The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is accelerating the formation of its “one-hour living circle”, with cross-border passenger trips using the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link surpassing 20 million so far this year, according to the latest statistics from Shenzhen railway department on Friday.
The rail network had recorded 20.088 million cross-border passenger trips this year as of Thursday, a 16.2 percent year-on-year increase.
Among them, passenger trips from Hong Kong West Kowloon to mainland cities totaled 9.76 million, rising 15 percent year-on-year. Trips from the mainland to Hong Kong saw a 17.3 percent yearly growth to 10.34 million.
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Shenzhen is increasingly playing a pivotal role in cross-border transportation. Among the total number of passengers trips from Hong Kong to the mainland, those traveling to Shenzhen accounted for 38.4 percent. In the other direction, 38.8 percent of passengers flowing from the mainland to Hong Kong were from Shenzhen.
Travel driven by the holiday economy — including leisure and entertainment, family visits, and short-distance trips — has become the main driver behind the rising passenger flow. According to the department, the number of days seeing over 100,000 daily passenger trips hit 59, almost all on weekends and holidays.
An official from Shenzhen railway department said the growth in passenger flow has been partly driven by the "flexible train schedules plus smart services" model, as well as multi-ride and period ticket services, which have met the diverse needs of business travel, tourism and family visits.
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"I normally take the high-speed rail to Shenzhen for dinner every Friday after work and return to Hong Kong on Sunday evening. It’s even more convenient than commuting within the city," said a passenger surnamed Chan, who works in Hong Kong’s Central.
Contact the writer at sally@chinadailyhk.com
