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A high-speed rail line between Beijing and Shijiazhuang , capital of north China 's Hebei Province , began construction on Tuesday, the Ministry of Railway said. The new 281 km line is part of another route which connects Beijing , Guangzhou and Hong Kong in south China . With an estimated cost of 43.87 billion CNY (6.4 billion USD), it is expected to be complete and in operation in four years. The designed speed is 350 km ph. Initially, however, trains will only travel 300 km ph. Once operating, this new line should cut the journey from Beijing to Shijiazhuang from 119 minutes to less than 60 minutes, the ministry said. The new line will have six stations.