High Speed Rail (高速鐵路)
Huduma Ya Usafirishaji Kivutio Reli Mfumo Wa Usafiri Wa Umma Hong Kong, Mkoa Maalum Wa Utawala Wa Hong Kong
21 Photos
About High Speed Rail
The 26km High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) runs from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, connecting Hong Kong with the Mainland's national high-speed rail network and various Mainland stations without interchange. Whether you are travelling for business or leisure, you can explore more destinations with the reliable and comfortable High Speed Rail service.
Nearby Attractions
Reviews (57)
HK Taxi system Is a joke
Train is fine but the HK taxi ticket system is a complete joke. Uncivil behaviour is the only thing that lets down the train ride itself.
中國的高鐵走出世界
中國的高鐵實在太犀利了～我們由廣州到香港只需要很短的時間就到達, 而且高鐵非常之穩定和快速, 當去到西九龍高鐵站的時候很快便直接到達市區的酒店。
Clearly Better Than Flying - But Not Perfect (A Few Good Tips)
We are traveling around Asia and have already tried bullet trains in Japan and South Korea, where comfort and service are both excellent (especially in Japan). In China, we've taken six long bullet train rides. It's efficient, very fast (faster than in Japan and South Korea), and compared to airport waiting times, high-speed trains are a much better alternative. On AliPay (which is essential in China), you can book and pay for tickets 14 days before departure. It's a great system. The only issue is that you might not get seats next to your travel partner - you often have to swap with other passengers. You can buy tickets for 3 classes (second class, business, and first class), and it's not cheap. We traveled in second class and were quite satisfied: there's more space and freedom to move around compared to a plane. Much of the communication - both at the stations and on the trains - is in both Mandarin and English, so don't worry about figuring out where to get on and off the train. It's actually quite easy. On particularly popular routes, the trains are quite full, so you need to be quick to secure space for your luggage in the very small compartments. If you can't, you'll have to keep your suitcase or backpack between your legs during the trip. Therefore: Arrive at the station early and make sure to get to the front of the queue. You can buy food and drinks on the trains, but it's expensive and not very good. We got used to bringing our own supplies, which can be bought at the stations. It's a good idea to buy fruit before you get to the station. The toilets are decent; there are both Western-style and squat toilets.
RIDE THE PLANE INSTEAD
From HK West Kowloon to Xiamen, return. I took the train (HKD 700 return) as a 1st time experiment rather than the usual flight (HKD 1500). The actual ride is fine, with very interesting & diverse scenery. However, I won't be doing this again by choice. The boarding & unboarding processes just too " rough " & noisy. On the China side, train travel is for the masses, so the waiting halls are cavernous and filled with huge crowd. The din reverberates and ia amplified over stone walls. Station staff direct traffic by shrieking instructions in Mandarin. On the HK side, where all immigration & customs clearance is conducted, it's a similarly oppressive experience due to small passages between the concourse & the platforms. It makes the 3 document controls seem very tedious. This is really a frustrating state of affairs, as the advantages of train travel (scenery, lower carbon emissions) are entirely outweighed. I'll spend the extra HK$ 800 in future.
Der schlimmste internationale Bahnhof, den ich je gesehen habe.
Falls Sie planen von HK auf das Festland zu reisen, dann wählen sie eine andere Methode. Per U-Bahn nach SZ und dann von dort weiter. Oder per Flugzeug. Aber niemals wieder würde ich so reisen. Es ist völlig unklar, wie lange die Kontrolle bei der Einreise auf das Festland dauert. Also muss man früh da sein. Und dann ist man gefangen in einer überfüllten Wartehalle. Ohne jede Möglichkeit etwas zu Essen oder zu Trinken zu kaufen. Es ist völlig unfassbar. Fliegen ist wesentlich bequemer.
