Luxury beckons on 'Ferrari' of trains

AIRLINE-STYLE luxury with waitresses, food and entertainment awaits passengers who board the Kowloon-Guangzhou electric through-train late next year.

The $310 million train, with 12 double-decker coaches, will double passenger seating to 1,200 and shorten travelling time.

Tentatively titled the KCR Through-Train or KTT, the first electric cross-border locomotive will reach 160 km/h, cutting up to 15 minutes off the 110-minute trip.

Through Train project manager Leo Mak Sek-man said the train would be more reliable and faster than current diesel trains.

'Its acceleration is almost like a Ferrari,' Mr Mak said.

The trains will make up to 10 trips a day - compared to four at present - by 2000. Existing trains are running close to full capacity during holidays.