The Shenzhen-Guangzhou section of the high-speed rail linking Wuhan and Hong Kong will open on the eve of the Shenzhen Universiade in August.
The section was originally planned to open at the end of 2010 after the completion of the Shenzhen North Railway Station, but it was delayed by work on Shiziyang Tunnel, which was completed just two weeks ago.
The Shiziyang Tunnel which passes under the Pearl River estuary was about 11 kilometers. It is said to be China s longest underwater railway tunnel.
The tunnel is a key part of a 140km high-speed rail link connecting Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The rail line will be opened in sections between now and 2016.
This new high speed line will reduce travel time between Guangzhou and Shenzhen to 30 minutes and Guangzhou to Hong Kong to 40 minutes from 2 hours.
The express line has a designated speed of 350 kilometers per hour. It is expected to take passengers only eight hours to reach Beijing from Hong Kong.
In another development, the underground section of Shenzhen Metro Line 3 will open before the end of June, six months after the elevated section was opened.
Another elevated section between Caopu in Luohu and Shuanglong in Longgang was opened in December last year.
The 42-km Metro Line is also called the Universiade Line. It runs between Yitian Village in Futian to Shuanglong in Longgang and includes 30 stations.
