Hong Kong Expands High-Speed Rail Services Across Mainland China

Hong Kong, June 2026 — Hong Kong has expanded its high-speed rail network by introducing direct services to additional mainland Chinese destinations while increasing train frequencies on several existing routes. The enhancements, implemented through the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link, improve passenger access to key cities across southern, central and eastern China, reinforcing Hong Kong's role as an international transport hub.

The expanded timetable includes new direct services to destinations such as Zhangjiajie West, Jiayuguan South and Xi'an North, alongside more frequent trains serving major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The revised schedule provides travellers with greater flexibility and reduces the need for transfers, making rail a more competitive option for long-distance intercity travel.

The service expansion is expected to support tourism, business travel and cross-border economic activity by improving accessibility between Hong Kong and mainland China. It also reflects continued collaboration between Hong Kong's rail operator and mainland railway authorities to optimise capacity and respond to growing passenger demand across the national high-speed rail network.

Since the Express Rail Link commenced operations in 2018, Hong Kong has progressively expanded the number of destinations served through China's extensive high-speed railway system. The latest enhancements build on this strategy by extending network reach while improving operational efficiency and strengthening multimodal transport connectivity within the Greater Bay Area and beyond.

As high-speed rail networks continue to expand across Asia, increasing service coverage and frequency is becoming a key strategy for encouraging modal shift from air and road transport, supporting sustainable mobility and fostering greater regional integration.

Source: Railway-News