‘End of an era’ for Hong Kong MTR’s cross-border through-train services with Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai
- Falling demand and strong competition from other modes of transport, especially high-speed rail link, signal end of service after more than 110 years of operation
- Rail giant has not confirmed news of termination from sources, but says headcount will be transferred to other positions and stations
Hong Kong’s historic cross-border intercity through-train services with Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai will be axed, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Following dwindling demand and fierce competition from other modes of transport, especially the 26km local section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed railway, through-train operations will come to an end after more than 110 years of operation.
In a reply to Post inquiries, rail giant the MTR Corporation issued a statement late on Thursday that did not confirm or deny press reports that service termination was on the cards.
But it stressed it had not laid off or cut any manpower from through-train services, saying headcounts were transferred to other positions such as other stations, border services at Lo Wu and the East Rail line extension across Victoria Harbour.
The through trains were suspended at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in January 2020 along with the closure of all but three border checkpoints.
“Due to the availability of more positions on local rail lines, we want to help those who used to work with intercity train services to look for other opportunities,” it said.
The intercity service was first introduced in 1911 but was disrupted during the 1937-45 Sino-Japanese war. After the war ended, normal services resumed only to be disrupted again and then suspended altogether when the Communists assumed power in mainland China in 1949, with passengers required to change trains at the border and walk the 275 metres (300 yards) between the Lo Wu and Shum Chun (now Shenzhen) terminals.
In 1979, the through trains resumed shortly after a historic meeting between then Hong Kong governor Murray MacLehose and paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in Beijing.
