The map thing is important to me. Like I mentioned above, NJ, SH, and HZ are all the same distance (in terms of flight time) from BJ. But, HZ is a loser unless you do the overnight thing.

If the track runs along the west shore of Taihu and then turns south, then it's very clear. Just find it a bit odd that there is apparently no need to connect a conurbation of 13 million people (Suzhou, Kunshan, Taicang) directly to Hangzhou by HSR?

A lot of business and private connections between the two regions from my personal experience.

There are some G7xxx trains Hangzhou-Nanjing which reverse at Hongquao station. Kunshan South is just 50 km from Hongqiao.

There is supposed to be a plan for "Suzhou-Jiaxing Intercity Railway". When is that completed?

Because there's already hourly direct G trains between the two cities, if one doesn't want to connect at Hongqiao, and the fastest ones only take 1:14.

The direct distance between Suzhou and Hangzhou is about 170 kilometres as opposed to the 250 or so via Hongqiao. So with a direct line the trip should be doable in about 45 minutes at current speeds?

I'd agree with the Chinese logic that speeding up the Nanjing-Hangzhou connection option is a much higher priority than getting incrementally minor improvements on the Suzhou-Hangzhou journey. The latter at 75 minutes is "good enough" for nearly all people, for the foreseeable future.

Taicang is a county level city of over 700 000 people. It is rich, it is important lying on Yangtze river waterfront - and although subject to prefecture level city of Suzhou lies 60 km away from the central districts of Suzhou on lake Taihu.

Jiangyin is a county level city of nearly 1,6 million people. It is rich, it contains the richest village of Huaxi, and it is important lying on Yangtze river waterfront - and although subject to prefecture level city of Wuxi lies far away from the central districts of Wuxi on lake Taihu.

Looks like Jiangyin-Taicang is a very wealthy conurbation of over 2 million people.

What kind of passenger trains serve them?

Great idea. I will chalk it up for future reference. On this trip, I need to be in HZ that day for a dinner appointment.

Now we are getting there...

I'm actually wondering why there currently are no real urban local trains in the Shanghai/Yangtze Delta area? The choice is subway or HSR, but nothing inbetween apart from taking short journeys on slower long distance trains.

Local trains do not necessary need the highly expensive tracks now laid out for HSR projects so can also target smaller urban areas. I know both Jiangyin and Taican rather well and would not always like to resort to private car to get there.

Still, Suzhou to Hangzhou is a major connection even on the nationwide scale.

I don't know how much spare capacity remains on the high-speed line Suzhou-Hongqiao-Hangzhou, but it starts to get close to being saturated, I won't be surprised to see a by-pass from Suzhou down to around Jiaxing, and rejoins the existing line towards Hangzhou.

Since G33 is acceptable for you, it means you can arrive as late as 16:13.

In which case, you might also leave Beijing as late as 10:00 on G13, arriving in Hongqiao at 14:55 connect to G7317 departing at 15:00 and be in Hangzhou at 15:49.

How are the ticket check arrangements at Shanghai Hongqiao connection from one train to another? Is 5 minute connection practical?

In view of the platform assignment of G13 and G7317?

Quite generally, besides other G trains there is a G train departing Hongqiao for Hangzhou every hour sharp between 7:00 and 21:00, thus the feasibility of a 5 minute connection is of general interest.

(G1 of course has 12 minute connection to the train at 14:00)

Also note this:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/busines...t_15245177.htm

First discounts ever on CRH. Offered on Shanghai-Hangzhou and Shanghai-Nanjing lines, only in upper classes (premium and business), not all trains, and some will be restricted by advance purchase. So consider what to use for those 49 minutes...

5 minutes' connection? Absolutely Not! I don't schedule connections for less than 60 minutes at a major rail station like Hongqiao. Maybe 40-45 minutes at a small station where the incoming is normally very punctual. For forum readers unfamiliar with Chinese trains: At Chinese train stations, normally the exit sequence requires completely leaving the platform, then an often long walk to the exit and a re-entrance. Often there is a diversion stream for connection passengers to a separate exit, but still have to go through security again and then walk to gate waiting area where ticket will be validated. Just maneuvering through crowds of people takes a bit of time.

I'd personally choose a G train heading all the way from Beijing to Hangzhou, and forego the "pleasure" of a two-train connection sequence.

Frankly, I'd be fine with a connection time of 20 minutes there because: 1) trains are usually punctual; and 2) I've pulled off the subway to to track 1 drill many times inside of 10 minutes. While #2 isn't fun, it is definitely doable, and subway to track 1 entails far more walking than any transit within the train station itself... plus some some long escalators and a security screening.

So, is a 12 minute connection (13:48 to 14:00) feasible?

But you know what you are doing and where you are supposed to be going and how to maneuver. I would never advise somebody to do a tight connection and particularly a less-practiced China train traveler, because as sure as luck will have it, there will be a glitsch somewhere, a missed train, and then the advisee has to go into Recovery Operations. Which will involve dealing with ticket office and all that. A pain for anybody but especially for a non-speaker of Chinese. With so many G trains, I do not see what the big deal is about simply planning to take a slightly later train?! Why add stress to one's life?

Need less to say, my answer to the 12 minutes' connection proposed above is