Monthly Archives: February 2011

MTR: Ma On Shan Line

The Ma On Shan Line is quite different to the rest of the MTR network of Hong Kong: the majority of the route is elevated on viaducts so it can weave between apartment blocks, but it also has short stretch of track running down the middle of a freeway. What other surprises lay in store along the line?

Running down the middle of a freeway

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How to rebrand a railway

In Melbourne the local rail operator has almost completed their rebranding of the network from ‘Connex’ to ‘Metro’ – back in 2007 Hong Kong did the same thing when the KCR was merged into the MTR, so how did they do it?

Rebranded KCR/MTR signage on the Ma On Shan line Continue reading

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The MTR’s other fleet of trains

The Mass Transit Railway in Hong Kong has more trains than just the EMU fleet that transports the city of 6 million people… They also have a collection of small battery-electric and diesel-hydraulic locomotives to use on maintenance trains, both in tunnels and on viaducts.

Chai Wan bound train arrives into Heng Fa Chuen
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Bank of China tower observation deck

One of the must see places to visit in Hong Kong is Victoria Peak: once you get to the top, you can see the glass skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island, the boats on Victoria Harbour, the everyday apartment blocks of Kowloon, and finally Lion Rock atop the mountains in the distance.

The only downside is that every man and their dog also turns up there: resulting in long lines for the Peak Tram that runs up the hill, and price gouging when you finally get up there. However, there is at least one more sky high vantage point you can visit, and this one is free.

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