Work begins on Beijing-Xiongan rail link

The inter-city railway between Beijing, capital of China, and Xiongan New Area of north China's Hebei Province begins to be built in Xiongan New Area on Feb. 28, 2017. The railway will stretch 92.4 kilometers and the travel time will be 30 minutes. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Construction of a rail link between Beijing and Xiongan New Area began Wednesday, according to the Xiongan New Area management committee.

The 33.5 billion yuan (5.3 billion U.S. dollars) line stretches 92.4 km via Daxing District of Beijing and Bazhou City in Hebei Province and has five stops.

Travel time between Beijing and Xiongan will be 30 minutes.

The section from downtown Beijing to the new airport has a designed speed of 250 km per hour and will go into use, together with the airport, in September 2019. The section from the airport to Xiongan has a designed speed of 350 km per hour, and will be operational by the end of 2020.

According to the committee, the link will help transfer non-capital functions out of Beijing and advance coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

China announced plans in April 2017 to establish Xiongan New Area, an economic zone about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing.

Planning and building have begun, featuring a global perspective and high-quality development. National innovation platforms and an efficient transportation network are being created in the area.