Chongqing - Starting from October 11, cross-line trains running from Chongqing West Railway Station to Guangzhou South Railway Station will reduce travel time by 54 minutes, with a duration of 5 hours and 43 minutes, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. 

Guiyang-Guangzhou High-speed Railway improvement project was initiated by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. in December 2022 for easier access and closer exchanges between Southwest and South China.

High-speed train departing from Guiding Railway Station on the Guiyang-Guangzhou High-speed Railway. (Photo/Zeng Ming)

Operating speed: a maximum of 300 km/h

After undergoing a quality improvement project, the Guiyang-Guangzhou High-speed Railway will increase its operating speed from 250 km/h to a maximum of 300 km/h.

This enhancement will also significantly reduce the travel time between the endpoints of the Guiyang-Guangzhou High-speed Railway, potentially taking as little as approximately 3.5 hours. This development undoubtedly provides a robust foundation for integrating and developing regions in eastern and western China.

With the Guiyang-Guangzhou High-speed Railway operating at a maximum speed of 300 km/h, the railway authorities will schedule 177 daily EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) trains on regular lines and 12 on peak-hour lines, further reducing travel time between the Southwest region and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Simultaneously, they will introduce commuter-friendly products, implement a new ticketing system, and adopt a flexible pricing mechanism that offers discounts, fluctuating prices, and premium services. 

Drawing experiences from the Chengdu-Chongqing High-Speed Railway 

The Guiyang-Guangzhou High-speed Railway serves as a crucial rail corridor connecting Southwest China with South China. It is an integral part of the "Eight vertical and eight horizontal high-speed railway network," spanning from Lanzhou (Xining) to Guangzhou. The mainline section from Guiyang East to Guangzhou South covers a total distance of 857 kilometers.

Drawing from the successful experiences of similar quality improvement projects on the Chengdu-Chongqing High-Speed Railway in recent years, this project has encompassed upgrades and reinforcements to the Guiyang-Guangzhou High-speed Railway's tracks, bridges, tunnels, traction power, communication signals, and various equipment and facilities, including video surveillance and disaster monitoring systems.

Guiyang-Guangzhou High-speed Railway interweaves with the Shanghai-Kunming High-speed Railway, Guiyang-Kaiyang Intercity Railway tunnels and bridges. (Photo/Shi Zonglin)

The opening of the Guiyang-Guangzhou High-speed Railway in 2014 marked China's first high-speed railway link between the Pearl River Delta and Southwest China. With Guiyang as its center, subsequent lines were established, including the East and West segments of the Shanghai-Kunming High-speed Railway, Chengdu-Guiyang High-speed Railway, Chongqing-Guiyang High-speed Railway, and ongoing construction of the Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway. 

This further reduces travel time between cities such as Guilin, Guiyang, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong via high-speed rail, enhancing the overall passenger travel experience.

The inauguration of the Guiyang-Guangzhou High-speed Railway has transformed the transportation landscape in the entire Southwest region, making Guiyang a crucial transport hub.