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The Hong Kong urban and suburban areas were long served by two railway operators: MTR Corporation (Mass Transit Railway Corporation) and KCRC (Kowloon Canton Railway Corporation). The MTR Corporation operated 7 lines including the Airport Express. The KCRC ran 3 suburban lines and the LRT (light rail) system in the North-West District of Hong Kong. On 2 Dec 2007 the two companies merged and now operate as MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL).

LINE

Route length (km)

Stations

Year of operation

Min headway (min)

Max speed (kmph)

Configuration

Rolling stock manufacturer

MTR

Kwun Tong Line

15.8

15

1979

2

80

8-car

1432 mm rail gauge, 1500 V DC

ROTEM/Metro Cammell

Tsuen Wan Line

16.9

16

1982

Metro Cammell

Island Line

13.3

14

1985

Tung Chung Line

31.1

8

1998

5

135

Adtranz

Tseung Kwan O Line

12.5

7

2002

3

80

Metro Cammell

Disneyland Resort Line

3.5

2

2005

4

4-car

Airport Express

35.3

4

1998

12

135

7-ca

1432 mm rail gauge, 1500 V DC

Adtranz

(ex-KCRC)

East Rail

35.1

14

1911 (electrified in 1982)

2.5

130

12-car

1435 mm track gauge, 750 V DC

Kinki Sharyo/ Metro Cammell

West Rail

30.5

9

2003

3.5

9-car

Kinki Sharyo

Ma On Shan Rail

11.4

9

2004

3

4-car

Dating back to the 1960s, the British HK government saw the need for an urban mass transit railway system to cope with the transporation needs of what is one of the most densly populated cities in the world. A plan of 4 railway lines, with alignment similar to the existing Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line and the future Shatin-to-Central Link, was formulated. Close to reaching a deal that would grant a Japanese Conglomeration rights to build and operate the HK metro system, the Japanese Conglomeration withdrew from the project in mid-70s in light of the oil crisis. Consequently, the governmemnt decided to realize the plan by itself and run the system under a then wholly-government owned company, Mass Transit Railway Corporation (now known as MTR Corporation).

The first three lines were completed between 1979 and 1985, and the East Kowloon Line (now Shatin-Central Link) was shelved to direct capital for the immense new Airport project, which was completed in 1998 and includes the Airport Express, the first dedicated airport railway in the world, and a new metro line, Tung Chung Line. The MTR network expanded to the new residential district with the opening of the Tseung Kwan O Line in 2002. In 2005, the world's only dedicated metro line for Disneyland, the Disneyland Resort Line, was opened to the public together with the Disneyland theme park.

HK MTR is famous for its cleanliness, ease of use, safety and reliability. Trains run in high frequency and there is rarely any delay of schedule. By 2005 all underground stations are equiped with platform screen doors. Route maps on trains are installed with LED lighting to indicate location of trains and transfer information. Most passengers can transfer between lines on the same platform.

More photos

 Former KCRC Network

Construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway started in 1910 and it opened in 1911. The single-track, diesel-powered inter-city railway connects the city of Hong Kong and Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province in China some 100 km away from Hong Kong. Canton was a misnomer of Guangzhou, and Kowloon refers to the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. It was not until 1982, when the doubling and electrification programme of the Kowloon-Canton Railway was completed, that the railway (HK section) became a suburban railway with intermediate stations that connect remote urban districts in Hong Kong. The Kowloon-Canton Railway HK section, is the present KCRC East Rail, and it carries local suburban rail, inter-city passenger service and freight transport. The East Rail currently terminates at the border Lo Wu station, where passengers can enter the PRC's territory and interchange to the Shenzhen Metro.

The KCRC built the West Rail and Ma On Shan Rail in the late 1990s. These two railway lines are purely local suburban railways that link various new towns to central Hong Kong and were completed in 2003 and 2004.

Work on the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line (Lok Ma Chau <> Sheung Shui), the second urban link with Shenzhen, was started in early 2003 and opened on 15 Aug 2007. The 7.4 km project comprises a large portion of tunnels that run through the ecologically sensitive area of Long Valley, viaducts and the Lok Ma Chau station, the new terminal with immigration facilities. Details

It was proposed by the HK government in 2006 to merge the KCRC and the MTRC to form one integrated metro company. The merger was effective on 2 Dec 2007.

