Construction on China's first intercity subway, which will
connect Guangzhou and Foshan in Guangdong Province, got underway on
Thursday.
The new subway will start from Lijiao in the city of Guangzhou
and run westward through Haizhu and Liwan districts of the
provincial capital, and end at Kuiqi Road in Foshan after passing
through Chancheng and Nanhai districts of Foshan, according to Ding
Jianlong, chairman of the board of Guangzhou-Foshan Track Transport
Co. Ltd.
At 32.16 km long the subway will have 21 stops, of which, 10
will be within Guangzhou. It will also connect to four other
subways in Guangzhou. It is designed to accommodate trains
traveling at a maximum speed of 80 km per hour.
Guangzhou-Foshan subway will cost 14.67 billion yuan, of which
Guangzhou will invest 51 percent while Foshan will cover 49
percent. The provincial government is also providing subsidies for
the project.
The new subway will be finished and put into service late
2012.
The subway will cut travel time between Guangzhou and Foshan
from two hours to 49 minutes.
(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2007)