How China’s new railway artery bolsters Hong Kong’s ties to the capital, central heartland

A new high-speed railway section connecting Beijing to Xiongan and central Chinese provinces is poised to begin operations this month, filling a missing link in the sprawling, 2,370km (1,472-mile) train journey from the nation’s capital to Hong Kong. By enabling more direct connectivity and train services to and from Hong Kong for northern and central regions, China aims to inject fresh development impetus into the Greater Bay Area – an integrated economic hub linking several southern cities – and inland regions. The Beijing-to-Hong Kong high-speed line is a combination of individual sections that have gradually become operational over the years,…