New Beijing rail station to be a major transport hub

Beijing's Tongzhou Railway Station opened on Tuesday as a major underground transport hub in the eastern Tongzhou district, expanding rail connections between Beijing and neighboring cities in Hebei province and Tianjin.

The station serves as the primary railway terminal for Beijing's Municipal Administrative Center and is part of broader efforts to strengthen regional rail connectivity and support development of the capital's eastern subcenter.

The first train departed Tongzhou at 10 am for Tangshan, Hebei, completing the journey in 55 minutes. Services from the new station also link to Tianjin's Baodi and Beichen districts, as well as Qinhuangdao in Hebei, with travel times ranging from 26 to 90 minutes.

Passengers arrived early on Tuesday to explore the five-story station, where natural light filters through large glass windows into underground concourses.

"The train is very convenient for people who need to travel frequently between Beijing and Hebei," said a passenger surnamed Xu, who boarded one of the inaugural services.

Liu Qian, chief conductor of the first Tongzhou to Tangshan service, said the train can accommodate 576 passengers and features convertible seats. It can reach a top speed of 350 kilometers per hour, Liu said.

The station will operate in phases, initially offering passenger services to Tangshan, Qinhuangdao and Beichen. Train schedules and capacity will be adjusted dynamically based on travel demands.

Tongzhou Railway Station is designed as a fully underground facility, integrating intercity rail services with metro and ground transportation connections below the surface. In its initial phase, passengers can transfer easily among trains, urban transit and other transport services.