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First train arived on Wednesday (March 2) with about 50 tons of anti-epidemic supplies
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The goods were transported from Pinghu Freight Yard in Shenzhen to Lo Wu Railway Freight Yard in Hong Kong on 40-minute voyage
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Hong Kong officials says there’ll be one cross-border train trip per day initially, with progressive enhancement subject to demand and handling capacity
Railway transportation of goods from China to Hong Kong began on March 2, with the arrival of the first train carrying about 50 tons of anti-epidemic supplies.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan, as well as local and mainland railway officials welcomed the first train that transported goods from the Mainland to Hong Kong at the MTR Lo Wu Marshalling and Railway Freight Yard.
The cross-border cargo train had nine freight wagons with 18 containers of anti-epidemic supplies, including COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits, protective clothing, etc.
The goods were transported from the Pinghu South Railway Freight Yard in Shenzhen to the Lo Wu Railway Freight Yard in Hong Kong on a voyage of about 40 minutes.
There will be one cross-border train trip per day at the early stage of the operation. Train operation will be enhanced progressively, subject to demand and handling capacity of the freight yard, said Hong Kong authorities.
The Hong Kong government said it will monitor the situation and continue to work closely with the Chinese authorities to facilitate and implement various measures to ensure a stable goods supply as well as to optimize the cross-border transportation of supplies.
With the launch of the cross-border railway cargo service, the operation of goods supply from the Mainland to Hong Kong can be further strengthened, the government said.
Apart from rail cargo transport, the Hong Kong government said it is working with the Guangdong provincial government and the Shenzhen s Government to accelerate the establishment of centralised cargo transfer points for non-fresh food items and other goods in Hong Kong.
The government plans to use the air cargo facilities of Hong Kong International Airport, the Kwai Chung Container Terminals and the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal as temporary cargo transfer yards in the first phase. It is expected that the temporary transfer yards concerned will start operation within this week.
Besides, the trial operation conducted also covers the two temporary transfer yards to be used in the second phase. These two transfer yards are near the Lok Ma Chau crossing, with the sites concerned lent by a private developer to the Hong Kong government.
Tapping the railway to move goods to Hong Kong was spurred by a post-Lunar New Year shortage of farm products, particularly fresh vegetables and meat, as China shut its borders to goods trucks after several drivers tested positive for the COVID-19 at the border.
