Hong Kong's high-speed rail will add 16 stations directly from West Kowloon to Nanjing, Wuxi, Hefei and other cities in January!

Recently, MTR announced a major service upgrade, adding new momentum to this convenience. Starting from January 26th, Hong Kong West Kowloon Station will add 16 direct stations, covering key cities in East China such as Nanjing, Wuxi, and Hefei. The total number of direct stations has officially exceeded the 100 station mark, increasing to 110. The synchronized optimization of schedule and service experience has further shortened the time and space distance of cross-border travel and made the regional integration more clear.

The 16 newly added sites present the characteristics of precise coverage of diverse needs. Among them, the inclusion of Nanjing, Wuxi, and Hefei, the three major cities in East China, is particularly noteworthy. Nanjing, as the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, is nurtured by the night scenery of the Qinhuai River and the grandeur of the Sun Yat sen Mausoleum, creating a profound cultural heritage; In the name of "the pearl of the Taihu Lake Lake", Wuxi hides the gentleness of Jiangnan water town and the mellow fragrance of special food in the streets; Hefei, with its Baogong culture and Three Kingdoms relics, showcases the charm of a city that blends ancient and modern times. These cities are not only important hubs for business and high-tech, but also popular destinations covered by Hong Kong's "Individual Visit" program. The opening of direct high-speed rail allows Hong Kong people to immerse themselves in the East China style without the need for transfer, and also opens up more convenient channels for mainland tourists to visit Hong Kong for sightseeing. In addition, the newly added stations also include stations in Qingyuan, Quanzhou East, Shantou South and other places, covering multiple provinces such as Guangdong, Fujian and Hunan, further weaving the high-speed rail network between Hong Kong and the mainland.

While expanding the site, the optimization of schedules and services is more considerate. The West Kowloon Station to Shanghai Hongqiao sleeper train, which previously only operated from Friday to Monday, will be adjusted to operate daily and adopt the "evening departure and morning arrival" mode, allowing passengers to cross mountains and seas in their sleep, saving travel time and improving the comfort of long-distance journeys. In terms of short distance routes, the number of daily trips between West Kowloon Station and Guangzhou South Station has increased from 19 to 24, and the convenience of the "1-hour living circle" in the Greater Bay Area continues to upgrade; The number of trains to and from Shantou Station has also increased from 4 pairs to 5 pairs. The original pair of trains ending in Xiamen has been extended to Fuzhou Station, and the travel time from West Kowloon to Fuzhou has been reduced by about 20 minutes, making cross-border travel in eastern Guangdong and southern Fujian more efficient. These adjustments precisely align with diverse needs such as business commuting, tourism and sightseeing, and visiting relatives and friends, making high-speed rail services more in line with the actual travel scenarios of passengers.

Behind this convenient travel is the result of cooperation between the two regions and the acceleration of regional integration. MTR Chief Executive Yang Meizhen stated that this service upgrade is due to the close collaboration between the governments and railway departments of mainland China and Hong Kong. It is not only an important milestone in the development of the Hong Kong section of the high-speed rail, but also can further unleash the potential of high-speed rail to drive the economy and help Hong Kong integrate into the national development agenda. From the data, the passenger volume of the Hong Kong section of the high-speed railway has exceeded 30 million by 2025, and the cumulative passenger volume has even surpassed 100 million. The strong passenger flow confirms the important value of this channel. With the opening of new stations, it is expected to drive the two-way flow of culture, tourism, and commerce in cities along the route. The tourism industry has taken the lead in launching high-speed rail tour groups from West Kowloon to Nanjing, Wuxi, and other places, injecting new vitality into the cross-border tourism market.