Last days of 2008 have been good for Guangzhou as the national state Council has approved the construction for a new rail line to connect Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen. The construction for this 87-kilometer intercity track has begun on 21 December and is likely to be completed in 2011.

Going-to-be one of the main axles of the transport network along the Pearl River Delta region, this rail line is expected to cost around 19.7 billion yuan. Starting from Guangzhou, the route will extend up to the Futian district of Shenzhen while running through Dongguan and the Shenzhen Airport.

With an average distance of five kilometer between two stations, there will be total 16 stations and platforms along the rail line. Travel to Shenzhen will now be much easier as for the people as they will be getting the trains at an interval of every two and a half minutes and the distance will be covered in 60 minutes with a speed of 140 kilometers per hour.

Another plan to connect Guangzhou with Huizhou city is also in the pipeline and is expected to start in 2009; and by 2015 nine more cities in this delta region of Pearl River will be connected by the track.