The new Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) will finally start operation on the 23 September 2018. Ticket pre-sales starts on the 10 September 2018 for the short haul journeys to and from the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and the six Mainland stations Futian, Shenzhenbei, Guangmingcheng, Humen, Qingsheng and Guangzhounan, as well as medium to long haul journeys connecting to destinations across China.
The first departure is at 7am with the last train leaving at 11pm and according to the MTR train frequency depends on demand. There are four ticket classes: Second, First, Premium and Business and for example the prices of a one-way trip to Guangzhou are $247, $371, $423, $519 respectively.
All classes appear to enjoy a basic set of facilities which includes free wi-fi, power sockets (either individual seat sockets or per row) and free hot water if you bring your own cup. Trains have 68 first and 511 second class seats spread across 8 compartments.
Note: Just to fully show who is in control ticket prices are set in Renminbi (RMB) and will vary depending on the HK$/RMB exchange rate! So prices will change daily if you pay in HK$.
Tickets can be bought up to 30 days in advance. Onlineticketing is here www.highspeed.mtr.com.hk, with ticket sales closing 2 hours before departure. At West Kowloon Station you can buy tickets up to 45 minutes before departure. Partial refunds are available and you can change your ticket times once based on the purchase deadlines.
bc has asked the MTR for clarification on the fares, how to buy return tickets – which appear to unavailable, you have to buy two single tickets – but the MTR have refused to reply.
The high speed rail was sold to HongKongers (we paid for it all) as reducing the journey time to Guangzhou but according to the published timetable most trains from HK only go Shenzhen – again the MTR have refused to respond to clarification on this.
If you have to change trains in Shenzhen to trains which do not have the features sold with your ticket (the last high speed train bc took in China, had no power sockets or free wifi in second class) what really is the point of the billions of taxpayer dollars spent on building the line.
