Overnight high-speed rail services have been launched in mainland China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to ease congestion during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, amid surging passenger demand.
The so-called “red-eye” services began on Sunday, with the first overnight high-speed train departing Guangzhou South Railway Station at 10.22pm. The train took about four hours to reach Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in central China.
Passengers said the overnight services offer an additional travel option, noting that access to railway stations is often smoother late at night compared with daytime peak hours.
Railway passenger volumes in the Greater Bay Area have continued to rise since the start of the Spring Festival travel period. From February 8, China Railway Guangzhou Group recorded more than two million passenger departures per day, with demand expected to remain high until February 15.
To cope with the pre-festival peak, the railway operator plans to run a total of 2,472 overnight high-speed trains during the period, including more than 400 additional services on the busiest days. The routes will link major southern hubs such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen with destinations including Wuhan, Chongqing, and Nanchang.
To support overnight operations, facilities at Guangzhou South Railway Station are operating around the clock, with provisions for hot water, food, and other necessities. Authorities are also coordinating with local transport departments to extend operating hours for connecting services, aiming to improve last-mile travel for passengers.
