With investment of more than 40 million yuan ($5.6 million), the Danzhou Haitou station on Hainan's circular high-speed railway has been built for years but has not been put into use due to low passenger count, according to authorities.
The daily passenger flow of Haitou station is less than 100 people. If it starts operation now, Hainan's railway corporation will suffer serious losses, railway authorities said on July 14 in a report from the paper.com, a domestic news portal.
Internet users have posed questions about the progress of Haitou station, and the Hainan Development and Reform Commission replied the opening of the station will facilitate passenger travel and promote regional economic development. However, they added, after thorough consultation and discussion with the railway corporation, they found there's not yet sufficient basis for its operation.
Under the current circumstances, the operation of the station will cost an annual loss of at least 5 million yuan.
"It is necessary to further improve supporting facilities around Haitou station. The Danzhou city government and the Haitou government shall strengthen land development around the station to attract passenger flow and create conditions for the opening of the station," the commission said.
Located in Danzhou, the station is close to the Changjiang Li and Baisha Li autonomous counties.
"The opening of the station will greatly facilitate the travel of people among the three places, especially the 110,000 residents living near Haitou town. In addition, the operation of the station could bring sightseeing agricultural projects to the town, which would boost local residents' employment," a representative from Haitou's government said.
Haitou Station covers a construction area of 1989.35 square meters, with one floor underground and one floor above, according to Hainan media reports from 2015. The station can receive a maximum of 400 people.
The west ring of the Hainan circular high-speed railway started operations on Dec 30, 2015, and the Yintan and Baimajing stations in Danzhou city have already been put into use.
