Recently, netizens exposed a platform subsidence issue at the Hangzhou East Railway Station, which has been in operation for just over 11 years, forcing passengers to “jump the stairs” when disembarking.
On July 3rd, a blogger posted that there were signs of platform subsidence at the Hangzhou East Station. The images shared by the blogger showed that the bottom of the train carriages that stopped at the station were higher than the platform.
A viral video showed a 30-centimeter gap between the platform and the train, causing inconvenience for passengers getting on and off, with the risk of accidentally falling if not careful.
In fact, this issue was raised by netizens two years ago.
In May 2023, a blogger posted with a picture showing significant subsidence of the platform at Hangzhou East Station. The platform near the center was almost level with the train carriages, while there were noticeable height differences at the ends, requiring extra caution when boarding and alighting. A circulated video showed cracks in the platform with the surface forming slopes.
Some have suggested that the platform’s subsidence is related to the soft ground in Hangzhou, as constructing a massive high-speed rail station on such terrain is prone to subsidence.
With continuous feedback from netizens, this matter has finally gained attention online.
One netizen said, “Indeed, today when I got off at Hangzhou, the height difference of the second carriage shocked me.”
“I travel through Hangzhou East Station almost every month and have been to many high-speed rail stations, but I have never seen such a significant height difference between the platform and the carriages. I always wondered if it was a design error in platform elevation, but turns out it’s subsidence?”
“Such matters concerning public safety should be taken seriously; they should be able to investigate it. It sounds a bit alarming, was the foundation not properly laid?”
“Frontline staff must have known about it for a while, and probably the leadership too, but if no one resolves it, it becomes troublesome. Many companies have this kind of problem where solving it offers no immediate success.”
Under public pressure, the Hangzhou East Station passenger service staff informed Jí Mù News that there is indeed subsidence in the station platform, and the specific details will be reported to higher authorities, with a professional department notified for inspection.
However, some netizens discovered that in January 2024, the Railway Shanghai Bureau Limited Company’s Hangzhou Construction Apartment Section tendered for the “Hangzhou East Station platform and pillar subsidence observation project”; in November 2021, for the “Hangzhou East Station northeast corner subsidence treatment project”; and in March 2018, for the “Hangzhou East Station platform and plaza floor subsidence treatment project.”
Hangzhou East Station is one of the largest passenger transportation hubs in Asia, originally built in 1992, expanded in 2009, and officially opened for operation on July 1, 2013. The station belongs to the Railway Shanghai Bureau Limited Company.