Lately, Shanghai Comprehensive Passenger Transportation Hub Layout Plan, was officially approved. It is reported that 145 transfer stations are selected within downtown Shanghai in this plan and 84 comprehensive traffic hubs will have been constructed by 2010 for the Shanghai Expo.

According to the newly published Layout Plan, the traffic hubs are divided into Class A, B, C and D. Class A hubs focus on large sized transportation facilities such as air flight and railway, Class B are mainly subway/skyline light rail stations, Class C are park-and-ride hubs incorporating light rail transportation, buses and motor vehicles while Class D are small sized hubs including several bus routes.

The Hongqiao Comprehensive Transportation Hub Plan incorporating Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway Station, Inter-city Rail Transit Station, and new Hongqiao Airport Terminal, approved by the related state authorities, will start construction on the step-by-step basis as scheduled. According to the plan, it will have basically come into being by 2010, and put into use during Shanghai Expo 2010.

The Hongqiao Comprehensive Transportation Hub is the largest of 5 Class A ones planned to be constructed in Shanghai. By relying the special functions as a comprehensive transportation hub, Hongqiao will be built into an important transportation and economic hub for Shanghai to connect to and serve the Yangtze Delta and the whole China at large.