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Through train services between Guangzhou and Hong Kong were suspended for four hours from  9am yesterday for  what mainland authorities claimed was emergency track work  on the mainland section.

The delay came a day after an explosion in Guangzhou near the railway line to Beijing.

Six services - four Guangzhou-bound and two Kowloon-bound - were cancelled. Passengers were stranded at the KCRC station in Hung Hom.  Staff made arrangements to help people through the control point and to the long-distance bus terminus.

The bus fare  from Hung Hom to Guangzhou rose  HK$20, to HK$120.

There were chaotic scenes at rail stations in Shenzhen and Guangzhou as 14 trains between the cities  were cancelled and many more  delayed. Services resumed at 1.25pm.

Thousands of travellers had to change their plans or take other means of transport, while Shenzhen authorities increased bus services between the two cities.

At one point,  more than 300 people were queuing in Shenzhen  to get on  buses to Guangzhou.

Michelle Liang  arrived in Hong Kong at about 3pm after being stranded for three hours at Guangzhou train station.  'It has caused me some inconvenience, but at least I made it to Hong Kong,' she said.  She was not told the reason for the sudden closure of the tracks on the mainland side.

Many other people on the mainland complained they were left uninformed.

A  Beijing-Kowloon  train to arrive in Hung Hom three hours late.  Passengers likewise said they had been given no  explanation for  the delay.

Ida Leung, senior public affairs manager of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, said Guangshen Railway Company  had informed the KCRC promptly about the incident in accordance with its notification system.

It was not clear if anyone was injured in the explosion on Thursday, although train services between Guangzhou and Beijing were not affected.

The case is  being investigated.

Witnesses told Guangzhou newspaper Information Times that a motorcyclist threw a white object from a flyover onto the railway and there was a blast soon afterwards. Police said the explosion was caused by a large firework. They later found four similar fireworks  near the tracks.

Although the incident was unrelated to yesterday's suspension, it had caused confusion and fear among travellers.

Huang Weidong ,  the deputy security director of Shenzhen Lohu Bus Station, initially told Hong Kong reporters that the suspension was caused by a suspected terrorist attack.

'This is a special case. [Police] suspect terrorists have planned bombs and they are checking all the railways,' he said.

Guangdong Information Office  denied  receiving  reports of suspected terrorist attack. Railway officials  said the suspension was caused by construction work in Shipai village.

Additional reporting by Felix Chan



Guangzhou-HK rail  services delayed four  hours for track work