
Line 18 uses 8 car Type D urban express trains with a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h, which is currently the fastest subway line in mainland China. Together with the planned Line 26 along Guangzhou Avenue, Line 18 is expected to provide some relief to Line 3. The planners rejected the suggestions to maintain the line's wide stop spacing to allow for the target of 30 minute travel time Nansha and central Guangzhou. In particular a station at Tianhe Sports Center allowing from interchange with Line 1 and a station at Yuwotou Town. The government received a number of requests from the public to increase the number of stations along the line.
#Guangzhou mtr map free
The planned travel time between Nansha Free Trade Zone and central Guangzhou is proposed to be 30 minutes. Line 18 will be designed as an express line to provide a rapid transit link between Nansha District and the central urban area of Guangzhou. Line 18 and Line 22 were originally planned as long-term projects, but the desire to promote development of the Nansha Free Trade Zone fast tracked the project for construction. Additionally, the "Zhongshan City Comprehensive Transportation Plan (Revision)" proposed a connection line south of Wanqingsha Station, to allow Line 18 to through operate into the Shenzhen–Dayawan intercity railway. Since November 2020, Zhuhai Municipal government is also studying extending Line 18 to connect with the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge at the Zhuhai-Macao Port artificial island. Construction on the extension is expected to start before the end of 2021. This extension is also known as "Nansha to Zhuhai (Zhongshan) intercity" ( Chinese: 南沙至珠海(中山)城际) or "Nanzhongzhu intercity" ( Chinese: 南中珠城际). South extension Īn extension is planned that would see the line extended to Zhongshan and Zhuhai. A branch line via Huadu Railway Station allowing for through service to and from the Guangzhou-Qingyuan Intercity Railway is also under planning. At Fangshi Station provisions are made to allow for Line 18 trains to interline into Line 22 to directly serve Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The north extension of Line 18, also known as "Guangzhoudong to Huadu Tiangui intercity" ( Chinese: 广州东至花都天贵城际) or "Guanghua intercity" ( Chinese: 广花城际), will be 39.6 km in length with 7 new stations, to Huachengjie in Huadu District of Guangzhou. The local service will take only 37 minutes from Wanqingsha to XIancun, and the express service is even shortened by 7 minutes.


There are 2 distinct stopping patterns operating, facilitated by passing loops at select stations, a local all stop service and an express service stopping only at Hengli and Panyu Square. The service between Wanqingsha and Xiancun was opened on 28 September 2021. This high speed can be sustained especially on the 26 km section between Panyu Square and Hengli stations. The line is an express subway line using 8-car Type D trains with an operating speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). The 61.3 km (38.1 mi) line, roughly north-south, connects Wanqingsha in Nansha District with Guangzhou East Railway Station, with only seven stations in between, Hengli, Panyu Square, Nancun Wanbo, Shaxi, Longtan, Modiesha, Xiancun.
