Advantages:
The HK Section of XRL will connect Hong Kong with the 20,000-km national high-speed rail network, which covers most major Mainland cities --> enhance HK’s connectivity with the Mainland + reinforce Hong Kong as the southern gateway of the Mainland --> boost exchanges + strengthen social and economic ties between HK and major Mainland cities --> foster the development of complementary advantages --> pillar industries of HK, e.g. financial services, trading and professional services, will benefit --> accelerate the economic development in HK + enhance HK’s long-term development potential + avoid the marginalization of HK
The HK section of the XRL will link Hong Kong to the Guangzhou South Station at Guangzhou through the Futian Station and the Shenzhen North Station at Shenzhen --> after commissioning of this new intercity rail corridor --> reduce journey time between Guangzhou and HK from currently about 100 minutes to about 50 minutes + materialize the idea of one hour living circle between Hong Kong and the PRD region
The location of the West Kowloon Station adjacent to the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) --> create a synergy with this integrated arts and cultural district --> more visitors from the PRD will be attracted to the WKCD’s arts and cultural activities --> higher passenger volume brought by the WKCD will, in turn, enhance the cost-effectiveness of the XRL --> these two projects, with coordination, will complement each other --> beneficial to HK economy
More tourists will be attracted to make HK a starting point or destination of their rail journeys --> boost local business + economy
High frequency + speed --> 33 daily pairs of long-haul train to 16 major Mainland cities --> a reliable and efficient alternative to short- and medium-haul flights - Provision of jobs opportunities in railway operation and maintenance as well as in retail, catering, station management and services at the West Kowloon Station
Extend HK’s reach into the Mainland hinterland --> strengthen HK’s position as a transport hub in the region
Source: The Hong Kong Shopper