tai’an, Jining, and Zaozhuang. It will also accommodate some long-distance through-passenger flows, easing the traffic pressure on the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway.

　　The main line of the Jinan-Zaozhuang High Speed Railway is 268 kilometers long, designed with a speed of 350 kilometers per hour. The route includes ten stations: Jinandong Railway Station, Licheng Railway Station, Jinannanshan Railway Station, Tai’andong Railway Station, Ningyangdong Railway Station, Qufudong Railway Station, Zouchengdong Railway Station, Tengzhoudong Railway Station, Zaozhuangnan Railway Station, and Taierzhuang Railway Station.

　　Once completed, the line will not only provide a new channel for the four cities along the route but will also divert passenger flows from the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway, alleviating its congestion. As a vital component of Jinan’s high speed railway network that connects with southern Shandong, the Jinan-Zaozhuang High Speed Railway will positively impact the urbanization process of Jinan’s metropolitan area and the urban towns in southern Shandong.

　　The Jinan-Zaozhuang High Speed Railway longitudinally connects Shandong’s provincial capital economic circle with the southern Shandong economic circle, serving the economic development of the regions along the line. It plays a crucial role in the development of the peninsula urban cluster and the southern Shandong urban belt. Once completed, the Jinan-Zaozhuang High Speed Railway will connect with the Rizhao-Lankao High Speed Railway, providing a new fast connection between economic circles.