My least favorite way to get to china from Hong Kong
Honestly the most infuriating not high speed system I've ever experienced. There are so many checkpoints to actually get to your train that you always panic you are running out of time. I've missed this train now 3 times and almost missed it countless times. The whole double border check point with 3 security gates and barely any English language help is really a chore. Any chance I get I take any other way to guangzhou or Shenzhen from Hong Kong because every other route rarely requires me panicking to miss the train only to be forced to wait an hour or more for another. The prices for this system are ridiculous. For locals also with so many safe regular ways to go to china. Going to Shenzhen if you miss the train from central takes 3 minutes to wait for the next one Also only $50 to luohu and a $10 train to the far end of Shenzhen. The high speed is a joke of a price for all the aggravation it causes to the point I'm about to buy a car, register for it to cross border and begin driving to Guangzhou. That's how much this system bugs me
Horrible
First of all the High Speed Rail network from West Kowloon Station is over rated. The overall experience is so bad. First of all you can only book 14 days advance ticket, if you want it longer your date needs to fall in the 14 day bracket. There is no seating system, you get a ticket and you stand and wait for your turn. Only 2 counters serving customers. What is the point to have this station when it is evident that ticket sales are not the priority of the rail network. Hong Kong has 8 million people and 48 million visitors mostly from China visiting and 1.3 billion people population of China and only 2 counters serve to reserve 14 day advance ticket for CRH at West Kowloon High Speed Rail station. It is a shame and puts Hong Kong to shame as well. There are no seatings to wait for a passengers turn when you have created a ticket system to wait for counter service, its worst than walking into a bank in Hong Kong. Secondly, you book a ticket and the person behind the counter cannot help you to book seating together, it is worst than a no frill airline experience. At least in the no frill airlines a passenger can purchase seats but with CRH there is no such option. The CRH pricing is criminally expensive and does not promote the green belt initiative in anyway. This is a disastrous way of traveling to China. I booked my tickets to Guangzhou, most CRH stations are built either in the north or south of each city and there is very less importance given to East and west of any city in China. Majority of the people travel to Guangzhou need to go to East Guamgzhou and the train ride on CRH is 2 hours, so what is the point when to South station of Guangzhou it is only 1 hour by CRH. The company charges so much money and still takes 2 hour to make you reach Guangzhou East. At least the people behind the high speed rail network should use their brains and offer more train services direct to East with a shorter travel time, what is the point to pay high speed prices and still have to travel 2 hours to reach Guangzhou? It's not worth it, go to Shenzhen instead and take a bus it's much better and cheaper than traveling by CRH from Hong Kong to Guangzhou…..
Nice to try
This review refers to the journey between Hong Kong and Guangzhou. The train itself is world class in terms of comfort and cleanliness. The journey between Hong Kong and Guangzhou is however too short for its speed potential to be fully utilised. In any event, it is a reliable and comfortable way to travel between the two cities.
Great HS Train
Took the High Speed trains from Kowloon West Station to Nanning in China! Paid for First Class and well worth it! Bought my ticket on line!!
Beijing - Xi'an & Xi'an-Chengdu (Business Class Window Seat)
This is my fits experience with China High Speed Train (Bullet Train). I have travelled twice with CRH train from Beijing - Xi'an & Xi'an-Chengdu. I BOOKED for Business Class Window Seat. This seat is in a row of 3 seats only. The seats can be adjusted flat for passengers to lie down. The seat is a leather seat with fully converted into a flat bed. BEIJING - XI'AN There is a Business class lounge at Beijing station with direct train boarding. There were 8 seats only on this train. We were offered refreshments & health travel companion snacks for free including Wet towels and sleep eye mask. Food (Lunch) was a generous portion of vegetables &rice; you have another option of meat & rice. Squat Toilet and Sit Toilet are available. Take slippers with you for a relaxing (long) journey. XI'AN - CHENGDU This journey was an Evening one. There were 5 seats only. We were offered Slippers & Snacks. A large meal of rice and vegetables was our dinner. The train is fast and comfortable. SEE photos.
Fastest way to travel
This is an excellent way to travel from main land China to Hong Kong and back. Fast and on time. On board service is poor though. We traveled 1st class to Hong Kong and 2nd class back to main land China, non existing service in both classes.
excelent train
first time using this high speed train from kwoloon west station to Shen Zen, it was clean, fast and very comfortable...
Wow! This Is The Way To Travel!
I am very impressed with the High Speed Rail in China. Traveled from Beijing to Shenzhen, an 8 hour trip. I USA it it takes Amtrak to go the same distance 24 hours if on time. We traveled at 300 Kilometers an hour (180mph). The station stops are in Chinese and English. There were not a lot of stops. You really see the countryside, the plains, wet areas and the mountains. The trains are modern, sleek, quiet and comfortable. Stewards bring a cart with food like the airlines.
