Guangshen Railway Co, which operates a high-speed line between Guangdong and Shenzhen, is part of a consortium that has been shortlisted to run the United Kingdom's planned HS2 high-speed line, the British government announced.

It is the first Chinese company to be part of a shortlist for a British rail project.

Guangshen, a State-owned company, has joined forces with a group that includes Hong Kong Metro operator MTR, accounting firm Deloitte and WSP Parsons Brinckerhof.

They are bidding to operate Britain's existing West Coast Line, and then the HS2 route between London and Birmingham.

Chris Grayling, Britain's transport secretary, says the partnership would support growth and better services on the West Coast main line while helping ensure that HS2 becomes the backbone of Britain's railways.

"This will create more seats for passengers, improve connections between our great cities, free up space on existing rail lines and generate jobs and economic growth throughout the country," Grayling adds.

Guangshen is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Guangzhou Railway Group.

The shortlist for the project, which will see the winner work with HS2 to provide services on the ￡55.7 billion ($70.8 billion; 63.25 billion euros) high-speed railway, includes two other groups, the Department for Transport says.

They are a joint venture between First Rail Holdings and Italy's Trenitalia, called First Trenitalia West Coast, and a team called West Coast Partnership, which comprises a joint venture between Stage coach Group, Virgin Holdings and France's SNCF.

The HS2 line is due to start operating by 2026.

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