Hong Kong Express Rail Link

Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link Hong Kong section
廣深港高速鐵路香港段
Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link Hong Kong section; 廣深港高速鐵路香港段
	Vibrant Express at Futian station
Overview
Owner	Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region through the KCR Corporation
Locale	Kowloon and New Territories, Hong Kong
Stations	1
Color on map	(#BBB0A3)
Website	Official website
Service
Type	higher-speed rail
Operator(s)	MTR Corporation
History
Opened	23 September 2018 (6 years ago)
Technical
Line length	26 km (16 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC (Overhead lines)
Operating speed	200
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	廣深港高速鐵路香港段
Simplified Chinese	广深港高速铁路香港段
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Guǎng–Shēn–Gǎng gāosù tiělù Xiānggǎng duàn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping	gwong2–sam1–gong2 gou1cuk1 tit3lou6 hoeng1gong2 dyun6
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Guangdong Province
	Hong Kong
	Only transfers with rapid transit; systems are marked in this diagram
	This diagram: view; talk; edit;

The Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link (sometimes abbreviated "XRL HK section") is a 26 km (16 mi) long stretch of high-speed rail that runs along a dedicated underground rail corridor^[1] linking Hong Kong to mainland China. It is one of the most expensive infrastructure undertakings in Hong Kong's history. The line connects Kowloon with the high-speed rail network of China at Futian station in the technology hub of Shenzhen, then running north towards the commercial/ political hub of Guangzhou. As of August 2023 the line has an average ridership of 79,000 passengers a day.^[2]

The railway is the first high-speed rail link between mainland China and Hong Kong; it roughly halved travel time between Hong Kong and Guangzhou and connected Hong Kong to most major mainland Chinese cities via the country's extensive high-speed railway network. Construction began in 2011 and was hampered by construction delays and political controversy. It opened for commercial service on 23 September 2018.^[3]

Unlike the rest of Hong Kong, the passenger compartments of trains operating on the Hong Kong Express Rail Link are legally defined as part of the Mainland Port Area and subject to the laws of mainland China, which is criticized as the infringement on the sovereignty of Hong Kong.^[4]^[5]^[6]

^ "Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou – Shenzhen – Hong Kong Express Rail Link". Retrieved 2 April 2023.
^ "Transport Department - August 2023". www.td.gov.hk. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
^ "XRL to start operation on September 23". The Standard. 23 August 2018.
^ Chung, Stephy (2 September 2018). "Controversial high-speed rail station opens in Hong Kong". CNN Style. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
^ "Mainland Chinese technicians 'setting up' in West Kowloon terminus". South China Morning Post. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
^ "Cap. 632 Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Ordinance". Hong Kong e-Legislation. 4 September 2018.

[1] "Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou – Shenzhen – Hong Kong Express Rail Link". Retrieved 2 April 2023.

[2] "Transport Department - August 2023". www.td.gov.hk. Retrieved 30 October 2023.

[startup-3] "XRL to start operation on September 23". The Standard. 23 August 2018.

[4] Chung, Stephy (2 September 2018). "Controversial high-speed rail station opens in Hong Kong". CNN Style. Retrieved 5 October 2019.

[5] "Mainland Chinese technicians 'setting up' in West Kowloon terminus". South China Morning Post. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2019.

[6] "Cap. 632 Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Ordinance". Hong Kong e-Legislation. 4 September 2018.

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