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High-speed sleeper train service launches between mainland, Hong Kong

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      China

      China

      High-speed sleeper train service launches between mainland, Hong Kong

      2024-06-16 03:15 Last Updated At:08:17

      High-speed sleeper trains linking Beijing and Shanghai with Hong Kong began operating on Saturday.

      Excited and visibly satisfied with the new train line which will facilitate exchanges between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, many passengers arrived at the station earlier to ensure they could complete all formalities on time.

      At the West Kowloon Railway Station, the first two high-speed trains to Beijing West Station and Shanghai Hongqiao Station departed at 18:24 and 19:49. At 17:30, many passengers on the first sleeper train to Beijing went through the last inspection procedures and came to the arrival hall to wait for a ticket check.

      "I want to hurry up because I don't know how early I should be there as this is my first time," said Lok, a passenger.

      "I am excited, so I prepared well in advance. Also, my luggage is very heavy, so I can take my time and walk a little slower," another passenger, who gave his name as Chow, said.

      "Passengers are required to go through the 'co-location' immigration procedures. Today, 381 passengers departing from West Kowloon Station on the overnight trains purchased sleeper tickets, and eight passengers bought second-class tickets. We fully grasp data such as the pre-sale number of daily passenger tickets, train departure place, passenger document type, and other data. Relying on intelligent passenger flow prediction and the system to channel the crowds, we open all inspection channels to ensure smooth clearance of passengers, " said Wan Kwun-nam, deputy team leader of Duty Team Four at the West Kowloon Border Checkpoint.

      Tickets for the first sleeper train went on sale on June 5, and all tickets have already been sold out. The sleeper trains have two second-class carriages, 13 sleeper carriages, and one dining carriage. Each compartment has four beds.

      "I can sleep one night on the train, so I can get to Beijing very comfortably," Wong Wai-kei, a passenger from Hong Kong, said.

      "This is the headsign for the previous direct train to Kowloon. I took that train more than ten years ago, so I think that taking this high-speed sleeper train today is very meaningful, " another passenger from Hong Kong, Wong Chi-chiu, said, displaying the headsign.

      The new train service runs between Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station and Beijing West Railway Station from Friday to Monday. Travel time between Beijing and Hong Kong will be reduced to about 12.5 hours from 24.5 hours.

      High-speed sleeper train service launches between mainland, Hong Kong

      High-speed sleeper train service launches between mainland, Hong Kong

      Next Article

      Smart 'mini trains' revolutionize vegetable transport in Yunnan's mountainous county

      2025-02-25 14:14 Last Updated At:14:37

      A novel rail system winding through the fields of Gengma County in southern China's Yunnan Province is reshaping farm operations, as smart "mini trains" designed for agricultural use significantly accelerate vegetable transport and lower labor costs.

      In the vegetable growing base of Mengding Town, workers harvest eggplants and load them onto an unmanned "mini train." With a remote control, the train then transports the baskets directly from the fields to the packaging workshop, where the vegetables are prepared for sale.

      "We've been working in the eggplant fields for over four years. In the past, we had to carry the vegetables by hand, which was toilsome. Now, with the mini train, it's much more convenient," said a local worker.

      The "mini train" is a narrow single-track transport vehicle tailored for vegetable farms in rugged terrains. Equipped with an electric motor, flat cargo platforms, and a modern track system, it can carry up to 200 kilograms at a time. The train features advanced functions including stable uphill and downhill transport, flexible turning, forward and reverse movement, and emergency braking, making it capable of transporting vegetables, fertilizers, and other agricultural supplies across the complex terrain of the mountains, cutting down on time and labor costs.

      "The transport works well whether it's rainy or sunny. We've reduced the need for workers by half compared to before. My farm spans three hectares, and the mini train can reach every corner of it," said Li Yan, an eggplant grower.

      In Gengma County, where local authorities have long faced challenges with mechanizing agriculture in the hilly areas, innovative solutions like these "mini trains" are allowing for more efficient farm operations. The use of smart farming equipment, including drones for seeding and the mini trains for transport, is rapidly transforming the region's agricultural practices and helping to increase farmers' incomes.

      The Mengding Town alone boasts over 93,000 hectares of vegetable production, with an annual output of 480,000 tons valued at 2.5 billion yuan (about 350 million U.S. dollars).

      "Since its introduction in 2021, over 60 farms in Mengding have adopted mini trains to transport vegetables from the fields to designated packaging sites. We will further invest in agricultural technology and promote its application to benefit even more farmers," said Chen Juan, a senior agricultural specialist at Mengding Industrial Development and Technology Service Center.

      Smart 'mini trains' revolutionize vegetable transport in Yunnan's mountainous county

      Smart 'mini trains' revolutionize vegetable transport in Yunnan's mountainous county

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