Guangzhou–Zhuhai Intercity Railway

Guangzhou–Zhuhai Intercity Railway 广珠城际铁路
Zhuhai North Station
Overview
Type	High-speed rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Guangzhou Foshan Zhongshan Jiangmen Zhuhai Macau
Termini	Guangzhou South Zhuhai/Xinhui
Stations	22
Services	2
Ridership	342,000
Operation
Opened	7 January 2011
Operator(s)	China Railway High-speed
Technical
Line length	187 km (116.196 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Operating speed	200 km/h (124 mph)
Route map

Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway
Line length:	187 km (116 mi)
Track gauge:	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in)
Maximum speed:	200 km/h (124 mph)
Stations and structures
Legend 0 Guangzhou South 5 Bijiang 11 Beijiao 15 Shunde 23 Shunde College 32 Ronggui 37 Nantou 45 Xiaolan Xiaolan-Xinhui Branch Line 52 Dongsheng 64 Zhongshan North 70 Zhongshan 83 Nanlang Cuiheng 93 Zhuhai North 97 Tangjiawan 109 Mingzhu 113 Qianshan 116 Zhuhai

Guangzhou–Zhuhai Intercity Railway
Simplified Chinese	广珠城际轨道交通
Traditional Chinese	廣珠城際軌道交通
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Guǎngzhū Chéng Jì Guǐdào Jiāotōng Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Gwong^2zyu^1 Sing^4 Zai^3 Gwai^2dou^6 Gaau^1tung^1 Yale Romanization Gwóngjyū Sìhng Jai Gwáidouh Gāautūng
Alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	广珠城轨
Traditional Chinese	廣珠城軌
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Guǎngzhū Chéng Guǐ Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Gwong^2zyu^1 Sing^4 Gwai^2 Yale Romanization Gwóngjyū Sìhng Gwái

CRH1A in Guangzhou South Railway Station

Guangzhu Railway in construction, June 2010

Duninggang Tunnel (都宁港隧道) of Guangzhu Railway

Zhongshan Railway Station (中山站)

Xiaolan Railway Station (小榄站) Platform

Guangzhou–Zhuhai Intercity Railway or Guangzhu Intercity Railway (Chinese: 广州-珠海城际快速轨道; abbreviated as 广珠城轨 Guǎng-Zhū chéng guǐ^[1]) is a dedicated, grade-separated passenger railway linking New Guangzhou Station in Panyu, Guangzhou, and Zhuhai Airport in Zhuhai, via Shunde, Zhongshan and Jiangmen, in Guangdong, China.^[2] It is the first line completed in the currently under construction Pearl River Delta Rapid Transit network.

Overview

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).^[3][4]

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.^[5] 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^[6] and it was to be completed by 2010 to cope with the opening of the Guangzhou Asian Games, but missed this deadline.^[7]

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.^[8]

Name Confusion

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,^[9] however, this is a mainline Chinese railway, run by the national Chinese Ministry of Railway (instead of a local agency or authority),^[9] using mainline rolling stock CRH1,^[9] and with a schedule (minimum interval at 30 minutes,^[10] and with respective identifier for each train^[10]) that is very unlikely to be a MRT line. The old term "Guangzhu Qingui" (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.^[9][10]

History

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.^[11] Soon afterwards, the railway project was included on the list of major projects for 2005 in Zhuhai.^[11] 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" ^[12] 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.^[13]

On December 18, 2005, construction on the Guangzhou–Zhuhai Intercity Railway commenced.^[14] 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.^[15]

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.^[16][17] 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.^[18] Construction, which was scheduled to be completed in 2011, will effectively link cities in the Pearl River Delta with Macau by rail.^[16][17][18]

The light rail 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;^[1] it was expected to be opened for service on 1 January 2013.^[19]

The airport extension

It was reported in November 2012 that the construction work on the line's extension from downtown Zhuhai to Zhuhai Sanzao Airport, via Hengqing Island, would start by the end of 2012. The extension is supposed to be completed by the end of 2016.^[1]

At the Hengqing Island station, a connection is planned to the proposed Macau Light Rail Transit.^[1]

Stations

Mainline

Station Name English	Station Name Hanzi	Total Distance	Transfer	Location
Guangzhou South	广州南	0	2  Jingguangshengang HSR, Guangshengang XRL, Nanguang HSR, Guiguang HSR	Panyu, Guangzhou
Bijiang	碧江	5		Shunde, Foshan
Beijiao	北滘	11
Shunde	顺德	15
Shunde College	顺德学院	23
Ronggui	容桂	32
Nantou	南头	37		Nantou, Zhongshan
Xiaolan	小榄	45	(Branch Line)	Xiaolan, Zhongshan
Dongsheng	东升	52		Dongsheng, Zhongshan
Zhongshan North	中山北	64		Shiqi, Zhongshan
Zhongshan	中山	70		THIDZ, Zhongshan
Nanlang	南朗	83		Nanlang, Zhongshan
Cuiheng	翠亨
Zhuhai North	珠海北	93		Xiangzhou, Zhuhai
Tangjiawan	唐家湾	97
Mingzhu	明珠	109
Qianshan	前山	113
Zhuhai	珠海	116

Branch

Station Name English	Station Name Hanzi	Total Distance	Transfer	Location
Xiaolan	小榄	45	(Main Line)	Xiaolan, Zhongshan
Guzhen	古镇	54		Guzhen, Zhongshan
Waihai	外海			Jianghai, Jiangmen
Jiangmen	江门	65
Lile	礼乐
Xinhui	新会	71	Guangzhu Railway	Xinhui, Jiangmen

References

1. 京广高铁拟12月下旬开通届时广州直达北京最快约8小时，二等座票价估计近千元, Xinxi Shibao (信息时报), 2012-11-21
2. Intercity Railway in progress
3. PRD Planned Rail Network – West Bank
4. Guangzhou-Zhuhai Railway Extension Proposal: from Gongbei to Zhuhai Airport
5. 廣珠城際軌道交通工程設計方案初定，力爭七月正式動工
6. Guangzhou-Zhuhai RMT
7. Lynns Industrial Park, Jiangmen
8. Life of Guangzhou, Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway: On Track, almost Home
9. 广珠城际铁路 不是“轻轨”
10. 广珠城际铁路列车时刻表和试行运价出台
11. 廣珠城際鐵路走向及技術標準初步確定 4年後通車
12. 国务院通过珠三角城际轨道网规划
13. 廣珠城際軌道珠海段預計於今年上半年開工建設
14. 广珠城际轨道动工 顺德到珠海仅需40分钟
15. 乘坐广珠城际轨道将与城市公交一样便捷
16. 廣珠城際軌道將延伸至珠海機場
17. 广珠轻轨拟延伸至珠海机场
18. 粵澳聯席會議達共識 廣珠城際軌道擬連澳門輕軌
19. "Guangzhou-Zhuhai railway to open on New Year's Day". Macau Daily Times. 28 December 2012.

External links

• 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)