On November 23, Ms. Zhou, a passenger at the Changsha South Railway Station, applauded the convenience of the new dedicated passenger pickup area in the station's western plaza after using it.

With this new area now in service, the station has established a "dual pickup area layout" alongside the eastern plaza. This initiative effectively tackles persistent ride-hailing challenges, including inefficient driver-passenger meetups and disorderly parking.

As a major transportation hub, the Changsha South Railway Station handles a large daily passenger volume. Previously, ride-hailing pickup was available only in the eastern plaza, leading to congestion during peak hours, difficulties in locating vehicles, and instances of illegal solicitation of passengers in surrounding areas.

To enhance travel experience, the Changsha Municipal Transportation Bureau, in collaboration with relevant departments, has established a dedicated ride-hailing pickup area in the western plaza of the Changsha South Railway Station. The new pickup area features clear directional signage, designated waiting areas, and amenities including seating benches and drinking facilities, enabling passengers to transition directly from the station and wait for cars orderly.

As a frequent business traveler between Changsha and Guangzhou, Ms. Zhou said, "Previously, navigating to the eastern plaza required detours, and dealing with someone soliciting customers was frustrating." The pickup area in the western plaza is closer to the urban area. In addition, the area is equipped with a canopy, ensuring passengers stay dry during rainy days when boarding vehicles. "Now peak-hour waiting times have dropped from over 15 minutes to around 5 minutes—a significant improvement," she added.

For ride-hailing drivers, the new pickup area solves practical difficulties.

A driver surnamed Li, who has three years of ride-hailing experience, said, "In the past, traffic at the eastern plaza was chaotic and mixed, making it easy to break rules while waiting for or picking up passengers. I faced the constant worry of fines every month. Now, thanks to the dedicated one-way traffic flow, there's no need to drive around looking for riders. During peak hours, I can complete 3 to 4 trips per hour, leading to a solid 20% rise in my daily orders."

Statistics show the pickup area in the western plaza now handles over 2,200 ride-hailing trips daily, with peak-hour traffic reaching 300 vehicles per hour, ensuring efficient and orderly operations.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.  

Translator: Kuang Zhenzhen

Chinese source: Changsha Evening News