THE construction of a new railway project, which will start in 2016, will provide residents in Shenzhen and Huizhou a faster way to commute between the two cities.

    According to a manager with the transportation bureau of Longgang District, the construction of the Shenzhen-Huizhou intercity railway will be part of Shenzhen’s 13th five-year plan (2016-2020).

    The railway project is expected to be completed sometime before 2020.

    The railway project will have two lines. The eastern line will connect a bus terminal in Dongguan with the Shenzhen East Railway Station in Buji via Huizhou South Railway Station. This line will also go through Shuikou, Longhu and Danshui.

    The western line will link Chenjiang station in Huizhou to the Longgang District of Shenzhen via townships including Zhenlong and Xinxu. A Metro line will also be constructed from Longgang to the city’s Qianhai area.

    The construction of the Shenzhen-Huizhou intercity railway has been approved by the Guangdong Provincial Government and listed as one of the major construction projects in the province.

    By 2020, eastern Shenzhen will have eight Metro lines and two intercity railways.

    The intercity railway is expected to energize the economy in areas near railway stops.

    As the bordering area between Shenzhen, Huizhou and Dongguan, the Pinghu area in Longgang District will become a transportation hub. Renovation of the Pinghu Train Station has already started and is expected to be finished by the end of 2015. It will be a new terminal connecting Huizhou, Dongguan, Longgang District with downtown Shenzhen. (Zhang Qian)