From Guangzhou to Foshan, the line is 53 km (33 mi) long,[3] and it continues for another 112.9 km (70.2 mi) to Zhaoqing. Between Guangzhou and Foshan, the line has a westerly heading.[3] From Foshan West railway station, the line continues west through Shishan Town in Nanhai District, across Shishan Industrial Park, over the Guangzhou–Zhuhai railway and entering Sanshui District. The line then crosses the Bei River and passes through the Zhaoqing High-tech Industrial Development Zone. The line then turns southwest, crossing the Sui river, the Guangzhou–Maoming Railway and State Road 321, and passes through Dinghu District before reaching Zhaoqing.[4][5] The line has 19 stations, 8 between Guangzhou and Foshan,[3] and 11 between Foshan and Zhaoqing. The line is connected to the Guiyang–Guangzhou high-speed railway and the Nanning–Guangzhou high-speed railway. The operational speed on the line is 200 km/h (124 mph).[6]
History
Construction of the Foshan and Sanshui segments of the line started on September 29, 2009[7] and June 18, 2010 respectively.[8] As of April 20, 2011, the planned terminus was tentatively set at Dachong railway station.[9]
On March 8, 2012 the line was renamed from "Foshan–Zhaoqing intercity railway" to "Guangzhou–Zhaoqing intercity railway". Plans for the line were also revised to extend the line to Guangzhou South railway station.[10]
In July 2012, the plans were revised yet again, with the line being extended to Zhaoqing railway station. The route for this section was determined by September 2012.[11][12]
Construction of the Dachong elevated viaduct started on December 18, 2012,[13] and construction of the Guangzhou-Foshan segment of the line started in 2013.[3] The line commenced operations on March 30, 2016.[2]
On 10 April 2021, service patterns were changed and through running between Zhaoqing and Shenzhen Airport was introduced.[14][15]
On 11 October 2023, due to construction of Guangzhan HSR, service pattern has been shorten back to serve between Zhaoqing and Foshan West.[16]
On 1 November 2023, Guangdong Intercity got operation license of Guangzhao intercity railway.[17] Takeover of operations completed in 23 January 2024.[1]
On 22 May 2024, Guangdong Intercity further got operation license of section between Foshan West and Panyu.[18] This section is opened for service on 26 May.[19]
^"穗深城际铁路沿线新增站点 直通深圳肇庆" [Guangzhou–Shenzhen intercity railway added a new station, leads directly to Shenzhen and Zhaoqing] (in Chinese). 南方网. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
^"广深城际将开通一站直达快车" [Guangzhou-Shenzhen railway will open direct non-stop trains]. Xinhua News (in Chinese). 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on April 8, 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
