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 You'll
love the MTR, the subway and train system in Hong Kong. Not only
is it convenient and efficient, it is quite safe.
The network reaches many parts of Hong Kong, even the New Territories
and Lantau Island (one part of it). And during peak hours, there's
a train every two minutes or less. But since it is Hong Kong,
you'll still see people rushing to catch a train. Every minute
counts around here! (Left: MTR
during off-peak hours)
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But beware that it is mass transit system! During rush
hours, you can really appreciate that especially at interchange
stations like Admiralty
and Mongkok.
And you can see trains packed to the edge of the doors but there're
still people getting a foothold and squeezing themselves in.
OPERTAING
HOURS
Everyday the MTR runs from 6 am or so till past mid-night (Island
line, Kwun Tong line, Tsuen Wan line, Tseung Kwan O line) - if
you need to find out the exact times, good luck! They don't seem
to have that information on their website, and as far as we know,
they don't publish a timetable even at the stations on those lines.
(They might do so for the other lines though.) The only times
we have seen prominently displayed are those of the first and
last trains (at the entrances / exits of each station). If you
really need to find out, try calling them on the phone (click
here for the MTR station phone numbers).
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FARES
Both the fares
and the journey times are published online and at the stations.
AIRPORT
TRAINS
The Airport Express runs between the Hong
Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok and urban Hong
Kong. It takes around half an hour between the airport and the
Hong Kong station, with just two stops in between. For this, they
do publish the operating
hours and the detailed
timetable. (More
information about airport transportation)
INTERCITY
SERVICE TO CHINA
The MTR also operates intercity
trains to Guangdong, Shanghai, and Beijing.
- BEWARE -
You would want to know that at many of the MTR stations, there're
no bathroom facilities for passengers. It was reported that they
would be rectifying that in the coming years - if you can wait
that long. If you cannot, then they have graciously provided online
the distance of the public toilets nearest to some of those stations
(click here for the list
of public toilet distances near some MTR stations). But you
have to figure out exactly where. (Click here for our comments
on bathrooms
in Hong Kong.) Basically, the MTR is responsible for transporting
you, but not for your own movements! So, all we can say is: plan
your moves! (2008.12.30)
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Above: trains at Kowloon Tong station, an interchange between the
green line (Kwun Tong line) and the East Rail. |
