Hong Kong is a big city and one of best way to get around is by metro (Hong Kong MTR, Mass Transit Railway). It started working in 1979
and it has became the most popular public transport in Hong Kong. Almost a half of its population, about 4.2 million people,
use it everyday. There are metro stops in nearly all of the areas in Hong Kong metropolitan area.
Those who wish to travel to and from the city centre or other areas of Hong Kong should have no difficulty
finding the train to take them where they need to go as the MTR has around 84 stations located at all major places. The complete
network has 152 stations, including these 84 railway stations and 68 light rail stops.
The complete transport network is composed by heavy rail, light rail, airport express, inter-city railway service and the MTR Bus.
It’s nine urban lines, one Airport Express line to get to the Airport from downtown, one light rail system with 12 routes
and one tourist cable car system Ngong Ping 360.
- Known as: MTR (Mass Transit Railway)
- Length of the network: 174km only MTR, 218.2 km with light train network.
- Number of lines: 9 lines
- Number of stations:84 stations
- Average ridership: 4.2 million passengers daily
- Website: MRT Hong Kong
- Operator: MTR Corporation
- Start of operation: September 30, 1979
Lines and stations
At the moment there are some projected lines and stations. Following ones are already operational.
- East Rail Line, opened in 1910. Going from Hung Hom to Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau in 41 kms, with journey times of 42 and 45 minutes
respectively. 14 stations:
Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau, Kwu Tung, Sheung Shui, Fanling, Tai Wo, Tai Po Market, University, Racecourse, Fo Tan, Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Kowloon Tong, Mong Kok East, Hung Hom (planned and under construccion stations included) - Kwun Tong Line , opened in 1979. Terminal stations: Yau Ma Tei and Tiu Keng Leng. 11.2 kms. 15 Stations and 28 min journey time.
Whampoa, Ho Man Tin, Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, Prince Edward, Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon Tong, Lok Fu, Wong Tai Sin,Diamond Hill, Choi Hung, Kowloon Bay, Ngau Tau Kok, Kwun Tong, Lam Tin, Yau Tong, Tiu Keng Leng - Tsuen Wan Line, opened in 1982. Terminal stations: Central and Tsuen Wan. Length 16kms. 16 stations. Running time: 30 min.
Tsuen Wan, Tai Wo Hau, Kwai Hing, Kwai Fong, Lai King, Mei Foo, Lai Chi Kok, Cheung Sha Wan, Sham Shui Po, Prince Edward, Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Jordan, Tsim Sha Tsui, Admiralty, Central - Island Line, opened in 1985. Terminal stations: Sheung Wan and Chai Wan. 13.3 length, 14 stations and 25 min. of running time.
Kennedy Town, Hong Kong University, Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan, Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Tin Hau, Fortress Hill, North Point, Quarry Bay, Tai Koo, Sai Wan Ho, Shau Kei Wan, Heng Fa Chuen, Chai Wan - Tung Chung Line, opened in 1998. Terminal stations: Hong Kong and Tung Chung. 31.1kms length, 8 stations and 26 minutes of running time.
Tung Chung,Sunny Bay, Tsing Yi, Lai King, Olympic, Kowloon, Hong Kong - Tseung Kwan O Line, opened in 2002. Terminal stations: North Point, Po Lam and LOHAS Park . 11,9km length, 8 stations and 15-20 min running time.
Po Lam, Hang Hau, LOHAS Park, Tseung Kwan O, Tiu Keng Leng, Yau Tong, Quarry Bay, North Point - West Rail Line, opened in 2003. Terminal stations: Hung Hom and Tuen Mun. 35.4 kms length, 12 stations and 37 min of journey time.
Tuen Mun, Siu Hong, Tin Shui Wai, Long Ping, Yuen Long, Kam Sheung Road, Tsuen Wan West, Mei Foo, Nam Cheong, Austin, East Tsim Sha Tsui, Hung Hom - Ma On Shan Line, opened in 2004. Terminal stations: Wu Kai Sha and Tai Wai.11.4 kms length, 9 stations and 16 min of running time.
Wu Kai Sha, Ma On Shan, Heng On, Tai Shui Hang, Shek Mun, City One, Sha Tin Wai, Che Kung Temple, Tai Wai - Disneyland Resort Line, opened in 2005. Terminal stations: Sunny Bay and Disneyland Resort. 3.3 kms, 2 stations and 4.5 min running time
Disneyland Resort, Sunny Bay
The colours of the lines are dark orange for the Tseung Kwan line, purple for the West rail line, Brown is for the Ma on Shan line. Turquoise is for the light rail and the Airport Express. Dark Blue for the island lines, and light blue the East Rail Line.Green is for the Kwaung tong line. Light orange is for the Tung Chun line.
Schedule and frequency
Service hours are different for each line, but mainly the trains are working from 05:30 or 06:00 to 01:00 the next day, seven days a week.
Rush hours are from 08:30 to 09:00 and from 18:00 to 19:00.
Urban lines have trains running every 2 to 3 minutes. Tung Chung lines have trains every 4 to 5 minutes during peak hours.
The MTR has an accuracy of 99.9%.
Rates
MTR uses an easy single fare system. The fares range from 4 Hong Kong dollars to 26 dollars depending on where they are going
in the city and whether a transfer is required.
You can buy single fare cards at most of the metro stations. There are reduced fare tickets for both children and the elderly.
The tickets for a single fare connection depends on how far the individual is choosing to go in the system.
Curious facts
An interesting fact for tourists is that The new West line system will have some of the deepest tunnels in the subway system.
