A DRAFT plan to build a high-speed railway station in Xili Subdistrict in Nanshan District to replace the existing Shenzhen West Railway Station has sparked debate.

    During a recent meeting on rail transportation planning in Nanshan District, the Shenzhen Urban Transportation Planning and Research Institute put forward a plan to build a high-speed railway station in Xili. The station would have 11 platforms and 20 tracks.

    The plan got support from the Nanshan District Government, which said it could stimulate development in its northern areas. However, residents doubt the necessity of building so many high-speed railway stations in the city.

    In a survey conducted by www.sznews.com, 70 percent of respondents disapproved of building a high-speed railway station in Xili.

    A netizen said he objected to the plan because Shenzhen already has several high-speed railway stations. “The Shenzhen East Railway Station now operates 14 pairs of long distance trains, only 20 percent of its full capacity. At present, high-speed railway stations have been built in Futian, Pingshan and Guangming. Is it necessary to build another station when the facilities aren’t fully used?” he said.

    But some netizens said Xili has become a new high-tech center and has many universities. One netizen said Xili station should be built underground to save land.

    Zhao Fake, vice president with Shenzhen Urban Transportation Planning and Research Institute, said Shenzhen should make full use of the North Railway Station. Xili Station could serve as a station for regular trains, not high-speed trains.

    Shenzhen has already planned to move the passenger service of Shenzhen West Railway Station in Qianhai to the existing Xili station, a cargo station. The rail in Qianhai will go underground to make way for the development of Qianhai.

    Shenzhen rail construction officials said the plan is still under discussion and it will invite experts to review the overall layout of Shenzhen’s high-speed railway stations. It said it will seek public opinion about the plan.  (Han Ximin)