With the Lunar New Year travel rush fast approaching, MTR Corporation on 30 January published updated high-speed rail timetables effective 2 February to 14 March 2026 on its official ticketing portal. The new schedule adds 16 direct destinations—including Nanjing, Wuxi and Hefei—to the Hong Kong section of China’s High-Speed Rail network, bringing the total number of reachable stations from West Kowloon to 110.
Sleeper services between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Shanghai Hongqiao will be stepped up from four nights per week to nightly departures, while daytime frequencies on the Guangzhou South route increase by up to 20 percent. Short-haul capacity is being boosted through additional eight-car CRH380 trains to cope with an expected daily peak of 200,000 cross-boundary passengers.
For mobility managers, the richer timetable offers greater flexibility for North Asia executive shuttles and just-in-time supply-chain visits. Companies can now plan same-day round trips to Jiangsu’s industrial clusters without connecting in Shenzhen. The sleeper train expansion also provides an overnight alternative to slots-constrained air routes for staff travelling on cost-control mandates.
![MTR releases Spring Festival high-speed rail timetable, adds 16 mainland stops]()
Travellers should note that real-name ticketing remains compulsory. Passport holders must enter full document details when buying online, and physical ID will be checked alongside the ticket barcode at boarding gates. MTR has warned that name mismatches—even the occasional middle-name omission—will invalidate tickets.
As rail itineraries take shape, securing the correct travel documents is just as critical. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong office can expedite China visa applications, arrange convenient document pickup and provide real-time status updates—ensuring passengers are cleared for departure well before boarding. Full service details are available at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
Groups booking through corporate travel agencies are urged to lock in seats early; sales data from the 2025 festive period showed premium-class berths on the Shanghai sleeper sell out within hours of release. Fares remain unchanged for now, but tiered seasonal surcharges may be introduced if demand exceeds projections.
Sleeper services between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Shanghai Hongqiao will be stepped up from four nights per week to nightly departures, while daytime frequencies on the Guangzhou South route increase by up to 20 percent. Short-haul capacity is being boosted through additional eight-car CRH380 trains to cope with an expected daily peak of 200,000 cross-boundary passengers.
For mobility managers, the richer timetable offers greater flexibility for North Asia executive shuttles and just-in-time supply-chain visits. Companies can now plan same-day round trips to Jiangsu’s industrial clusters without connecting in Shenzhen. The sleeper train expansion also provides an overnight alternative to slots-constrained air routes for staff travelling on cost-control mandates.
Travellers should note that real-name ticketing remains compulsory. Passport holders must enter full document details when buying online, and physical ID will be checked alongside the ticket barcode at boarding gates. MTR has warned that name mismatches—even the occasional middle-name omission—will invalidate tickets.
As rail itineraries take shape, securing the correct travel documents is just as critical. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong office can expedite China visa applications, arrange convenient document pickup and provide real-time status updates—ensuring passengers are cleared for departure well before boarding. Full service details are available at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
Groups booking through corporate travel agencies are urged to lock in seats early; sales data from the 2025 festive period showed premium-class berths on the Shanghai sleeper sell out within hours of release. Fares remain unchanged for now, but tiered seasonal surcharges may be introduced if demand exceeds projections.
