New high-speed rail route links Hong Kong and China

Hong Kong's Transport and Housing Bureau has announced the official launch date of the new High Speed Rail System connecting Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The new system, which is expected to reduce travel time by approximately 60%, will commence operation on September 23.



Boosting Hong Kong's position as a gateway to Greater China, the 142km track will connect the city to 44 stations across Mainland China, including six short-haul and 38 long-haul stations.

With trains reaching speeds of up to 350kmh, Wuhan, one of China's major cities, will be accessible from Hong Kong in five hours, whilst the journey time between Guangzhou and Hong Kong will be reduced from 100 minutes to about 50 minutes.

The Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High Speed Rail is approximately 26km and runs along a dedicated underground rail corridor from a new terminus at West Kowloon to the boundary near Lok Ma Chau, where it connects with the Mainland section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High Speed Rail.

The West Kowloon Station will also debut on September 23, and will be the main Hong Kong hub for the new rail network.

Once completed, the station (below) will be one of the largest underground high speed rail stations in the world. It features a pedestrian skywalk with views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline; an urban green oasis and more than 4,000 glass panels.



Hong Kong Tourism Board Regional Director for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, Andrew Clark, said the new High Speed Rail System will reinforce Hong Kong’s position as the gateway to China.

"We have seen growing interest in China among the Australian and New Zealand markets, however accessibility has also been a main area of concern," he said. "We believe that this rail system will be the missing link to connect Hong Kong to the main cities of China and beyond."

Tickets for the High Speed Rail System start at HK$78 (approx $12.50) from Hong Kong to Futian station; HK$247 (approx $40) to Guangzhou South; and tickets to long-haul destinations, such as Beijing will start at HK$1,240 (approx $200).

For further information visit:
www.expressraillink.hk/en/ticketing-info/type-guangdong.html

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