我國第一條城際地鐵、廣州與佛山的廣佛地鐵昨天（11月3日）正式開通了。今后。來往于廣州、佛山兩市的市中心，只需30多分鐘，大大方便了人們的出行。廣佛地鐵全長約21公里，全線共設站21座。其中，佛山市境內有11站，廣州市境內有3站，廣佛線最高運行速度為每小時80公里。廣佛線的開通適逢亞運廣州公交免票階段，因此，到12月10日之前，廣佛地鐵將同樣實行免費營運，而在正常收費時段，廣佛地鐵首通段全程票價為6元。

A subway train enters Xilang Station, an interchange station on the Guangzhou-Foshan Subway Line for the Guangzhou Subway Line 1, Nov 3, 2010. China's first inter-city subway linking the two Southern Chinese cities hosting the 2010 Asian Games opened on Wednesday. (Xinhua)

A subway train enters Xilang Station, an interchange station on the Guangzhou-Foshan Subway Line for the Guangzhou Subway Line 1, Nov 3, 2010. China's first inter-city subway linking the two Southern Chinese cities hosting the 2010 Asian Games opened on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's first inter-city subway, linking two Southern Chinese cities hosting the 2010 Asian Games, started operations Wednesday.

The 21-kilometer Guangfo Line connects Guangzhou City with Foshan City, both in the manufacturing hub of the Pearl River Delta region in Guangdong Province.

Riders on the subway will find that the travel time between the two cities has been reduced from 90 minutes to 30 minutes, said sources with the subway company Guangzhou Metro.

The line has 14 stations and a ride from end to end costs only six yuan (less than $1).

Local authorities have been pushing for the increased integration of cities in the Pearl River Delta and consider the operation of the Guangfo Line a big step in that direction.

The subway was purposely opened one week prior to the start of the 2010 Asian Games. The competitions will be held in Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, and Shanwei.

(Xinhua)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）