Very fast and clean
Travelled from Shanghai to Guangzhou and Guangzhou to Hong Kong by HST its very easy clean modern and easy to use, it has western toilets and a restraunt car and a buffet cart gioing round and a ohot water point in each carriage.
سريع
ذهبنا إلى محطة أوستن للاتصال بمحطة غرب كولون للقطار السريع في قوانغتشو. المحطة كانت فسيحة وأكشاك الطعام كانت متاحة. كان القطار فائق السرعة سريعًا بالفعل, ولكن احذر من اختيار المقاعد بعيدًا عن دورات المياه لأنه يمكن ملاحظة الرائحة القوية التي أنشأها بعض مستخدمي المرحاض.
HK to Guilin by high speed train and back
Took the train from HK west Kowloon direct to Guilin West station, it took just over three hours. Very convenient and efficient without the hassle of airports. Saw the changing landscape and the mountains. Great short train journey. We went first class HK$691 and there is room for suitcases and legs. We took our own snacks but snacks can be bought on board.
大変便利
香港西九龍から広州南駅までの高速鉄道です。ホンハム始発の越境列車と比べると速度は雲泥の差です。オースティン駅や九龍駅からもアクセス可能
High speed rail
Quick, convenient, clean and cosy. About buying ticket online, should put Chinese name instead of English name, otherwise just like us having to pay $20 for each trip to get ticket from counter because machine couldn't read English. This is a bit inconvenient.
An efficient and comfortable high-speed railway between Beijing and Shanghai
We traveled from Beijing to Nanjing, and Nanjing to Shanghai by the high-speed railway, using a business-class seat. Unlike Japanese shinkansen by JR Tokai, it is smoke-free, and no smoking-booth in a train vehicle. A lunch box and drink bottle was served through the attendant lady. The taste was not bad. Train ticket was obtained on line. We could select a window-side or aisle seat, but we could specify the seat number. Overall, it was a wonderful trip.
May worth the effort for more than 1 day return
We wanted to experience the fairly recent high speed rail from HK to Shenzhen. We read all the info on location, train schedule, and price online beforehand to better prepared for the journey. We bought round trip tickets the same morning of departure to Futian without any issues. We went through security check, immigration before reaching the platform. The ride was only 14 minutes. The train is very clean and comfortable. We walked through several shopping malls, had lunch and headed back to the station using the underground passage. We got lost a few times trying to find the right direction. The signages were quite confusing and it was difficult to identify landmarks underground. After making couple of circles, going above ground and underground again, and asking for directions several times, we managed to get to the high speed train station for Hong Kong. We allowed ourselves plenty of cushion so we would not miss the train. We sure glad we did. Trying to backtrack to get to the station as a first time visitor was a total failure. Once back to Hong Kong, we had to fill out a China departure card and a Hong Kong entry form. We had to fill out a total of 4 forms for a 14 min journey, definitely very cumbersome. We experienced the high speed train which we started out to do. (Did numerous high speed train journeys in China already). It is not worth the efforts as a one day journey to Shenzhen. My suggestion will be for a longer stay or travel further distance for an extended stay to make the train travel worthwhile.
It's daunting and polarizing
Over time I'm guessing this will be a " love it or hate it " facility. Briefly, the good things: fast (once it goes north from Shenzhenbei station, up to 308KPH), clean, .. coffee and tea were available for purchase. (My comments apply to the Second-Class section.) The other things are less about the train than about the amazing hassle and long walks involved in figuring out how and where to buy the tickets, and where to go after that. Getting out of HK was less confusing than coming back from Shenzhen, and we also experienced GuangzhouNam station. China loves massive facilities like this, beyond human scale, and clearly the focus is on serving domestic and not non-Chinese passengers, though important things are multi-lingual. Honestly, if I am just going to Shenzhen -- and I do, regularly -- I will keep using HK's East Rail system, much cheaper, much easier, gets you right to the border and from there you have Shenzhen's MTR to get you everywhere. This HSR is far more suited to ultra-long-distance travelers who will come prepared with food, drinks, and knowledge of how to manage the many logistics.
