Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway

The railway has partly started operations in January 2011. It will be divided into three parts with a total of 27 stations. Its main line between Guangzhou and Zhuhai City, via Shunde and Zhongshan, is 117 km (73 mi) long, with 17 stations and a maximum speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). The planned extension from Zhuhai City to Zhuhai Airport is 35.3 km (22 mi) long, with 7 stations and a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). Its spur line between Zhongshan and Jiangmen is 26 km (16 mi) long, with 6 stations and a maximum speed of 200 km/h (124 mph).[2][3]

When fully completed, passengers traveling on the main line between Zhuhai and Guangzhou South will have a choice between a 46-minute non-stop and a 76-minute, 140 km/h all-stop service. The non-stop service is offered between Zhuhai and Guangzhou South only, and travel between Zhuhai (Gongbei) and Zhuhai Airport will be cut down to 25 minutes.[4] It currently takes 50 minutes to travel by auto from Gongbei, Zhuhai to Zhuhai Airport, and 1 hour 30 minutes from Gongbei, Zhuhai to Panyu, Guangzhou.

The construction of the railway began in 2005[5] and it was to be completed by 2010 to cope with the opening of the Guangzhou Asian Games, but missed this deadline.[6]

After the opening of the Guangzhu Line, Zhongshan will open nine new bus lines to support operations, according to Zhongshan Public Transportation Corporation. By the end of 2010, more than 100 shuttle buses will be put into operation.[7] Initially with trains operating about every 30 minutes,[8] services have gradually been increased to cope with rising passenger numbers. Do to high demand for local stopping services, the amount of express services between Jiangmen and Zhuhai to Guangzhou is limited. To remedy this, a parallel regional railway, the Guangfojiangzhu ICR, running between Zhuhai Jinwan Airport and Guangzhou via Jiangmen and Foshan's Nanhai District is proposed to be constructed.[9][10]

Due to the confusing usage of the Chinese term "Qinggui" (轻轨, could refer to a Light Rail line or an elevated Mass Rapid Transit line) in the original name of this railway, this line was firstly conceived as a Mass Rapid Transit line. As later pointed out by the local media Nanfang Daily,[11] however, this is a mainline Chinese railway, run by the national Chinese Ministry of Railway (instead of a local agency or authority),[11] using mainline rolling stock CRH1,[11] and with respective identifier for each train,[8] that is very unlikely to be a Mass Rapid Transit line. The old term "Guangzhu Qinggui" (广珠轻轨, Guangzhu Mass Rapid Transit) is discarded in favor of "Guangzhu Chengji Tielu" (广珠城际铁路, Guangzhu intercity railway) in news media.[11][8]

In April 2004, the ongoing Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway traffic's preliminary feasibility study was finished, resulting in a proposed railway alignments, technical standards, and project design details.[12] Soon afterwards, the railway project was included on the list of major projects for 2005 in Zhuhai.[12] At the first Pearl River Dela Regional Economic and Trade Cooperation Fair on July 14, 2004, the Ministry of Railways and Guangdong's provincial government signed an agreement, forming the Guangdong Pearl River Delta Intercity Rail Company and giving each party a 50 percent share in the joint venture. Thus, the Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway was born, incorporating officially on July 29.

On March 16, 2005, China's State Council considered the adoption of the "Bohai Sea, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta Intercity Railway Network Plan" [13] during the May 2005 Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway preliminary design review. The design of the Guangzhou-Zhuhai project was adjusted, and a single alignment was preliminarily determined. Substantial adjustments were made to the alignment south of Jiangmen, resulting in the current "Nanlang Alignment". The "Nanlang Alignment" runs from Cuiheng Village in Zhongshan to Zhuhai along the east side of Yangangwan Avenue, through the Fenghuangshan Tunnel, along Mingzhu Road, Gangchang Road, and Changsheng Road before reaching Zhuhai's Xiangzhou District.[14]

On December 18, 2005, construction on the Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway commenced.[15] Construction of elevated lines in the form of aerial structures accounts for approximately 92.25% of the alignment, allowing for minimal changes in slope and grade that provides for a smooth train ride throughout the system.[16]

On March 25, 2008, the preliminary feasibility study for the Zhuhai(Gongbei)—Zhuhai Airport extension line was released. The 35.3 kilometer westward extension from the original terminus at Zhuhai Station passes over several waterways on its way to Sanzao and Zhuhai Airport, including the Qianshan, Maliuzhou, Modaomen and Niwanmen waterways. Six additional stations will be built, including Wanzai, Xiawan, Lianhua, Hengqin, Sanzao, and Zhuhai Airport. A possible seventh station, Hezhou South Station, will be built in the future depending on the realization of local development. Hengqin Station and Sanzao Station are separated by 15.7 kilometers, of which includes 6.97 kilometers passing over Jinhai bridge, the greatest distance between two stations along this line.[17][18] In addition, provisions for a future connection to the Macau Light Transit System will be made near Hengqin, possibly in the form of an underwater spur line linking to Macau Light Rapid Transit's Cotai line.[19] Construction, which was scheduled to be completed in 2011, will effectively link cities in the Pearl River Delta with Macau by rail.[17][18][19]

The railway line began operations between Guangzhou South and Zhuhai North (formerly named Jintang) Stations on January 7, 2011, while the extension of the line to Gongbei via the Fenghuang Shan Tunnel was postponed. Fares between Guangzhou and Zhuhai North are 44 RMB 1st class; 36 RMB economy class and 22 RMB for students. The journey time is 39 minutes. Express buses are available to link Zhuhai North Station with Xiangzhou and Gongbei, while regular buses 3A & 65 serve local residents.

In November 2012, testing started on the last section of the railway, from Zhuhai North to Gongbei;[20] it was expected to be opened for service on 1 January 2013.[21]

It was reported in November 2012 that the construction work on the line's extension from downtown Zhuhai to Zhuhai Jinwan Airport, via Hengqing Island, would start by the end of 2012. The extension is now known as the Zhuhai–Zhuhai Airport intercity railway. The phase 1 of the extension, from Zhuhai to Zhuhai Changlong started operation on 18 August 2020.[22] At the Hengqin Railway Station, a connection is planned to the proposed Hengqin Extension Line of Macau Light Rail Transit.[20] The phase 2 is expected to open in 2023.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway.

• 珠海北列车时刻表 - train schedule for Zhuhai North. It lists all trains in service on this line, all of them circulating between Zhuhai North (珠海北) and Guangzhou South (广州南)