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Thursday, July 11, 2019, 02:52
XRL, HZMB to drive economic integration
By He Shusi
Thursday, July 11, 2019, 02:52 By He Shusi

This Aug 3, 2017 photo, shows the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL). (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

Two major transportation links between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland are expanding their networks to cope with surging demand in cross-boundary traffic.

Spanning the Pearl River estuary, the HZMB has been considered a major infrastructure facility to promote the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

One of them, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL), just added 14 destinations on Wednesday to its network that had offered Hong Kong travelers direct access to 44 mainland cities since its commission in September.

The XRL, the Hong Kong section of which stretches 26 kilometers, integrates the special administrative region into the mainland’s high-speed train system, and has carried about 140 million cross-boundary passengers, an average of 54,000 each day, as of June 22, according to the rail operator Mass Transit Railway Corp.

It has provided a major impetus for the growth of both inbound and outbound tourism, said Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association.

ALSO READ: XRL to link 44 destinations direct from Hong Kong

Destinations like Zhaoqing, Chaoshan and Xiamen are popular among Hong Kong tourists, while day trippers are crowding to nearby cities such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou, he told China Daily.

Of the 14 new destinations, Chongqing in southwestern China and Yueyang in Hunan province are popular destinations for Hong Kong tourists, he said.

Frederick Ma Si-hang, outgoing chairman of MTR Corporation, said that travelers between Shenzhen and Hong Kong will soon be able to get on XRL trains without having to stick to a timetable. It will be like taking a ride on the city’s subway, he added.

Ma said at a recent press briefing that the China State Railway Group, the mainland’s sole rail operator, fully supports the plan, which will make the less-than-15-minute ride between the two cities more convenient for travelers.

Meanwhile, the Guangzhou authorities have approved plans to build a rail link connecting the Guangzhou South Station where the XRL trains make the stop to Guangzhou Station in the city center. That would address a major complaint from XRL travelers.

This undated photo shows a section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Reduced travel time

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which opened in October, has helped slash the travel time from Hong Kong to the western region of Guangdong province. Traffic is picking up after a slow start, prompting the operator to make plans to ensure the smooth flow of vehicle traffic in future.

As of June 6, over 10 million people had visited the bridge, according to Xinhua. Some 4,500 vehicles drive through the 55-kilometer sea-span every day, according to HZMB Authority, the bridge operator.

Spanning the Pearl River estuary, the HZMB has been considered a major infrastructure facility to promote the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

A remarkable construction feat in itself, the cross-boundary bridge has reserved its eastern artificial island as a tourism spot for people around the world who come just to admire this engineering marvel.

HZMB Authority recently designated designers and constructors to furnish the island near Hong Kong International Airport with facilities. It said it is working on details of immigration and customs control.

Tourism aside, the bridge serves mainly as a vital transportation link for the flow of vehicles.

The authority has not been operating the bridge at its full capacity largely due to concerns about potential burdens on traffic in Hong Kong and Macao, according to Jason Ni Meng-cheng, associate professor at the City University of Macau in city planning and infrastructure.

READ MORE: HZMB — the fulfillment of one man's 35-year dream

For that reason the operator has to control traffic volume through the bridge by the issue of permits for vehicles. “Overall, I’m optimistic about the bridge’s transportation function,” Ni said.

heshusi@chinadailyhk.com

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