BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Construction of the Beijing-Bazhou high-speed rail line, a key link for the capital's new airport and Xiongan New Area, started on Sunday, the China Railway Group announced.

The passenger line will connect Beijing and Bazhou, a neighboring city 80 kilometers to the south. Bazhou is also adjacent to Xiongan New Area, the country's emerging development zone.

With a design speed of 350 kilometers an hour, the railway will be completed in 2019, according to project manager Huo Jianli.

Passengers will be able to transfer between the capital's new airport and the high-speed railway station via an underground stop on the new rail line.

Upon its completion, a modern transportation network will serve the country's capital and inject new dynamism into north China.

The new rail line is also a key part of the Beijing-Kowloon route connecting Beijing and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. By 2019, Hong Kong and Xiongan will be linked by the new railway.