Meilong High-speed Railway opens, slashing travel times in Guangdong

Guangdong is set to launch a new high-speed railway traveling at 350 km/h! The Meizhou West to Longchuan West section of the Longyan to Longchuan high-speed railway referred to as the Meilong High-speed Railway (HSR) was inaugurated on September 14. This new route significantly reduces travel times from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to Meizhou by over half.

Soon, direct high-speed train services from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Meizhou are expected to be available, making it much more convenient for residents to travel to Meizhou and Heyuan. This new route is anticipated to cut travel time by approximately half compared to previous transfers at Shenzhen North Station and using the Xiamen-Shenzhen high-speed rail.

The Meilong High-Speed Railway is designed for a speed of 350 km/h, passing through Meizhou City and Heyuan City, with four stations: Meizhou West, Xingning South, Wuhua, and Longchuan West. After the opening, the fastest journey from Guangzhou East Station to Meizhou West Station will take just 1 hour and 47 minutes, a significant reduction from the previous travel time of around 3.5 to 4 hours. Similarly, travel from Shenzhen North Station to Meizhou West Station has been cut down from approximately 3 hours to about 1.5 hours.

Additionally, overall ticket prices have become more affordable. For instance, the lowest ticket price from Guangzhou to Meizhou was previously 281 yuan. Still, now it ranges from a maximum of 233 yuan to a minimum of just 197 yuan, depending on discounts.

There are no direct high-speed train services between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Meizhou West Station. Still, future plans aim to establish a direct route via the Meilong High-Speed Railway, expected to take around 1.75 hours, effectively halving the previous travel time. Railway officials noted that the direct service involves cross-border operations, and the launch date will require discussions between the two regions.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area plans to develop the world's densest railway transport network centered on high-speed rail in the coming years. By 2025, the operational and under-construction mileage of the bay area railway network is expected to reach 4,700 kilometers, covering major cities, key urban nodes, and metropolitan areas. By 2035, this network will expand to 5,700 kilometers, connecting all county-level cities. At that time, travel from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to major cities in the Greater Bay Area will take about 30 minutes, while travel to key cities within the province will take 1 to 2 hours.

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