Photo/Guangzhou Daily

Guangzhou is planning to start constructions on four intercity railways by the end of 2021, according to a notice from the city's Development and Reform Commission.

The rail routes include Nansha - Zhuhai (Zhongshan) intercity railway (also the southern extension of Guangzhou Metro Line 18), Foshan - Guangzhou-Dongguan intercity rail (Metro Line 28), Fangcun - Baiyun Airport intercity route (the northern extension of Line 22), and Guangzhou East - Huadu Tiangui intercity railway (northern extension of Metro Line 18).

Foshan-Guangzhou-Dongguan intercity rail (Metro Line 28) 佛山经广州至东莞城际

Photo/Nanfang Metropolis Daily

With a total investment of 95.3 billion yuan, the railway is scheduled to stretch over 107 kilometers, with nearly 50 kilometers winding across Guangzhou. As an east-west rail line, it is expected to pass through Dongping Xincheng (东平新城), Fangcun (芳村), Yuzhu (鱼珠) and Xintang (新塘), serving as an express lane between four cities—Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan and Huizhou.

As per the construction scheme, the route is projected to run through Liwan, Haizhu, Huangpu and Zengcheng districts in its Guangzhou section, and bridge Songshan Lake in Dongguan and Shenzhen in the future.

Fangcun - Baiyun Airport intercity route (northern extension of Line 22) 

芳村至白云机场城际

Photo/"广州白云发布" WeChat account

The 40.2-kilometer-long intercity rail is planned with nine stations, five of which will be interchange ones with the city's Metro Lines 8, 11, 12, 13 and more. The Baiyun City Center station (白云城市中心站), for example, will link the line with the northern extension of Metro Line 18.

With a highest speed designed at 160km per hour, it will cut across Liwan, Yuexiu, Baiyun and Huadu districts, connecting transport hubs in the city like the brand-new T3 Terminal of Baiyun Airport and Bai'e'tan (白鹅潭).

Guangzhou East - Huadu Tiangui intercity railway ( northern extension of Metro Line 18) 广州东至花都天贵城际

Photo/广州白云发布

Spreading over 38.5 kilometers, the northern extension of the subway line 18 will have seven stations, all interchange ones, with Metro Lines 9, 26, 29 and others. A 7.5-kilometer line (Fenghuang Nanlu-Guangzhou North Railway Station 凤凰南路至广州北站) is to be constructed to connect the line with Guangzhou - Qingyuan intercity railway.

Nansha-Zhuhai (Zhongshan) intercity railway (southern extension of Guangzhou Metro Line 18) 南沙至珠海（中山）城际

Photo/新快报

With an investment of 48.6 billion yuan, the southern extension of Line 18 will span three regions in the Greater Bay Area, including the Nansha district in Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Zhongshan cities.

The route's construction scheme reveals that the express line is anticipated to start from Nansha district in Guangzhou, pass through Cuiheng Xinqu (翠亨新区站) and Nanlang stations (南朗站) in Zhongshan, and terminate in Tangjia Bay (唐家湾) in Zhuhai.

The city has already started construction on Lines 18 and 22, and is working to open Wanqingsha-Xiancun (万顷沙至冼村站) section of Line 18 and Panyu Square-Chentougang (番禺广场至陈头岗站) section of Line 22 within the year.

Photo/广州白云发布