Construction began on three railway lines in southern China's Guangdong Province yesterday.

Guangdong Party chief Zhang Dejiang announced the beginning of the construction in Longhua, Shenzhen. Ground-breaking ceremonies were held in the cities of Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Maoming yesterday.

Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Railway

With a total length of 104.6 kilometers, the 16.7 billion-yuan (US$2.1 billion) project starts from the New Guangzhou Railway Station, passing through Dongchong, Humen, Gongming and new Shenzhen stations.

Upon completion, the travel time between Guangzhou and Hong Kong would be cut down to just one hour, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported. The report said the project would be finished in 2010.

Guangzhou-Zhuhai Railway

With a length of 141 kilometers and an investment of 17.9 billion yuan, the railway line begins at the New Guangzhou Railway Station, passing through Shunde, Zhongshan and ending at Zhuhai. It will shorten the travel time between Guangzhou and Zhuhai from more than one hour at present to 40 minutes.

Cenxi-Maoming Railway

The railway line is 154 kilometers in length and will cost 3.15 billion yuan, with a planned speed of 140 kilometers per hour. The line will connect to a previous one beginning from Luoyang in Central China's Henan Province, thus linking Central China to the nation's southeastern ports.

The construction of the railway lines would form a "one-hour economic circle" in the Greater Pearl River Delta area, making transportation convenient and boosting trade in the area, the report said.

(Shenzhen Daily December 19, 2005)