North-West LRT

Apart from the 3 heavy rail lines, KCRC also operates a dense network of Light Rail in the north-west district. The network began service in 1988 and gradually expanded into nowadays a network of 36km with 68 stops. It runs at grade in most sections. Light Rail passengers can interchange for West Rail at Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai, Siu Hong and Tuen Mun stations. The entire network comprises 11 routes. Passengers are charged differently according to numbers of zones they travelled, and are inspected for tickets on trains to fight against fare evaders.

The Light Rail system is considered a failure in the history of transportation. The Light Rail was designed to serve the North-West Region as a self-supporting society, where residents were expected to work and travel within the areas. This happens to be a mistake, and the Light Rail proves inadequate to meet the transportation needs. The fact that it has been run under deficit was also alien to the HK society.

Not long ago, the Tramway celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004. In any sense its a miracle, for being the world's only double-decker tram that is in commercial operation, for being a true antique that runs through Asia's most vibrant financial centre and for its capability to withstand, rather comfortably, the forces of modernisation and the competition from other modes of transportation. The system was first put forward in 1881, but had failed to attract private investment for nearly 20 years because a project that serves the colonial Chinese community made little financial sense a century ago.

The Tram runs between the East and West of the North shore of the HK Island, along the busiest trunk road of the island, and spans to the Happy Valley Racecourse in a little loop. The system is entirely at grade, and shares roads with common vehicles. Maximum speed is only 40kmph, and it takes 45 mins from Shau Kei Wan to Central (MTR: 19mins). There is no air-conditioning yet the fare is extremely cheap: HK$2 (or USD 25 cents) for any single trip. Its easily accessible locations, price and open view make it an ideal transport among visitors and budget commuters.

 History

01/10/1979: Kwun Tong Line Kwun Tong - Shek Kip Mei
31/12/1979: Kwun Tong Line (Shek Kip Mei) - Mong Kok - Yau Ma Tei - Jordan - Tsim Sha Tsui
12/02/1980: Tsuen Wan Line (Tsim Sha Tsui) - Admiralty - Central (as a part of the Kwun Tong Line)
10/05/1982: Tsuen Wan Line (Jordan) - Yau Ma Tei - Mong Kok - Prince Edward - Lai King - Kwai Fong - Kwai Hing - Tai Wo Hau - Tsuen Wan
___________Kwun Tong Line Prince Edward added
17/05/1982: Tsuen Wan Line - Sham Shui Po - Cheung Sha Wan - Lai Chi Kok - Mei Foo - stations opened with a week delay
31/05/1985: Island Line Chai Wan - Admiralty
23/05/1986: Island Line Admiralty - Sheung Wan
05/08/1989: Kwun Tong Line Kwun - Quarry Bay
22/06/1998: Tung Chung Line Hong Kong - Tung Chung
06/07/1998: Airport Express Hong Kong - Airport
27/09/2001: Kwun Tong Line Quarry Bay - North Point
04/08/2002: Kwun Tong Line Lam Tin - Yau Tong
18/08/2002: Yau Tong - North Point integrated into Tsueng Kwan O Line
___________Tseung Kwan O Line Po Lam - Yau Tong; Kwun Tong Line continued to Tiu Keng Leng
16/12/2003: Tung Chung Line Nam Cheong
20/12/2003: KCRC West Rail Nam Cheong - Tuen Mun
24/10/2004: KCRC East Rail Hung Hom - East Tsim Sha Tsui
21/12/2004: KCRC Ma On Shan Rail Tai Wai - Wu Kai Sha
01/06/2005: Tung Chung Line Sunny Bay
01/08/2005: Disneyland Resort Line Sunny Bay-Disneyland
20/12/2005: Airport Express Airport - AsiaWorld-Expo
15/08/2007: KCRC East Rail Sheung Shui - Lok Ma Chau (7.4km)

Kowloon Southern Link (Under Construction)
Work on the Kowloon Southern Link (Nam Cheong <> Tsim Sha Tsui East) commenced in the winter of 2005. The 3.8 km extension will be entirely in tunnel and is scheduled for completion in 2009. With this railway corridor, it would take only 30 mins from the North West of Hong Kong to the business area of Tsim Sha Tsui. The West Rail will take over East Rail in the Tsim Sha Tsui East <> Hung Hom section, and the East Rail will again terminate at Hung Hom where it once did.
- http://www.kcrc.com/html/eng/corporate/new_projects/kowloon_southern/index.asp

