Luggage and ticket confusion as Hong Kong's high-speed rail service to mainland China opens
City’s HK$84.4 billion section of cross-border link runs inaugural trips from West Kowloon station
The first day of passenger services on Hong Kong’s high-speed rail link to mainland China was marked by periods of confusion over baggage rules and large queues as travellers struggled to get their hands on pre-ordered tickets.
The first train on the HK$84.4 billion (US$10.8 billion) local section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, which set off at 7am on Sunday, arrived at Shenzhen North at 7.19am. A train from Shenzhen to Hong Kong pulled in at about the same time.
Li Zheyao, a Shenzhen resident in his 20s, took the first train from Shenzhen at 6.44am to visit Hong Kong on his own. He voiced satisfaction with the ride.
“When I heard about the opening of the high-speed rail, I really wanted to witness this historic moment. Since I couldn’t find friends to accompany me I had to come alone,” he said, adding that he planned to stay in Hong Kong for two days.
He described the ride as comfortable and the immigration checks as smooth.
Another young passenger, from Guangzhou, said he spent the night in Shenzhen on Saturday just to take the first express train to Hong Kong.