Rush hour: more than 2,000 Hong Kong railway fans in dash for first train on new cross-harbour section of MTR’s Sha Tin-Central line
- Railway buffs, including students, had lined up overnight outside station despite light rain to be among first to board
- Launch of cross-harbour section of city’s most expensive rail project marks an end to years of delays and budget overruns
Thousands of railway fans rushed to board the first train at dawn on Sunday on a new cross-harbour section of Hong Kong’s costliest MTR project, with the long-awaited launch following years of repeated delays and cost overruns.
Despite the light rain, train enthusiasts had lined up overnight outside the entrance of Exhibition Centre station in north Wan Chai to be the first passengers on the stretch.
The Hung Hom-Admiralty section – via Exhibition Centre station in the Wan Chai North interchange– is more commonly known as the cross-harbour extension of the East Rail line. It is the fourth cross-harbour railway route connecting Hong Kong Island with Kowloon and the New Territories.
As of 8pm, more than 51,900 passenger trips had been recorded at the new station, 49,900 at the Hung Hom one and 77,800 at the station in Admiralty.
In the morning, eager residents armed with GoPro cameras, selfie sticks and railway memorabilia chanted “open the gates” and “let us in” as they waited for doors at the Exhibition Centre station to open at 4.35am. Once through, they dashed down to the platform for the first train set to depart at 5.30am.
Railway fan Jason Law, who became an internet sensation after he sang a song about the opening of the Tuen Ma line last year, was among those who queued overnight.