(Yicai Global) Aug. 29 -- The Hong Kong section of a high-speed rail link connecting it with the Chinese mainland is set to open to passengers in September, slashing the time it takes to travel to Beijing by almost two thirds.

Once the offshore section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link is complete, passengers will be able to travel between the capital and the southern financial hub in around nine hours, a journey that currently takes around 24 hours on a sleeper train or three and a half hours by air.

Prices and schedules for the new route have not yet been disclosed but tickets are expected to cost around CNY1,000 (USD147). Passengers will travel between Beijing West and the new West Kowloon station in Hong Kong via a transfer at Guangzhou South.

The new station will also harbor facilities for exit and entry supervision, so when the new track is up and running, Hong Kong passengers will be able to pass through immigration, customs and quarantine there before heading on to one of 17 mainland destinations.

Hong Kong's MTR is setting up and handling the new route, including ticket booking, transfers, exit and entry administration and boarding. It has already opened several ticket booking channels and built an app and website to help travelers plan their journey.