Laying of the first pair of 400-m (437-yd) long rails of the Phase II of the Airport Urban Rail Transit was completed on Nov 5, marking the start of rail-laying for the project. 

Thirty-two rails will be laid by China Railway No 8 Engineering Group, covering an overall length of 6.4 km (4 miles). 

The 22.8-km (14.2-mile) project starts from Hengqin Chimelong Station and heads west to Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport after going through Big Hengqin Mountain and over Modaomen and Baiteng River waterways. 

Workers lay rails for the second phase of the Airport Urban Rail Transit [Photo by Li Jianshu and Meng Qinghu / Guanhai App]

It includes stops at Jinwan, Hezhou South (reserved), Sanzao East, and Zhuhai Airport stations. With a designated speed of 160 kmph (99.5 mph), the railway will help Zhuhai form an intercity rail passage connecting Xiangzhou, Hengqin, and Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport.

The project is expected to meet with operation demands in 2023, allowing passengers to travel from Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport to Gongbei in half an hour. 

Currently, Zhuhai has been devoting great efforts to building a national comprehensive transportation hub featuring airports, sea ports, high-speed rails, expressways, and checkpoints. The Airport Urban Rail Transit will be of vital importance as it connects several checkpoints and transportation hubs.