The Dream Factory of China

Shenzhen plans to construct five intercity rails within the year to further connect the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, according to an agreement on the feasibility research and auxiliary themed projects signed March 20.

The five intercity rail lines are the Shenzhen-Shenshan High-speed Rail, Shenzhen-Huizhou Intercity Rail, Shenzhen-Daya Bay Intercity Rail, the Longgang-Dapeng spur line and the Qianhai-Huanggang Checkpoint section of the Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen Intercity Rail.

The total length of the rails is 410 kilometers and it is estimated to cost 201.8 billion yuan (US$28 billion).

“Shenzhen Metro Group will organize research institutes to push forward feasibility studies for the projects and try to start the construction of the Shenzhen airport-Qianhai section of the Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen Intercity Rail in June as scheduled with the rest of the projects starting by the end of the year,” Bai Minggang with the Shenzhen Metro Investment, Planning and Design Center said after the signing ceremony.

The design of the Shenzhen airport-Qianhai section has been completed. According to Bai, the five intercity rails will be connected with the city’s Metro network.

The Qianhai-Huanggang Checkpoint section is an extension of the Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen intercity rail from Qianhai. It will support the development of Qianhai free trade area.

The Shenzhen-Huizhou Intercity Railway will start from Xili Station in Nanshan District, a major rail hub, and end at Huizhou Station, passing through Longgang and Longhua districts.

The 128-km Shenzhen-Shenshan High-speed Rail has been planned to connect downtown Shenzhen with Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone, cutting a one-way trip to 30 minutes upon its operation in 2025. The 38-billion-yuan project will start from Xili Station in Nanshan District and end at Chishi Station in the Shenshan area.

The Longgang-Dapeng spur line will enhance the connectivity of Dapeng with the rest of Shenzhen through connections with the Shenzhen-Huizhou Intercity Rail and Shenzhen-Daya Bay Intercity Rail.

Besides the intercity rails, Shenzhen will open seven new sections of the Metro lines this year, extending the city’s Metro network by 107 kilometers. Shenzhen has 343 kilometers of rail projects, including 76 kilometers of Metro lines, under construction this year.

The city will also initiate construction of the Xili Station and the Airport East Station, and upgrade Shenzhen Station, Guangmingcheng Station and Pingshan Station this year.

Upon completion of the projects, the role of Qianhai as a transportation hub is expected to be further enhanced.