A bird's-eye view of Nantong Railway Station's North Square. [Photo/WeChat account: ntjoy2012]

The new North Square temporary station at Nantong Railway Station is set to open this September, marking a major step forward in the city's transport infrastructure.

The 117,500-square-meter expansion, launched in 2024, includes a 55,000-sq-m station building and 37,000 sq m of support facilities, and will eventually feature nine platforms and 20 tracks.

The 4,000-sq-m temporary building at the North Square will handle high-speed and bullet trains, with an estimated capacity of about 2,400 passengers. 

Upon opening, passengers will use the North Square for both arrivals and departures, replacing the current South Square entrance. The new forecourt is designed to seamlessly integrate with metro, buses, taxis, ride-hailing services and coaches. Conventional and intercity services will be temporarily relocated to Nantong East Station during this transition.

Architecturally, the station evokes the image of a seagull gliding over the sea, a tribute to Nantong's coastal heritage, with subtle elements inspired by local craftsmanship, such as blue calico cloth and banyao kite-making.

Full completion is expected by the end of 2027. Once finished, travel times will drop to about one hour to Nanjing and 40 minutes to Shanghai Baoshan Station, strengthening connectivity across the Yangtze River Delta region and supporting broader regional integration. Further upgrades to the Ningqi yard at Nantong Railway Station are also planned to follow the temporary station's opening.