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Hong Kong subway and light rail Hong Kong features no less than five varieties of fixed guideway urban rail transit: the subway, a subway-like commuter rail line, streetcars, light rail, and a new airport rapid rail line.    Photos from Mathew Lau. New carriages, 1999  Subway The subway, opened in 1979, is run by the MTR (Mass Transit Railway). The system consists of five lines: the Kwun Tong ("Cantonese") line, Tsuen Wan, Island and Tung Chung. 43 km of the system are below ground. Extensions to all five lines are either under construction or in the planning stages. In 2002, the new 12.5 km, 6 station Tseung Kwan O line opened, bringing Hong Kong's subway to 5 lines and 80.4 km and 49 stations. A 3.2 km Penny's Bay subway to the New Hong Kong Disneyland is scheduled to start in 2003, with completion by 2005. Two new lines are also planned. Address: Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Corp. P.O. Box 9916 General Post Office, Hong Kong Metroplanet Hong Kong page  MTR's
25th Anniversary Home Page
and ClubVincent Yung's Hong Kong Railway Information HONG KONG MTR MTR Corporate Page New Hong Kong subway line comes in 40% under budget Souvenier subway tickets Tour of the MTR
Coupled with the airport express is a similar line, the 14 km, 10 station Lantau Line. Eight 8 km are underground and the remainder is elevated, including the spectacular trip over the new Tsing Ma suspension bridge. Rolling stock is similar to the airport express but with less amenities to accomodate a more urban, rapid transit operation.  A page about the new MTR line to the airport Railway Technology - Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Corporation Hong Kong Airport Railway Airport Express photos - amazing  KCR (Kowloon- Canton Railway)
The KCRC operates both a commuter line which resembles a subway and could be
classified as an S-Bahn, and the light railway. The commuter line, known as East
Rail, opened in 1910 and was electrified in 1983. It consists on 13 stations on
a 34 km route, and connects Kowloon with Lo Wu on the mainland. A new 1.2 km
extension of the line to Tsim Sha Tsui will be the first underground section.
The line also has a spur that services the racetrack (Racecourse Station) during
racing season.   Incredible West Rail photos Kowloon-CantonRailway Brief pictorialMap Great, detailed history from the Hong Kong Railway Society Nice shot of the KCR KCR photos    Tuen Mun Light Railway The light rail line, run by the Kowloon Canton Railway Corp, opened for business in 1988. Much in the way of the Shaker Heights light rail lines in Cleveland, the systems was built, in part, to serve the Tuen Mun development, also built and run by the KCRC. The 8 route system consists of 31.7 km and 57 stops, and is mostly at grade. Several extensions are underway, including a 2.7 km extension to Tin Shui Wei, due to be completed in 2003. Reconstruction of grade crossings into grade seperated crossings are now taking place in Tuen Mun. Other upgrades and extensions include integrations with the KCR West Line, also under construction, via a 1.7 km, 4 station loop to Tin Shui Wa terminus. Another 2.65 km, 5 station extension is planned. Though construction on the latter extension hasn't begun, it is expected to be complete for the opening of the KCR West Rail line. Very brief info on the new LRT KCRC's page on the new LRT with photosKCRC LRT info page Photos Photos from LRTA Tramway photo gallery
The 16 km, 8 route streetcar system was built by the British in 1904. Most of the current double axle, double decker rolling stock was built in the 1980's. The line consists of a city center loop and an east-west route across Hong Kong Island's north shore. It is the only tram system in the world to maintain a full double decker fleet. Included in the system's features is the open balcony Dim Sum tourist tram. Bring your appetite.Hong Kong Trams(with a virtual tram ride) BS Hong Kong Tram Photo Gallery Images ofHong Kong trams from Yokhoo HKT Site in Chinese Photo gallery Brief history
General links of interest Getting Around Hong Kong Public Transport in Hong Kong Hong Kong Rail Engineering Center
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