STL takes inaugural XRL sleeper train from Hong Kong to Beijing (with photos)
The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, completed his journey on the inaugural sleeper train of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) from Hong Kong to Beijing today (June 16).
Mr Lam arrived at the Beijingxi Station at some time after 6am this morning and was received by representatives of the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) at the station. "I am grateful for the Central Government's care for Hong Kong, and I am very delighted to come to Beijing to thank China Railway and various Mainland authorities in person. I also feel honoured to be a passenger on this inaugural XRL sleeper train from Hong Kong to Beijing. This initial journey, which I shared with hundreds of friends including Legislative Council Members and colleagues from the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), has been highly memorable," Mr Lam said.
Mr Lam and MTRCL representatives then attended a meeting with officials of China Railway to discuss how to further enhance the services of the XRL Hong Kong Section. He said that the launch of the XRL sleeper train service will fully capitalise on the advantages of the "co-location arrangement". In addition to a quicker and more convenient clearance experience, the trains will also stop at more intermediate stations, enhancing economic and trade co-operation as well as closer personnel exchanges between Hong Kong and a wider range of provinces and cities on the Mainland.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the MTRCL will continue to maintain close liaison with the National Railway Administration as well as China Railway to enhance XRL services. The collaboration will give full play to the advantages of interconnectivity between the XRL Hong Kong Section and the national high-speed rail network for consolidating Hong Kong's status as a strategic transport hub at the country's southern gateway, and better integrating the city into the national development.
​The Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, also took the inaugural XRL sleeper train from Hong Kong to the Shanghai Hongqiao Station yesterday afternoon (June 15) and arrived in Shanghai this morning. Mr Lam and Mr Liu will conclude their trip and return to Hong Kong this afternoon.
