The last section of track for the Beijing-Xiong'an Intercity Railway is laid on Monday. The high-speed railway is set to start operating all the way to the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei province by year's end. It is expected to shorten the travel time to one hour from the current two hours, according to China Railway Beijing Group. XING GUANGLI/XINHUA

Track laying for a high-speed railway linking Beijing and Xiong'an New Area in neighboring Hebei province was completed on Monday, marking a countdown to the full operation of the line, according to the local railway operator.

Scheduled for operation by the end of this year, the Beijing-Xiong'an high-speed intercity railway will shorten travel time between the two places from the current two hours to one hour, said China Railway Beijing Group.

The railway, which stops in downtown Beijing, Beijing Daxing International Airport and Xiong'an, will improve the high-speed railway network in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the company said, adding that it will play a significant role in facilitating the coordinated development of the region and supporting the construction of the Xiong'an New Area.

Workers lay tracks at the construction site of Beijing-Xiong'an intercity railway in Xiong'an New Area, North China's Hebei province, Aug 17, 2020. The last batch of 500-meter-long rails were laid on tracks of Beijing-Xiong'an intercity railway on Monday, which marks the construction of the whole railway has been completed. [Photo/Xinhua]

Aerial photo taken on Aug 17, 2020 shows workers laying tracks at the construction site of Beijing-Xiong'an intercity railway in Xiong'an New Area, North China's Hebei province. The last batch of 500-meter-long rails were laid on tracks of Beijing-Xiong'an intercity railway on Monday, which marks the construction of the whole railway has been completed. [Photo/Xinhua]

China announced plans to establish the Xiong'an New Area in April 2017 to take over functions nonessential to Beijing's role as the national capital. Xiong'an's city proper will be a new home for Beijing's colleges, hospitals, business headquarters and financial and public institutions.

Later in 2018, the country kicked off construction of the Beijing-Xiong'an intercity railway, with a total of 33.5 billion yuan ($4.83 billion) invested in the project.