Beautiful train, terrible service
Travelling from Hong Kong to Shenzen was a total nightmare on the new high speed train, In theory it all sounds great - go to China in 15 minutes, well prepare to queue at 5 different security and custom checkpoints for a 15 minute train journey. You need to plan way ahead if you don't speak Chinese or travelling with foreign passports. It was a total drag, officials and train staff are incredibly rude and unhelpful. We missed our return train departure to Hong Kong due to bad directions provided from the ticket desk and the information desk. The ticket counter wanted us to buy new tickets as if you miss your train that's too bad for you, no other option. In the end we didn't get a seat on the train. What a total mess, great train, terrible and rude service. Would never travel to Shenzen like this again. A 15 minute journey to HK actually took us 2 1 / 2 hours. Hope for the best, expect the absolute worst.
有驚喜
第一次, 我和太太由西九龍坐高鐵去福田, 週二下午一點準時開車, 很少乘客, 我們的車卡內全部少過10個人, 正在欣賞車廂內的整潔舒服, 剛開始和太太商量一會去深圳那裡開餐, 車已經到了福田站, 時間是下午一點十二分, 全程只用了12分鐘, 車速快到我們想像不到！ 若高鐵能夠有更多車票優惠, 相信會吸引更多乘客。
great super fast trip
i took the speed train from Futian (shenzhen) to Kowloon (hkg) on my own i bought a business class ticket, in China trains, business class is a better class then first class everybody was very helpful in Shenzhen to help me get on the right train the border and customs procedures are happening in HKG as a senior citizen (above 65) you are allowed on special lanes so for me, it all wen very fast i had to change my return ticket, again on the special lane, special service, extremely efficient at the custom control, i forgot my passport, the custom agents, found me in the whole station and retur ned it to me i took one way in business and the return in first first is must cheaper and good enough, the whole trip on the train is like 12 minutes
Great travel
Very smooth means of travel. More leg room than flying, with better views, quicker check-in, and constant access to all luggage. Now, with the addition of Kowloon station site, China travel is even more feasible. It may be 186 mph, but it couldn't be smoother. Adding HK to the network was a welcome addition.
중국 출경 수속도 서구룡역에서 합니다
중국으로 갈 때는 로우에서 나가고, 광저우에서 홍콩으로 올 때만 고속철도를 탔는데, 서구룡역 일부를 중국에 임대해서 중국 입출경 심사를 모두 홍콩쪽 서구룡역에서 합니다. 근데 여긴 지문을 안 찍고 얼굴만 보고 여권이랑 대조하는데, 바로 통과 안시켜주고 further inspection 구역에 앉혀두는 경우가 많네요.
High Speed Rail in China
I thought this was the best high speed train and experience I have used in my life. I used the High Speed rail for round trip Hong Kong to Shenzhen, I found the service cheap, reliable and convenient and fast. I got to Shenzhen from Hong Kong in ten minutes which amazed considering the distance. I would recommend anyone traveling China to use the service because I used the train to go from Hong Kong to Guangzhou which was the same amazing service and speed.
Very comfortable way enter to China
We travel from Hong Kong to China quite several times per year and this train will be our first choice as we don't need to cross any more quite crowded border in Shenzhen. Also it is much faster and more comfortable than old train from Hong Kong Hung Hom station to Guangzhou East. If you want to save money then you should buy first ticket from Hong Kong to Shenzhen Bei and then from Shenzhen Bei to your destination. Price difference is 60 RMB per person. Normally time to change train in SHenzhen takes 15 min. Very good is you will enter to China already in the centre of Hong Kong.
