According to the official announcement from China Railway, a new national railway timetable will be implemented starting at midnight on June 15. The updated timetable will include 12,690 passenger trains, an increase of 205 trains, and 22,595 freight trains, an increase of 74 trains. This adjustment aims to enhance the capacity, service quality, and operational efficiency of railway transportation.
This timetable adjustment is part of the railway department's efforts to fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Central Economic Work Conference. It focuses on serving major national strategies and regional economic and social development, deepening supply-side structural reform in transportation, and optimizing the use of new lines and equipment resources. As a result, the overall functionality of China's railway network will be further improved, and the transportation capacity for both passengers and goods will be significantly enhanced, providing strong support for the continued economic recovery and the daily lives of the people.
One of the highlights of this adjustment is the introduction of the first direct train service from Hong Kong to Zhangjiajie. This new route will significantly enhance connectivity between Hong Kong and mainland China, offering a convenient and rapid travel option for passengers, especially tourists visiting the renowned scenic area of Zhangjiajie.
Additionally, the entire Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed railway will operate at a standard speed of 350 km/h, increasing its overall transportation capacity by 4.2%. The demonstration line for safety standards on the Wuhan-Guangzhou section has been fully completed. The fastest travel times between Beijing West and Guangzhou South, and between Wuhan and Guangzhou South, will be reduced to 7 hours 16 minutes and 3 hours 17 minutes, respectively. The fastest travel time between Changsha South and Guangzhou South will be 1 hour 59 minutes. These improvements will greatly enhance travel efficiency, meeting high-quality travel demands at different times.
To further support the rise of central China and the development of western China, 28 additional benchmark trains will be introduced between cities such as Zhengzhou, Wuhan, and Changsha. A new direct train from Taiyuan to Shenzhen will reduce the travel time to 8 hours 17 minutes, saving 27 hours 57 minutes compared to conventional trains. Additionally, the Lanzhou-Xinjiang high-speed railway will see new rapid passenger trains between Urumqi and Emei, as well as Urumqi and Xi'an. The new timetable will also introduce a benchmark train between Lanzhou West and Guangzhou South, reducing travel time to under 10 hours.
The new timetable will also optimize the operation of certain passenger trains to enhance connectivity between regions such as Northeast China and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area. New trains will be introduced between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Guangzhou East, and Shenzhen North, with 6 and 4 trains respectively, promoting economic and personnel exchanges between Hong Kong and mainland China.
The railway department reminds passengers that tickets for the new timetable will be available for purchase starting June 1. Passengers and customers can check detailed information through the China Railway 12306 and 95306 websites, apps, and WeChat channels to plan their travel and cargo transportation accordingly.