"Rail transport | AboutHK.Com - more information about HK"

Hong Kong"s rail network comprises of public transport trains operated by two companies, namely the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRC) and the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC). The MTRC operates the metro network of Hong Kong, while KCRC"s network connects the northeastern and northwestern New Territories with the rest of Hong Kong. Recently, there have been discussions to merge the two corporations for an economies of scale and cost effectiveness. History The first mode of rail transport is the Peak Tram, serving The Peak, the Mid-levels and the city centre since 1888. Tram started service along the northern coast of the Hong Kong Island in 1904. The British Section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway (now the KCR East Rail), a conventional railway, was opened in 1910. It was not until 1979 that a rapid transit system, the MTR, was opened. In 1982, the British Section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway began its transition towards electrification, with new EMUs providing rapid transit-like service. The Light Rail Transit (LRT, now the KCR Light Rail) began its operation in the Tuen Mun and Yuen Long new towns in 1988. KCR Four lines. There are several extensions planned or under construction, including the Lok Ma Chau Spur line, the Kowloon Southern Link, and the Sha Tin to Central Link. * East Rail: Total 34 km, standard gauge (1.435-m gauge), all electrified. 14 stations connecting Lo Wu to East Tsim Sha Tsui. * Ma On Shan Rail: Total 11.4 km, 9 stations connecting Wu Kai Sha to Tai Wai, the latter serving as the interchange to the East Rail. * West Rail: Total 30.5 km, 9 stations connecting Tuen Mun to Nam Cheong. * Light Rail: Light railway system totalling 36.15 km. 68 stations serving the northwest New Territories. MTR Seven lines, and 53 stations: * Kwun Tong Line: between Yau Ma Tei and Tiu Keng Leng * Tsuen Wan Line: between Tsuen Wan and Central * Island Line: between Sheung Wan and Chai Wan * Tung Chung Line: between Tung Chung and Hong Kong * Tseung Kwan O Line: between Po Lam and North Point * Disneyland Resort Line: between Sunny Bay and Disneyland Resort * Airport Express: between AsiaWorld-Expo/Airport and Hong Kong Trams * Hong Kong Tramways: Double-decker trams, running on the north shore of Hong Kong Island from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan. * Peak Tram: Actually a funicular railway with five stations, connecting Central and the Victoria Peak. Note that the KCRC Light Rail system (see above) has many of the attributes of a tramway, including street running. Cross-border services The KCRC and railway companies of mainland China jointly provide cross-border train services from Hung Hom Station, Kowloon, sharing most of the tracks with the KCR East Rail, to destinations in mainland China through neighbouring Shenzhen on three through-train routes, namely Beijing line (to/from Beijing), Shanghai line (to/from Shanghai) and Guangdong line (to/from Zhaoqing and Guangzhou East). They are operated through the rail network in mainland China, including the Guangshen Railway and Jingguang Railway. Rail gauges and power supply Rail gauges and power supply of Hong Kong rails. Rail Rail gauge Power supply Remarks MTR (all lines) 1432 mm 1500 V d.c. overhead cable KCR East Rail, KCR West Rail, KCR Ma On Shan Rail 1435 mm 25000 V a.c. overhead cable same as railways in mainland China KCR Light Rail 1435 mm 750 V d.c. overhead cable Peak Tram 1520 mm n/a n/a funicular Hong Kong Tramways 1067 mm 550 V d.c. overhead cable Comments Please login to post comments or replies.