Hong Kong :
Thinking about extending your Hong Kong trip with a weekend in Beijing or Shanghai? Now you can, thanks to a new high-speed sleeper train service.
Starting from June 15, two new overnight routes link Hong Kong directly to Beijing and Shanghai.
Both trains leave Hong Kong West Kowloon Station in the evening and reach Beijing at 6:53 a.m. and Shanghai at 6:45 a.m., taking about 12.5 hours and 11 hours respectively. The return trips depart Beijing and Shanghai around 8 p.m. and arrive in Hong Kong at 8:47 a.m. and 7:29 a.m. These routes operate four days a week, departing every evening from Friday to Monday.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, mentioned in a statement that these new trains will be faster and more comfortable, cutting travel times by about half. They also connect to a broader range of destinations, including popular tourist cities.
Previously, the overnight train services between Hong Kong and China’s major cities of Beijing and Shanghai, known as the Beijing-Kowloon and Shanghai-Kowloon routes, started in 1997. The journey to Beijing took approximately 24 hours, while Shanghai was about 19 hours away by train.
During the pandemic in 2020, the previous train services were stopped. Now, new high-speed options have started from June 15.
These new overnight journeys significantly cut travel time, although they are slightly slower than the daytime bullet trains already running between Hong Kong and Beijing or Shanghai. Currently, there’s one daily high-speed train to Beijing taking about 8.5 hours, and one to Shanghai taking around 7.5 hours.
Why choose the longer route then? The new sleeper trains may not be the quickest way to travel between Hong Kong and Beijing or Shanghai, but they are ideal for business travelers needing to arrive refreshed before standard office hours. They’re also great for leisure tourists who prefer not to spend a whole day on a train or want to save on accommodation costs.
Exploring Sleeper Trains :
Each of the electric multiple unit (EMU) trains used for these routes has 16 carriages. These include 13 sleeper cars, two second-class seating cars, and one dining car.
There are three types of seats available: Second class (without a bed), sleeper cabins, and deluxe sleeper cabins.
A standard sleeper cabin accommodates four passengers with two bunk beds. The deluxe sleeper, currently offered only on the Hong Kong-Shanghai route, includes a bunk bed, wardrobe, and sofa.
Ticket prices vary: HKD937 to HKD1,506 ($120-$193) for the Hong Kong-Beijing route and HKD682 to HKD2,128 ($88-$273) for the Hong Kong-Shanghai route.
To book tickets, passengers can visit China Railway’s official ticketing site 12306.cn. For trains departing from Hong Kong, use the search term “hkwestkowloon.”
International travelers can also book through platforms like Trip.com or purchase tickets directly at West Kowloon Station.
West Kowloon Station features a joint immigration checkpoint, streamlining border crossings for passengers traveling to and from Hong Kong. Travelers must have a valid China visa or travel document, as Hong Kong operates under a separate legal framework despite being part of China.
Hong Kong’s Fast Train Debate :
Opened in 2018, the 26-kilometer Hong Kong high-speed railway is part of the larger Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL).
Costing over $10.7 billion to construct, the Hong Kong section links the city to China’s extensive 25,000-kilometer national high-speed rail network.
However, the project sparked controversy long before its launch, as it marked the first instance mainland Chinese laws applied within Hong Kong territory.
Critics raised concerns over its high cost, limited speed (maximum 200 kilometers/hour, compared to the usual 300 kilometers/hour due to its short distance), and the political implications involved.
Despite these controversies, the Express Rail Link offers a new travel option to major Chinese cities via Hong Kong, bypassing China’s frequent flight delays.
The Hong Kong station now facilitates direct journeys to 78 destinations across China, with approximately 70,600 passengers using the network daily, as per official data.