Coffee at 308kmh
As I have mentioned before I like railways, so when the opportunity arose to travel to Beijing from Hong Kong (West Kowloon Station) by high speed train (HST) I took it. I booked well in advance through China DIY Travel (Check out " The Man in Seat 61 " website, World Rail Section, as I did, choose China, read about the routes etc, and the section on HST's, and as a bonus there is a promo code supplied to get a discount when you book your tickets with China DIY Travels website). Dealing with China DIY Travel is quite straight forward and very efficient, depending on the date of travel, they will tell you when tickets are available, and will put an order in for allocation, once this is accepted they will ask for payment (your tickets may still not be available but don't worry), I chose the direct payment from my bank to another Australian Bank Account as there are no fees with this method. My tickets were emailed about 3 weeks later. They will send you constant reminders that you must make sure your passport details are correct as any inconsistency and you will be denied travel. Boarding at Hong Kong is like going through an airport, Hong Kong is treated as a autonomous area so all passports and visas are checked before you board the train, and airport like security for checking baggage. Baggage allowances are similar to aircraft, weight and size of each case. Excess luggage may travel by a different train at a slower pace so do your homework! Once you get your tickets, you also receive various information sheets, read them they are helpful and also contain important tips. China DIY Travel recommend to be at the station 90 mins before departure. On the day I travelled there was no problem with language when exchanging the online ticket for a real ticket, and everything was clearly sign posted. I was in Second Class so when you go to the Gate you will be assigned to a certain queue depending on carriage number. Boarding begins 30 minutes before departure and closes 10 minutes prior departure. Second class seats are comfortable but basic just as in aircraft classes. Business and First are also available but pricey. These trains are extremely busy so be prepared for a less than peaceful experience, the concept of 'quiet' coaches isn't evident yet. The coaches digital read out updates you on speed and outside temperature in English. On my trip it averaged over 300km per hour between station stops. There is a cafe car in each set of coaches, and a trolley service frequently comes through each coach. The meals are not bad and all around AUD10. Coffee is almost the same price at AUD9 a cup! The servers only except Yuan so be sure to get some cash out. The Beijing bound train makes quite a few stops but still manages the journey in 9hrs (the alternative non HST sleeper service takes 26 hrs). One last tip, if your an independent traveller, not part of a group, then I advise unless you are fluent in Mandarin, to have the address of your destination in Beijing available in Chinese. Taxi drivers almost never speak English, and don't understand English names for streets / hotels. The high speed train is an alternative to flying, it is about two and a half hours longer (allowing for getting to the airport etc) but the experience is well worth it. I flew back to Hong Kong because I had to make a connection back to Australia, a typical flight Beijing-Hong Kong is around AUD225. HST one-way 2nd Class Hong Kong to Beijing is about AUD215, and remember to have HKD30, cash only, for a handing fee per person at West Kowloon Station.
Excellent option for travel - beats flying
Easy access to stations, customs and immigration right before boarding. Very quick and efficient. Worth the little extra for First or Business Class seats.
Smooth ride
My stars are based on China's trains in general. The train was on time, clean and quite. I took the first class were the sits are significantly bigger than economy and they give you a snack and a drink. If you wish anything else you can purchase. You have hot water and electric socket. The toilets were clean at the beginning of the trip but not so much at the end, other that it was ok.
Fastest trip home, ever !
We took the High Speed Rail from Hong Kong Kowloon to Guangzhounan which was a fabulous experience. From buying our train tickets, to going through the various security checks, immigration checks and finally travelling on the train - everything was such a pleasure. The whole process is very organised and controlled by a lot of staff members. Thousands upon thousands of people were using this mode of transport during the Chinese New Year, so it was good to see how organised and smoothly everything went. There is some English so if you are needing help, someone can assist. There is no food or drink once in the waiting area at the gates so make sure you eat before you wait for your train. There is food for sale on the train itself. If I can give you some advice, allow a lot of time to go through the various checkpoints so that you do not miss your train. Our train trip took a wonderful 40mins to get to our destination. There is space in the carriage itself for your luggage so you don't need to worry about that. We shall definitely be using this mode of transport again.
Use the local trains if going to Shenzen
Used the high speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon to Futian Shenzhen. Ticket is not available for sales 45 minutes before departure time and everyone is adviced to arrive the station at least 45 minutes. The service is nothing like the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan or Taiwan, but more like Eurostar, you need to pass through strict security check and immigration for both Hong Kong and China. No shops is available after passing through China border line and entering the waiting areas. One thing bare in mind you are under control of China law in the waiting room and trains. The train journey is 15 minutes and all seats are reserved unlike other countries you can take any trains you want in a non-reserved carriage. There is no way faster than the local East Rail Line if you add up the waiting time. Price is more than the first class of MTR, too.
A acceptable ride
The rail station is new and design is quite good. The ticketing is good to hv both web ticketing and ticket machine. Be aware to book in advance, for long haul. The servicing staff is okay and helpful. Need improve: queuing for the check-in area was not handled well. No more food after getting into the custom area. The train was good, smooth, quiet inside and on-train crew was good and helpful. Normally no delay and better than flying by plane.
