A new railway timetable has been implemented at Shantou Station following the operational launch of the Shantou to Shantou South section of the Yongzhou-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway on December 22.
The section's inauguration marks a key phase in the development of the Yongzhou-Guangzhou corridor. During the transition period lasting until January 25, 2026, the updated schedule focuses on optimizing transport capacity and operational efficiency, significantly enhancing Shantou Station's role as a railway hub in eastern Guangdong and providing greater travel convenience for passengers.
Key changes during this transition phase include:
1. The addition of one new pair of trains: G8432/1 between Guangzhou (Guangzhou East) and Shantou.
2. The adjustment of operational sections for 24 pairs of trains, shifting their starting and terminal points from Shantou South Station to Shantou Station. This affects services to Guangzhou, Guangzhou East, Shenzhen, and Shenzhen North.
(1) Seven pairs of trains, Shantou South–Guangzhou G6413/28, G6425/88, G8407/02, G8427/10, G8429/20, G8406, G6479, G8426, and G8428, have had their operating sections adjusted to run between Shantou and Guangzhou.
(2) Eight pairs of trains, Shantou South–Guangzhou East G6445/48, G6449/50, G8401/4, G8403/8, G8405/12, G8409/18, G8411/24, G8419, and G8421, have had their operating sections adjusted to run between Shantou and Guangzhou East.
(3) Six pairs of trains, Shantou South–Shenzhen G6407/18, G6411/26, G6417/46, G6427/76, G6475/80, and G6487/90, have had their operating sections adjusted to run between Shantou and Shenzhen.
(4) Two pairs of trains, Shantou South–Shenzhen North G6447/08 and G6489/12, have had their operating sections adjusted to run between Shantou and Shenzhen North.
(5) One pair of trains, Shantou South–Guangzhou East G8417/22, has had its operating section adjusted to run between Shantou and Guangzhou.
With the new timetable, the number of scheduled trains at Shantou Station has seen a substantial increase, rising from 55.5 pairs in the fourth quarter to 80.5 pairs—a growth of 45 percent. This surge solidifies the station as a core beneficiary of the schedule adjustment and strengthens the rapid passenger corridor between Shantou's urban center and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
A notable highlight is the introduction of premium express ("benchmark") trains from Shantou Station for the first time, offering non-stop services to key destinations in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The fastest journeys will take under one and a half hours to Xintang, Guangzhou, and to Shenzhen Station, cutting travel time by nearly an hour compared to current options.
Passengers are advised that train schedules have been adjusted during this transition. On the first day of operation, 22 pairs of passenger trains are scheduled to run, while four pairs—G6413, G6407, G6408/11, G6418, G6412/8417, and G6428—are temporarily suspended. The first adjusted service to depart will be G9787 at 10:30.
Railway authorities remind travelers that due to numerous changes in the new timetable, they should check the latest train schedules and specific operating plans via the official 12306 website or mobile app.
Author | Jiang Chang
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
