New rail to link Beijing, Hebei

The high-speed railway is expected to be completed by 2020, with trains traveling up to 350 km per hour

China's top economic planner has approved a high-speed rail project connecting Beijing's Tongzhou district, the new home to most city government agencies, and the industrial city of Tangshan in neighboring Hebei province.

Jingtang Intercity Railway Co has gained approval from the National Development and Reform Commission to build the 148.7-kilometer rail project with a total investment of 44.9 billion yuan ($6.58 billion), according to a statement posted on the commission's website.