Hong Kong to Guangzhou South on the high speed train
We took the high speed train from West Kowloon to Guangzhou South in December. It was the first time that we'd used the HSR. Overall it was a positive experience, but some important things you need to be aware of. I'd searched online but was not sure if there was an " official " booking website for the train tickets as there were a few travel agencies that also offered booking services. After comparing a few websites I'd decided to book via the Hong Kong MTR website. Since it was our first time using the HSR, we'd decided to give ourself ample time for contingencies. We arrived at the West Kowloon Station two hours ahead of the departure time. Step 1 is we have to go to the HK MTR counter (as we'd bought the tickets from MTR website) to get a printed tickets. The counter staff reminded us not to lose the ticket as it will be very troublesome to get a replacement ticket. Step 2 is to clear the HK immigration, which was straightforward. Step 3 is to scan the bags and join the queue for the Chinese immigration. A number of the travellers were not aware that they need to fill in a Arrival Card, which held up the line. The immigration processing speed was also quite slow. We were glad that we had given ourselves ample time so therefore no stress on us. Step 4 is to wait for the train. Be aware of your gate number and the train car number. The queue line was quite orderly but there are always someone who is going to jump the queue. Once we had boarded the train, it was all a breeze - the seats were new and comfortable, ample leg room, luggage storage area, clean toilet. The journey time to Guangzhou was just slightly over an hour. Overall it was a pleasant journey.
1st timer on high speed rail
From Canton we decided to ride on the high speed rail to Hong Kong instead of of taking the traditional train, bus or ferry. The total trip take only 40 minutes with one stop. Overall the ride was ver nice, quite and seat were almost like travel on business class by plane. There's no limit on pieces of luggages but size must be able to fit thru. their x-ray machine for security check. The train depot is huge and all the tracks were line up in a very well organized manner. The immigration & customer were vert tight & strict. Once you arrived in HK you may be able to hook up other public transportations to various spots of the city
Smooth ride
We bought the tickets over the counter and the staff will advise us on the timing to book for the ride considering the time needed to clear customs. Food and drinks are allow to be brought into the train. The cabin is clean, comfortable and the ride is smooth. It feels like you are taking a flight but more spacious. Would be great if time taken to clearing the customs can be improved thou.
最近開通した広深港高速鉄道
香港側の始発は香港西九龍駅です。エアポートエクスプレスの九龍駅から少し歩きます。香港西九龍駅は利用者でかなり混雑していました。駅構内にティムホーワンの支店なんかもありました。
High Speed Train from Hong Kong to Shanghai
High Speed Rail from Hong Kong to Shanghai Business Class was a JOKE. Sharing the business class experience, you can imagine the economy: 1. All the drinks were to be paid for except for soft drinks 2. You can have only one meal either lunch or dinner 3. No TV etc. 4. No one on board speaks English 5. No USB ports 6. There was a paid menu for food and drinks 7. I was in cabin number 16 (business class) and the small pantry was all the way down at cabin 9, anyways after reaching there I was told on a menu that had 200 items only one item was available 8. One good thing the business class has enough leg room, the seats aren't cushy as airplane and yes the luggage stays with you 9. Total business class seats were 5 9. The business class lounge at West Kowloon Station only had water to offer
Very convienent
I've crossed over to Hong Kong from Shenzhen through every port... I have to say, this was the easiest way. It's only a 14 minute trip from Futian station, there was no line for foreigners at immigration. the station is beautiful and clean!
