One-third of the estimated millions of visitors to the grand event are expected to use rail transportation, which means the number of passengers per day will double during the fair.

"We must push forward development and open safer, more efficient and higher quality outbound channels to meet the challenge and consolidate the city's position as a transport hub," said Fu Xinhua, deputy director general of Shanghai Railway Administration.

The only two rail lines in the city, the northbound Huning line and the southbound Huhang line, have become the most heavily travelled tracks in the country and cannot keep up with the transportation demands of the area's fast growing economy.

The city is to construct express railways to Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province, and Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province, to relieve the pressure on the current lines.

Pudong Railroad, about 117 kilometres in length, is to run from Jinshan, Fengxian and Nanhui, to Pudong and join the Huning Line at Zhangmiao Station.

With a joint investment of 5 billion yuan (US$605 million) by the municipality and the Ministry of Railways, the project is expected to break ground this year and is scheduled for completion in 2006.

The project is to eventually serve as a major part of the country's coastal passage, running across the Yangtze River to connect Chongming with Nantong of Jiangsu in the north and extend to Zhapu of Zhejiang in the south.

"After more than 10 years of development, the population in Pudong is booming together with the economy," Fu said.

"The airport, the deep-water port and Waigaoqiao bond area all demand this type of high-speed track to move passengers and cargo."

With these projects, Shanghai is to weave a web of fast tracks extending from the city to the other 13 major cities of the Yangtze Delta and many more cities around the country.

Shanghai is building the southern railway station from where now 35 pairs and eventually 144 pairs of southbound trains are to depart.

The station is to be complete by 2006.

The city is also planning to construct a railway station for passengers in Pudong to meet the demand of the expo and the economic development of Pudong.

(China Daily April 17, 2003)