On the morning of June 28, the inaugural ceremony of China’s first air-rail intermodal transportation project was launched at Shenzhen North Station.
The Shenzhen North Station Hub Air-Rail Intermodal Transportation Project is located at the C1 unit on the East Square of the North Station. The site features a 314-square-meter advanced helipad, offering high-standard air taxi charter services to the public. This project truly achieves “zero transfer” between railway hubs and air traffic, creating a new travel mode combining “low altitude + high-speed rail + subway.”
The project is a joint collaboration between HELI-EASTERN and Shenzhen Metro Group, providing efficient and safe air taxi transportation services to the public. Using Shenzhen North Station as the departure and arrival point, the service can cover most cities in the Greater Bay Area within half an hour. With the accelerated deployment of low-latency, high-bandwidth communication infrastructure, the station will gradually introduce eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft as passenger vehicles, further reducing the cost of low-altitude travel and making low-altitude flying a regular travel option for people.
The intermodal service offers both intercity and intra-city routes, establishing a three-dimensional transportation network.
For example, it takes only 25 minutes to reach Zhongshan via the intercity route. The intra-city routes provide flights to various districts within Shenzhen.
Moreover, the Shenzhen North Station Air-Rail Intermodal Project can offer emergency aviation rescue services to the public, overcoming the limitations of ground transportation and ensuring the safety of citizens’ lives and property.
With the successful launch of the Shenzhen North Station Air-Rail Intermodal Transportation Project, a low-altitude transportation network centered around Shenzhen North Station has been formed, connecting over 90% of the Greater Bay Area. This makes the “last mile” of travel for air-rail intermodal passengers much smoother.
In recent years, Longhua District has been fully accelerating the construction of the low-altitude economy pilot zone, adhering to the cultivation and expansion of the low-altitude economy as a new opportunity and new track to promote the development of new quality productivity and grasp the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. The district has continuously innovated low-altitude economy application scenarios and has opened 46 low-altitude routes.
The district is home to more than 400 enterprises related to the low-altitude economy. SkyEagle Equipment’s parachute for human use has received the nation’s first airworthiness certificate, on-air digital solutions have become globally leading, the nation’s first intelligent manufacturing center for logistics drones has been completed and put into operation, and the three-dimensional multi-physical field coupled wind tunnel has completed all installations and component-level debugging.
It is understood that to cultivate and expand the low-altitude economy industry, Longhua District took the lead in introducing the city’s first district-level low-altitude economy industry implementation plan in April 2023, providing guidelines and policy support for the development of the low-altitude economy. In September, a press conference was held in Beijing to launch several measures to promote the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy industry, known as the “Low Altitude Thirteen,” and a fund of 200 million yuan will be allocated over three years to support the innovative development of Longhua District’s low-altitude economy industry.
Conclusion
The inauguration of China’s first air-rail intermodal transportation project at Shenzhen North Station marks a significant milestone in the evolution of urban mobility. By seamlessly integrating air and rail services, this project not only enhances the efficiency and convenience of passenger travel but also sets a new standard for future transportation networks. The collaborative efforts of HELI-EASTERN and Shenzhen Metro Group, along with the innovative advancements in low-altitude travel, underscore the potential of such intermodal systems to transform urban logistics and emergency services.
As Longhua District continues to pioneer the development of the low-altitude economy, the region is poised to become a leader in this emerging sector, fostering technological innovation and economic growth. The comprehensive infrastructure and supportive policies laid out by the district ensure a robust foundation for the continued expansion of the low-altitude economy, benefiting both residents and businesses alike.
This project not only exemplifies the progress made in Shenzhen but also serves as an inspiration for other regions aiming to enhance their transportation ecosystems. With ongoing advancements and strategic investments, the Shenzhen North Station Air-Rail Intermodal Transportation Project is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of urban mobility across the Greater Bay Area and beyond.
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