Zhuhai recently began construction of its new Zhuhai Central Station (Hezhou), which is expected to become a major high-speed rail transport hub in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) when it becomes operational by 2027, according to local media reports.
Situated to the west of the Pearl River Delta, the future train station will connect major high-speed rail lines from the eastern and western parts of the region, including the routes in Zhuhai, Zhaoqing, Guangzhou, as well as the future Shenzhen-Zhuhai intercity railway line.
Costing a total of 5.72 billion yuan, Zhuhai Central Station is expected to be completed in two phases, covering a construction area of around 610,000 square metres, with 10 platforms and 19 railway tracks.
According to Singapore’s RSP architecture and engineering group, which won the bid to design the station in 2023, the transport hub will employ “a multi-level interconnected structure” and will “naturally [blend] in with its surroundings.”
[See more: Government support and connectivity are key to the GBA’s transport system, experts say]
Meanwhile, another major railway project is currently underway in Guangzhou, which aims to eventually extend the city’s metro network to Shenzhen. Local media reports that work on a railway tunnel has reached its peak and will form the basis of various extension lines such as Guangzhou Metro Line 18 and 22.
The authorities have set a long-term goal of extending Metro Line 22 to Shenzhen, which would allow passengers to travel to the city in 75 minutes on a train with a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour.
Metro Line 18, on the other hand, aims to connect Guangzhou to Zhongshan and Zhuhai, with travel times to the former and latter estimated to be just 50 minutes and 60 minutes respectively.
No specific dates have been given for the opening of these future metro extensions.