最高速度３００km超え
広州南駅から香港西九龍駅まで乗車しました。事前に日本で「Trip.com」を通じて乗車券の予約と支払をネットで済ませていました。広州南駅の１階窓口(メインの建物の横)で予約受理番号が記載されたTrip.comの予約控えとパスポートを提示、乗車券を貰い、巨大な待合スペースで改札口のオープンを待ちました。出発時間の１０分程前に改札口が開き、日本の新幹線のグリーン車に相当する一等車輌に乗り込みました。香港までの乗車時間は５０分程でしたが、最高速度は３００kmを超えました。香港西九龍駅で下車してから中国の出国手続と香港の入境手続があり、その間がボーダーになっていました。(政治的には一国二制度形骸化との指摘もありますが)旅行者にとっては１箇所で手続出来る為、便利でした。
Immigration twice as long as journey
Kowloon West Station is extremely grand and beautiful. The train is spectacular : we travelled first class; it was impeccably clean and comfortable and staff very efficient. You can even buy a bento box meal on the train. The trip from Kowloon to GuangZhous was over too quickly. However, clearing the two immigrations going and returning was really a chore especially on our return to Hong Kong as only one immigration officer was working. We booked our tickets on line - via Chinatour. Net for the trip up and Trip.com for the return. Kowloon station charged us an additional fee cos we booked via Chinatour. Net but the Trip.com ticket had no extra levy.
Time consuming, chaotic, worse than flying
I had high hopes of having a quick trip to Guilin and Yangshuo by high speed rail. The overall experience though was poor. buying tickets is complex. Different booths for hk trains and china trains. Different counters for todays trains and tomorrow trains, ticket collection vs booking. All just fragmented and disconnected.... zero user design involved. There is a slow hk border crossing process, then a China one with the usual baggage checks. This station feels just like typical China, big, many steps, lots of walking all over the place. Also, 2 other problems: the high speed stations in China are far away from town, and connection times between the hubs are not good. I think flying is better for now. Give this 10 years to streamline
Taking High Speed Rail from Hong Kong to Guangzhou South Railway Station
Leaving Dorsett Mongkok, we set foot towards Kowloon West Station for our High-Speed Rails to Guangzhou South Railway Station. It was our first experienced. We have purchased the online ticket in Singapore and that has made things less complicated. However, do not expect a smooth transition for the first time. There were still hooks and grannies to take care of for the entire journey. So be prepared to plunge into it. In Kowloon West Station, it seems organized but a little confusing on first sight. There are so many counters and by trial and errors, we thought we hit the right counter but was told to walk 100 meters to the next platform with counter 8 to 10 to exchange our tickets. The Hong Kong station staff are really helpful and readily provided assistance. With good direction given, we headed down the escalator to the Hong Kong Immigration. Passing through Hong Kong Immigration was a breeze due to their speedy effectiveness. After which, you have to walk approximately 150 to 200 meters to the Chinese Immigration. This place is a little more confusing than the Hong Kong side. There is no direct signboard to bring your attention for immediate reaction. You may have to pause for a while to figure it out or to approach one of the on-duty standing immigration officers for advice. She will direct you to a small panel to retrieve a yellow immigration form to fill in. The queue has only 3 to 4 people ahead with only one Immigration Officer working, which will inevitably slow down the process and a high chance of missing your train. So it is advisable to pick up the yellow immigration form, bring it to the queue line to fill in. The Chinese Immigration Officer processing the travels document took around 6 to 7 mins to process an entry. Suppose if there is a long queue with only one officer on task, you can assume you may probably miss your train. It is advisable to have an hour ahead to pass through the immigration rather than the last minute rush. Our train was already at its bay after all the detailed scrutiny by the immigration. It is a long train and you need to look for the correct train car with the right seat number to match your ticket as the train will stop at Shenzhen and at various point along the way. The in-coming passenger will look out for their seat number and if you happen to sit on the wrong seat, it will be cumbersome to look for your seat number again with new passenger coming up to the train. It would be best to find the right train car and seat number in the first place. The ride to Guangzhou South took around 45 mins to an hour and it was definitely a pleasant ride. The train is high tech, clean and comfortable (see photos). The seats are adjustable to meet your comfort level and there are staffs on train selling drinks and foods, and simultaneously providing assistance if needed. On an overall, it was a wonderful first-hand experienced for a smooth ride to Guangzhao South although our destination was far beyond that and towards Guangzhao East Railway Station.
Fast and Smooth
Arrive at Austin MTR- very short walk to Departures. Check in to High Speed Rail Station - Kowloon an hour before departure. Went " First Class " for the extra few $$ - on a long journey worthwhile- travelling to Shenzen, it is less than a 20 minute journey! You decide! Before boarding if you have 1st tickets you can wait in the Business lounge away from the crowd. Self serve coffee and tea from a flask! But comfy and quiet environment. Journey was fast and smooth... and even got a snack pack. Don't put your ticket away, until you arrive at your final destination- needs to be checked multiple times including final exit barrier.
