The illustration of the station (Shenzhen Daily)

Construction started yesterday on Futian Station on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong passenger railway line in Futian CBD, the first underground railway station on a long-distance line in China.

The 7-billion-yuan (US.02 billion) project will include a three-story station below ground covering a total area of 128,000 square meters.

On completion in June 2011, it will be the first underground transport hub in China and guarantee smooth public transport for the Universiade.

"The station will become an important transport hub in the Pearl River Delta region and the line will be the quickest for passengers traveling between Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong," Shenzhen Mayor Xu Zongheng said at a foundation-laying ceremony yesterday.

Trains from Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and Metro Lines 1, 2, 3, 4 and 11 will terminate at the hub at the intersection of Yitian Road and Shennan Thoroughfare.

The illustration of the station (Guangzhou Daily)

It will reduce the travel time from Shenzhen to Guangzhou to 40 minutes and to Hong Kong to 20 minutes, Xu said.

To make way for construction, Yitian Flyover will be dismantled and some sections of Yitian and Mintian roads will be closed.

Steel bridges will be built on Fuzhong Roads 3 and 1 to relieve traffic congestion. Traffic on Shennan Thoroughfare will not be affected.

A computer image of Futian Station on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong passenger railway line.