New high-speed railway in Greater Bay Area set to enhance connectivity

The China State Railway Group, the national railway operator, announced on Monday that a major new high-speed railway is scheduled to open in the Greater Bay Area on Tuesday, introducing a rapid transportation corridor in the eastern part of Guangdong province.

The 162-kilometer line connecting Shantou and Shanwei in Guangdong, designed for speeds up to 350 km per hour, holds significance as a coastal high-speed railway within China's expansive high-speed railway network. On Tuesday, a substantial section of the line, linking Shantou South with Shanwei, will be inaugurated. The final leg, extending only 20 km and incorporating an undersea tunnel in Shantou Coastal Bay, is currently under construction, and the timetable for its full opening remains undisclosed.

Since the opening of this section, travel times between Shantou South, Shanwei, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen will be notably reduced to 36 minutes, 113 minutes, and 109 minutes, respectively.

The construction of the line presented challenges due to the coastal environment characterized by high salt content and humidity. Overcoming these difficulties in the complex hydrogeological setting was crucial. Technical hurdles were addressed in the construction of key infrastructure elements, including the Aojiang River Mega Bridge and the Huilai Tunnel.

The opening of this high-speed railway is expected to foster greater connectivity between the Shantou region and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It is anticipated to facilitate streamlined travel for residents along the line, ultimately promoting the coordinated development of the regional economy and society, according to the China State Railway Group.