A good experience. A foreigner will need their passport to enter the train station. There are no tickets issued, just a reservation done online. All you need to know is train number, date, time. When you get into train station, there is a massive sign board with Chinese and English. Once you find the gate, you will scan passport at gate and will get carriage and seat number.
All is well organised and perfectly on time.
You can board 15 minutes before train leaves