From 20 September, daily train services on one of China’s busiest railway lines –the Wuhan-Guangzhou express railway −were increased from 63 to 80 each way. The increase in frequency was introduced just in time for the mass movement of travellers expected over the October Golden holiday.

The 967km high-speed passenger line from Wuchang Station in Wuhan to Guangzhou New Station in Guangzhou allows a top speed of 350kph and has reduced the journey time between the two cities from 11 hours to just three hours. At least 100 trains each way are scheduled to run daily before long.

Costing nearly Rmb99bn to build and started in 2005, this line is part of the 2,230km Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed rail line, which upon completion will reduce the travel time between Beijing and Guangzhou to 10 hours from the current 24 hours. The new high-speed line will run parallel to the existing Beijing-Guangzhou line, which will eventually be used only for cargo.