Fantastic on the train, not so great experience getting to / from the train
The new high speed rail service is a very quick way to get from HK to Shenzhen or Guangzhou. The train itself is super modern, quiet and fast. All classes are pleasant to travel in, however I'd recommend first class or business class (business class is higher than first) if you can afford it (it isn't too expensive by global standards). The experience getting on the train is less than stellar however. Ensure that when you purchase a ticket you allow at least 90 mins to get to the train - when heading from HK to China keep in mind you have to clear both HK (leaving) and China (entering) customs and immigration before you get to the platform. On the HK side there are lots of super helpful staff around who are incredibly helpful. The China side is confusing, poorly sign posted and there is virtually nobody around to help. Make sure you find and fill in the China entry card - there is no signage about the need for these, and the cards themselves are hidden away sitting on the fingerprint gathering kiosk, which is also confusing - I had to get a Chinese police officer to help me use it (he was very friendly and helpful though). The Chinese immigration staff seem quite disorganised - the officer I encountered sheepishly asked to borrow my pen to complete the processing. Once you pass immigration the departure waiting hall has no food and drink available - ensure you purchase something on the HK side before heading through immigration. Guangzhou South station is enormous and the signposting is terrible - ensure you go down to level 1 (the train tracks are level 2) to catch a taxi (or the metro) to get to the central city. Be aware that the station is a long, long way from the central city - 45 - 60mins by taxi or 1hr+ on the metro (there is no direct metro service, you have to change lines at least once). Do not go up to level 3 unless you are transferring to another high speed service. For the return journey, be aware that purchasing tickets can be a very painful experience for a non-Chinese ID card holder. You cannot use the automated ticket purchase machines, and you have to queue along for over an hour at busy times (which seems to be most of the time). There is no english signage at all in the ticketing area - not all queues allow purchase of tickets with foreign passports, and not all queues allow purchase to all destinations. It is best to ask at the info desk which counter you need to purchase from before joining a queue. Also around midday and in the early evening the counters close for lunch and dinner break - this means you have to wait until the counter reopens, try not to purchase tickets around these times. It is worth purchasing the tickets online if you can - you still have to pick them up at the station though, some stations (eg Shenzhen North) do not have dedicated queues for this however. Note that some stations have dedicated counters / queues for the HK service (eg Shenzhen North) but some don't (eg Guangzhou South). Getting on the train in China is easier than HK as customs / immigration clearance is done on arrival in HK. Be aware that this can take a little time due to the need to exit China and enter HK, so there are 2 sets of immigration and customs to be cleared.
Slower than the bus
High Speed Rail out of Hong Kong is a joke. You will sail through Hong Kong immigration, but Chinese immigration control is so slow that it defeats the whole point of the service. You need to allow at least 90 mins otherwise you will miss your train and they make you buy a new ticket. Nearly everybody in our immigration queue missed their train, bought new tickets and had to wait one hour for the next available seats. It is quite a miserable wait as there is no coffee shop or kiosk in the waiting area. You are better off just getting the bus.
九龍高鐵路站
大堂面積较小, 長遠應該不足夠未來需求。 指示牌顯示清晰, 站內有各類商店, 例如美心、萬寧、添好運等。 距離柯士甸站C出口非常近, 另一邊可達九龍站, 交通到各區非常方便。
シンセンまであっという間
9月23日の開業日に乗りました。乗り心地は非常によく、揺れもほとんどありませんでした。駅構内や車両内も無料のWi-Fiがあり快適。ただ、イミグレがあるので、そこで時間が。最低でも1時間半前に駅について手続きしましょう。
Impressive, fast and expensive
This is an impressive system. Took high speed train from West Kowloon station to GuangZhou. Hit a top speed of 305kph, and it only took 56 minutes to get there. This used to be 2+ hours. Train itself is super modern, clean, pleasant and first class feeling. It cost 325 yuan each way, which is not cheap for a one hour jump. However I'm betting it beats flying in many ways
Hk para Shenzen
Um sistema de transporte seguro, rápido e muito confortavel. O trem atinge 195km / h, mas é tão suave que a gente nem sente....