Guangzhou and Zhuhai would be linked by rail next year for the first time, the Guangzhou Daily reported Monday.

The railway will also link other two cities in the Pearl River Delta area, Foshan and Jiangmen.

The total length of the new railway will be 132 kilometers costing about 4.58 billion yuan (US$585.5 million). Construction will start this year and is expected to be finished next year.

However, officials said the new railway would be used for freight trains only. Another railway for passengers is under discussion.

The railway for passengers is expected to cut the travel time between the two cities from two hours to 38 minutes.

Coaches and ferries are now the only means of transport between Guangzhou and Zhuhai.

(Shenzhen Daily March 29, 2005)