"There has been a phenomenon of two-way visits by residents in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and the flexible travel program will help provide more convenient transportation choices for passengers in the two cities," said Jin Yibing, a railway research expert based in Guangzhou, Guangdong.

Railway operators have already been accelerating and upgrading their ticketing systems to meet the expected demand for the flexible travel products, according to Zhang Yuxiu, chief director of the Futian station.