Happy new year of the pig

What a wonderful year of the pig, I have left last position as a Flight Ops Officer as well as one of the member in a company’s fledgling department in a GHA. More than over two years work experience there, I have learnt much from the seniors. I have decided to have a go for new challenges for months and I have not got any news though. I guess the next best thing is that I can savory my time with families for this Chinese New Year (CNY) festival.

On the 3rd of the year of pig, when the dawn did not raise, we had already headed out for the High Speed Station in the Kowloon. No gonna lie, most of the HongKonger could notice the opening last year. I, however, did not really learnt much about this new popular mode of transport to and from the Mainland.

The “incredible” fast high-speed rail started its operations on the date of 23th Sept 2018. I still remembered that one of the traveller of a family group told the reporter : “It’s really fast, the seat has not been warmed and we arrived”. Today, I have the identical comment.

The MTR is responsible for the Hong Kong section, of which 26-km route runs entirely in underground tunnels links Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Shenzhen.

Indeed, passengers can use road transports or the west rail to the station. The previous group of travellers arrived at departure level and the rail group can get off at Austin of West Rail station, where has entired indoor link to the departure hall.

This CNY, my mum chose to join the package tour with experience of the High Speed rail and HZMB. In the early morning, there are various  groups and families awaiting their tour guide at the assembly area, where has serval retailers including a trademark of Maxim’s group and Starbucks. Not sure if it is quite early in the morning or somehow the station have started its operations less than a year, no much choice and a long queue inside the shops. We spent more than 20 minuets for  3 cups of joe.

For the part of security and immigration clearance flows, it’s smooth but it could be better. Currently, the “IWS”, known from the staff epaulette of the uniform, is the contractor for the security and screening section. After the IWS officers checked your “Return China Card” and your ticket with your name print on that, both you and your belongings will pass through X-ray machine respectively. Interestingly, it is not same as the HKIA (airport), you can just grapse a cup of coffee through the security channels. After that, using the eascalator go down to the immigration restriction area. There are two warm reminders – first, no picture and video is allowed. Second, only tax-free retailers for tobacco and alcohol on the other side of the immigration restriction area. Essentially, you are passing the “border” within the restriction area.

“One station, two systems” is one of the most amazing experience from my own perspective. Inside the waiting area for boarding, you are inside the China territory, although the fact that Hong Kong is part of the China. Albeit, I was waiting my schedule on the China territory of the China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

As the itinerary is that we only use the HSR to the first station of the Mainland portion, I only could have a briefly experience – from the train commenced moving to the Futian, it merely cost less than 20 minutes.

What a shame, I though to take a video clip showing the speed of the train, but I suddenly realised a question – we haven’t seen the HSR tain in Hong Kong, have we? What I had a go is using AGPS – the google map inside the cabin, but it is in vein – what I could see on the screen is always point a place in 長沙. And finally, I noticed less than 30 seconds would see sunlight over the Hong Kong to Mainland section.

FYI: Hong Kong Kowloon West to Shanghai cost slightly more than HKD$ 1000, why not giving it a try?

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#https://multimedia.scmp.com/native/infographics/article/2172120/high-speed-rail/