Jinan–Zhengzhou High-Speed Railway cuts emissions and improves the passenger experience along the Shandong section

Winter conditions created significant operational challenges across rail stations in Shandong, China, where temperatures can drop below -15°C. Existing heating systems had limited capacity, and long-distance piping from central networks led to substantial heat loss before reaching indoor spaces.

These constraints resulted in uneven terminal temperatures, higher energy consumption and rising operating costs. At the same time, large waiting halls, high ceilings and heavy passenger traffic increased heating demand and added complexity to system performance.

With strict reliability requirements and limited tolerance for disruption, the stations needed to maintain stable heating to support uninterrupted operations and deliver consistent indoor temperatures, around 20°C, for passenger comfort. At the same time, in line with China’s dual-carbon goals, the stations required a solution that could reduce emissions while delivering stable, efficient and cost-effective operation.

An ultra-low temperature heating solution using YORK air-source heat pumps was implemented across the stations to address winter heating challenges, enabling reliable performance in extreme cold conditions.

To meet varying heating demands across large, high-traffic station environments, the solution uses a modular design comprising 44 units. This allows system capacity to be scaled and configured across different areas, helping match heating demand while improving overall efficiency.

Zone-level control further supports consistent indoor temperatures, reducing unnecessary energy use while maintaining passenger comfort across different station spaces.

To ensure stable operation in harsh winter conditions, the system incorporates advanced features such as intelligent defrost control, dual refrigeration circuits and staged defrost operation. These capabilities help maintain consistent heating performance and support continuous operation even during extreme weather.

A comprehensive validation process, including low-temperature testing, frost and defrost cycles, and stress testing under extreme conditions, helps ensure long-term reliability and durability across complex rail environments.

Following implementation across five stations, heating performance improved significantly, enabling stable indoor conditions throughout extreme winter weather. The upgraded system supports reliable operation while delivering consistent passenger comfort and improved energy performance.

Enhanced system control and modular operation enable operators to maintain stable heating while optimizing energy use. These capabilities improve operational reliability, reduce energy consumption and contribute to lower operating costs.

Passengers experience consistent waiting hall temperatures during peak travel periods and harsh winter conditions, improving comfort across high-traffic station environments.

Key outcomes include:

• 3.27 million kWh of electricity saved annually
• 15% improvement in energy efficiency
• 2,803 tons of CO₂ emissions reduced annually (equivalent to the carbon absorption around 150,000 trees)

The Ji’nan–Zhengzhou High-Speed Railway in China is a 407 km high-speed corridor designed to improve regional mobility and connectivity. Built for speeds of up to 350 km/h, the line reduces end-to-end travel time to approximately 1.5 hours.

As part of China’s national high-speed rail network, the corridor supports faster movement of people and economic activity across key north–south and east–west routes.