High-Speed Rail Between Hong Kong & Mainland Starts Trial Run

The high-speed rail service connecting the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong started a trial run on Tuesday, January 3, Global Times reports.

Hong Kong lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun told Global Times that train tickets could be available from Thursday, January 5, when more travel services between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong resumes on January 8.

Puk-sun also said sources have informed him that the railway service will be resumed in three stages.

The first stage will be short trips to cities including Shenzhen and Guangzhou; then medium distance journeys such as those to Wuhan and Changsha; and then long-haul services to cities such as Beijing.

“A number of staff have already returned to work at the West Kowloon Station to start preparations for the re-launch of cross-border trains," said the MT's head of the cross-boundary segment Chung Chi-keung on Monday, as quoted in Global Times.

He went on to add that the trial runs are to ensure that services and equipment from West Kowloon Station, Lo Wu Station and Lok Ma Chau Station to the mainland run smoothly.

[Cover image via Wikimedia]