The Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, which was built at a cost of 86.4 billion yuan in public funds, has finally reopened after being suspended for nearly three years.
The high-speed rail has newly added a route from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Guangzhou East Station. The reporter tested it this morning (15th), and it was similar to the estimated journey time of 1 hour and 40 minutes.
The route to Guangzhou East Railway Station is partly the same as the previous intercity through train. Check the timetable of the latter before its suspension. From Hung Hom to Guangzhou East, the fastest time is 1 hour and 54 minutes, and the slow high-speed train takes about 15 minutes.
In terms of fares, the lowest adult ticket for the through train is only 210 yuan, which is 30 yuan cheaper than the lowest fare for the high-speed rail.
Some councilors criticized that the current journey time does not meet the definition of high-speed rail, and requested the addition of a non-stop through train to reduce the journey time to one hour. That's interesting."
The MTR replied that the high-speed rail to Guangzhou East is convenient for two inspections in one place, and the fare is similar to that of the through train.
▼January 15 Guangzhou East Railway Station direct hit▼
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The through train used to travel from Hung Hom to Guangzhou East in about 1.5 hours
The intercity through train has been suspended due to the epidemic since 2020. "Hong Kong 01" received news at the time that the through train will be permanently suspended.
The government and the MTR have not yet admitted that they will suspend operations, only that they will review again, but the website of the through train has been closed.
Before the suspension of the through train, there were nine daily trains from Hung Hom to Guangzhou East, with Changping Station on the way, and the journey took nearly two hours; one of the trains that did not stop at Changping took about 1 hour and 54 minutes to arrive.
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Check the timetable of the intercity through train in the past. From 1998 to 2007, the Guangzhou-Kowloon through train used the "new speed" train, which was faster. According to the timetable in 2006, the fastest non-stop train , just 1 hour and 32 minutes.
In 2006, the through-train "New Speed" train took about 1 hour and 32 minutes from Hung Hom to Guangzhou East.
(Intercity Express website)
The reporter measured that it takes 1 hour and 37 minutes from West Nine Station to Guangzhou East
The reporter took the first high-speed train from West Kowloon Station to Guangzhou East today. The train passed through Futian, Shenzhen North, Dongguan South and Dongguan. The final journey took about 1 hour and 37 minutes, 4 minutes faster than the original schedule.
During the driving period, the speed of the vehicle will be maintained at more than 200 kilometers per hour, but it will be reduced to more than 100 kilometers per hour on some road sections.
In fact, the train to and from Guangzhou East is the "Harmony", and the "CRH1A" train running on this line has a top speed of 200 to 250 kilometers per hour.
When the "Harmony" runs on the Guangzhou East-Shenzhen line, it is called a "high-speed train" instead of a high-speed rail.
Guangzhou East Direct｜The high-speed rail journey takes 1 hour and 37 minutes, which is faster than expected
▼On January 15, the first train from the new branch line to Guangzhou East passes through Dongguan South Railway Station▼
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In terms of customs clearance process, the high-speed rail uses two inspections in one place, and customs clearance procedures are completed at West Kowloon Station. According to the high-speed rail website, it usually takes about 30 minutes; intercity through trains need to complete customs clearance procedures in two places separately, but the procedures in Hong Kong Faster, in fact the tickets are cut off 20 minutes before the train leaves.
High-speed rail tickets are more expensive than the largest price difference of more than 70%
The high-speed rail is about 15 to 20 minutes faster than the through train before the suspension, but the fare is also more expensive.
The cheapest adult fare from West Kowloon Station to Guangzhou East is RMB 240 for second class, RMB 385 for first class, RMB 433 for special class and RMB 721 for business.
In terms of through trains, the cheapest ticket from Hung Hom to Guangzhou East is called "first class", and the asking price is 210 yuan, which is 30 yuan cheaper than that of the high-speed rail. Special class tickets are relatively expensive by 73.2%.
Tian Beichen urges non-stop to Guangzhou East
Legislative Council member Tian Beichen also took the train to Guangzhou East today. He bluntly said that the journey of more than 1.5 hours "does not meet the definition of high-speed rail."
He said that in the past, Hong Kong people usually went to Guangzhou at 8 am and returned to Hong Kong at 7:30 pm. He thought that the MTR could arrange a high-speed train at a similar time to travel between Hong Kong and Guangzhou East without stopping. (Travel time) is more interesting than the two hours of the intercity through train.”
Tian Beichen tries to take the train to Guangzhou East (photo by Zheng Zifeng)
Tian Beichen also said that from the 18th to the 21st of this month, that is, from the 27th to the 30th of the year, the tickets from West Nine Stations to Futian have not been sold out, but the tickets to Shenzhen North, Guangzhou South and Guangzhou East have been sold out. There is a mismatch in the current 5,000 Northbound tickets.
He suggested that the Hong Kong government should add 3,000 tickets per day on the above-mentioned days, of which 1,200 tickets were added to Guangzhou South and East, and 600 more tickets to Shenzhen North.
MTR: Convenience of two inspections in one place
The MTR replied that it is convenient and quick to take the high-speed rail to Guangzhou East Station, and you can enjoy the convenience of double inspection in one place. car.
The MTR also pointed out that there is a coordination mechanism with the relevant mainland departments on ticketing arrangements. A certain time before the departure of the train, it will redistribute the remaining tickets according to the ticket sales situation in the two places. Communicate and fully support the government's arrangement for fully resuming customs clearance with the Mainland.
Direct view of Guangzhou East Railway Station｜The intercity through train has closed. The self-service machine sells tickets back to Hong Kong. You must enter "XG" high-speed rail re-opening｜Hong Kong people living in the United States visit relatives in Guangzhou and then return to China via the West Kowloon. The high-speed rail journey takes 1 hour and 37 minutes, which is faster than expected. Enjoy the fast food on the train. It is recommended to prepare Alipay for the high-speed rail re-opening｜West Kowloon Station, one place, two inspections, fill in the electronic declaration card, and leave Hong Kong. The whole journey takes 20 minutes. Guangzhou East Directly｜A filial girl takes her parents to visit Hong Kong and praises the convenient and fast port Mom: High-speed train tickets are expensive but time-saving
