SHIJIAZHUANG - An inter-city express railway is to be built between Beijing and Zhangjiakou, of neighboring Hebei province, local authorities announced on Monday.

Construction will start on the 174-km-long line by the end of 2013, according to authorities.

Running on the line at 200 to 350 km per hour, trains will take less than one hour to make the run from the capital to Zhangjiakou, a journey which currently takes at least four to five hours.

After the new line is opened, the trains currently in operation will only be used to transport cargo.