The Yujiapu High Speed Railway Station as the terminal station of the extended line of the Beijing-Tianjin intercity train line on May 5. [Photo by Yue Yuewei/Xinhua]

As one of the most important transportation hubs in Binhai New Area of Tianjin, the Yujiapu High Speed Railway Station and its supporting facilities are close to completion.

The extended line of Beijing-Tianjin inter-city train line is expercted to open in August. It will only take 45 minutes to travel from Beijing South Railway Station to Tianjin Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Workers are constructing a public transportation hub in the Yujiapu Station. The construction and installation have been basically completed; only the transportation hub is still unfinished.

The ceiling of Yujiapu High Speed Railway Station is under construction on May 5. [Photo by Yue Yuewei/Xinhua]

The shell-shaped ceiling is the only part above ground. The structure, the first single layer net and shell steel structural system in the world, comprises each of 36 right-handed and left-handed screws and is covered with more than 700 pieces of ETFE membrane.

After inflation, all of the membranes bulge and cover the screws. This design can bring light underground and save energy.

According to authorities, the project takes up a total area of 93,000 square meters with nonstructural area of 188,000 square meters. The deepest point of the station is 31 meters underground. The construction is extremely difficult and underground construction takes great effort.

The Yujiapu Station will be tested before it is launched together with the Tianjin-Binhai inter-city train line in August.