More cities linked to HK as railway network grows

The number of train stations on the Chinese mainland with direct connections to Hong Kong has grown to 58 thanks to a new railway operating plan put into effect on Wednesday, the national railway operator said.

China State Railway Group said the plan, designed to optimize the country's passenger and cargo transport services, linked 13 more high-speed train stations to Hong Kong, including stations in Hebei, Hunan and Guizhou provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

They include a direct, high-speed train service from Tianjin West station to West Kowloon station in Hong Kong, with a stopover at Baiyangdian station in the Xiongan New Area.