A shield tunneling machine operates on the Xilang Tunnel, a key section of the Guangnan Expressway. The line is expected to open by mid-2027. [Photo/WeChat account: gz_baiyunfabu]

A new link, the Guangnan Expressway, connecting three of Guangzhou's major train stations, is expected to enter operation by mid-2027, cutting travel time between Guangzhou Railway Station and Guangzhou South Railway Station to just 15 minutes.

The 16.08-kilometer line, with a designed speed of 200 km per hour, will connect Guangzhou Railway Station, Guangzhou Baiyun Station and Guangzhou South Railway Station. It will also put downtown Guangzhou and Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station within one hour of each other.

Tunneling for the main 13.21-km Xilang Tunnel is nearly 70 percent complete and is expected to be completed by December 2026. Two shield machines are currently operating — one has surpassed the 2,000-meter mark while the other has exceeded 3,000 meters — safely passing beneath subway lines, highway viaducts and urban buildings.

The link will integrate with major high-speed rail lines, including the Beijing-Guangzhou, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong, and Guiyang-Guangzhou routes, allowing passengers to board long-distance trains directly from the city center rather than traveling to Guangzhou South Railway Station.