Tseung Kwan O Line (Phase Two) (Construction to start soon)
The extension of Tseung Kwan O Line from Tseung Kwan O to Tseung Kwan O South involves nothing more than constructing a passenger station, Tseung Kwan O South, next to the depot. Tracks have already been in place. The new section will open to public probably in 2007 as development in the area will be gradually completed.
- http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/extensions/inprogress_hongkong_e.htm#8

Northern Link (Committed project)
The Northern Link will provide the 2nd railway corridor between urban HK and Shenzhen. The KCRC has confirmed that a "single-duct" mode will be applied on part of the alignment to minimize cost, bring down the construction cost to HKD 5~6 billion (USD 700million). The extension will be entirely on viaduct. Anticipated completion date is 2012. The Northern Link will terminate also at Lok Ma Chau and share platforms with East Rail.

Shatin-to-Central Link (Committed project without definite timetable)
In what is probably the last piece of multi-billion railway project in urban Hong Kong, the Shatin-to-Central Link is going to form a strategic corridor connecting the North East New Territorities, new developments in South East Kowloon and the central business area. The Ma On Shan Rail will be extended to the East of the Kowloon Peninsula and merge with the West Rail at Hung Hom. The East Rail will be extended across the Victoria Harbour to form the 4th Harbour Crossing. In the meantime, an extension of the Kwun Tong Line from Yau Ma Tei to Whampoa was proposed to serve the area. All mentioned sections will be in tunnel.
The project was first proposed by the government in 2000 and was scheduled to open in 2011. However, the project saw not much effective progress because of the possible merger of KCRC and MTRC. Final design is yet to be confirmed after the successful merger of the two railway operators. In any case, the opening date of the 4th Harbour Crossing (extension of the East Rail) will fall behind the rest of the project as a result of the slow growth in harbour crossing traffic.

South Island Line (in contemplation by the government)
In comparison with the north shore of the island, the southern district is much less populous. The southern Hong Kong Island is the home to the aquatic theme park, Ocean Park, and houses some 400,000 habitants. Responding to the increasing traffic and the public demand for metro service, the MTRC submitted a proposal on the 7 km South Island Line at the request of the HK government, which was approved in Dec. 2007, for construction to start in 2011 and completion in 2015. The South Island Line (West), however, is less likely because of the low population coverage. The proposed lines will be run by medium-sized trains considering the low population.

The city of Hong Kong was handed over to China by the British government in 1997, but still it has a special status within the huge country. It has a population of 6.9 million and spreads out over Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

- OPERATION

6:00 - 1:00

Trains on KTL, TWL, Island Line and Tseung Kuan O Line run every 2 minutes during rush hours and every 4 minutes in off-peak hours. For Tung Chung Line, 8 minutes on morning rush hours and 10-12 minutes in other times and 4-5 minutes from Tsing Yi to Hong Kong and reverse during rush hours.

- FARES

Single fares depend on distance travelled and are between $4.00 and $47.50

Octopus cards, a contactless smart card, is available for $150 (adult, includes $50 of refundable deposit) and can also be used on KCR trains and the Airport Express. The Octopus Card can also be used on buses , ferries, some minibus routes, trams, Peak Tram, LRT (Light Rail Transit, with services between Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai, at the western part of New Territories). For more information, visit www.octopuscards.com.

Special fares are applicable on the Airport Express Line (single $100, return $180 from Hong Kong / Central; $90/160 from Kowloon and $60/110 from Tsing Yi).

Special Octopus cards available for tourists:

3-Day-HK Transport Pass (HK$200) - 1 Airport Express ride and 3-day unlimited MTR travel in Hong Kong urban area

Tourist Souvenir Ticket Urban Area - HK$50 - 1-Day Pass on MTR for Hong Kong urban area

MTR Corporation Ltd (Metro network Official site)
      - New Extensions and Projects

Hong Kong Tramways Ltd (Street Tram network Official Site)

Octopus Cards (Smart card official site)

Public Transport in Hong Kong (governmental)

Hong Kong Railway Information by Vincent Yung

Construction Photos of Tseung Kwan O Line

Hong Kong Mass Transit Info Center

Announcement broadcast on Subway Trains

UrbanRail.Net Hong Kong MTR Gallery (by Thomas Schunk, Keith Fielder)

Great Hong Kong Rail Map from JohoMaps

Photos © Thomas Schunk (More photos)