(25th Anniversary of the Return of Hong Kong) Shanghai-Hong Kong Train 25 Years of Love "Shanghai-Hong Kong People"

  China News Service, Shanghai, July 2 (Pu Fan) On May 19, 25 years ago, as the K99 train from Shanghai to Kowloon slowly left Shanghai Station, "Oriental Pearl" and "Oriental Pearl" passed the railway closely. tightly connected.

"This is a train with feelings," said Tang Jie, deputy director of the Shanghai Passenger Transport Workshop and leader of the "Xin Shang" service studio, in an interview with a reporter from Chinanews.com.

In 1997, on the occasion of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the Shanghai-Hong Kong train opened for the Shanghai passenger section. Photo courtesy of

  In the past 25 years, the Shanghai-Hong Kong train has witnessed the passage of time, built a bridge for economic and trade cooperation and personnel exchanges between Shanghai and Hong Kong, and the exchanges between Shanghai and Hong Kong have become closer.

  Due to the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the Shanghai-Hong Kong train has been suspended for more than two years, but the memories it carries still remain in the hearts of generations of "Shanghai-Hong Kong people".

The train is getting faster

  On May 19, 1997, the Shanghai-Hong Kong through train K99 was dispatched from Shanghai Station and became the first through passenger train from Shanghai to Kowloon. Up to 29 hours and 06 minutes.

  "Every year, the speed of trains is slowly increasing, which not only improves technically, but also continuously optimizes the running process." said Li Zhe, train conductor of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Group of Shanghai Passenger Transport Section.

Now, Li Zhe is the conductor of the Shanghai Passenger Section. Photo courtesy of

  In the past 25 years, Shanghai-Hong Kong trains have been upgraded many times, and the running time has been gradually shortened.

In 2003, the K99 run time was reduced to 25 hours.

On April 18, 2007, the national railway implemented the sixth major speed increase. The Shanghai-Hong Kong train class was changed from "K" (fast) to "T" (express), and the one-way travel time was shortened to 19 hours and 54 minutes.

On December 10, 2014, the train level of T99 was changed to direct express, the number of trains was changed to Z99, and the train running time was shortened to 19 hours and 16 minutes.

  On September 23, 2018, the G99 high-speed rail train between Shanghai and Hong Kong was opened for the first time, and the shortest railway travel time between Shanghai and Hong Kong was shortened to 8 hours and 17 minutes.

At the same time, the Z99 regular-speed train is still reserved, providing passengers with a variety of rail travel options.

The journey is getting smoother

  When talking about the characteristics of the Shanghai-Hong Kong train, Li Zhe said: "Our train is more service-oriented, and it allows passengers to enjoy the journey."

  The Shanghai-Hong Kong fleet on the Shanghai passenger section has always practiced the service concept of "Three Hearts of Service, Warm Hearts", that is, caring service, comfortable service, and satisfying service - providing assistance services for key passengers, equipped with medicine box service boxes, and providing services for train passengers. birthdays of passengers; implement bilingual broadcasts in Mandarin and Cantonese, carry out interactive activities in traditional festivals, set up safe rides, orderly rides, etc; Passengers are provided with privacy.

In the early years, Li Zhe was a dining car waiter. Photo courtesy of Shanghai Passenger Transport Section

  It is worth mentioning that in the early days of the Shanghai-Hong Kong train, the mode of getting off the train for customs clearance was adopted. After getting on the train in Shanghai, passengers should carry their luggage off the train at Changping Station in Dongguan for customs clearance.

From October 1, 2003, Shanghai Railway Station officially set up a temporary port to handle entry and exit inspection procedures.

So far, this car has achieved a true "pass-through".

On April 27, 2013, the railway port of Shanghai Railway Station passed the official opening acceptance of the national acceptance group and became an officially open port.

The port of entry and exit in Hong Kong is Hong Kong Hung Hom Station.

The entire Shanghai-Hong Kong journey has formed a convenient mode of "one-stop" service for railways and customs clearance.

Feelings are getting deeper

  In addition to the continuous improvement in hard indicators, whether it is Li Zhe or Tang Jie, the word "feelings" is mentioned the most when talking about the Shanghai-Hong Kong train.

Due to the convenience, economy, safety and comfort of the Shanghai-Hong Kong train, it has attracted a group of loyal and fixed passengers over the past 20 years.

Over the years, these passengers have become "old friends" with the staff.

  Since the opening of the first Shanghai-Hong Kong train in 1997, Zhang Qinghuan, a national labor model and a passenger duty attendant of the Shanghai Station "Xin Shang" service studio, has been providing waiting, in and out services for passengers traveling to and from the two sides of the strait.

"Except for those who travel in groups to Hong Kong, most of them are the elderly who travel to and from relatives." According to Zhang Qinghuan's recollection, most of these elderly people came to the mainland or to Hong Kong for business when they were young.

  "For the passengers on this train, we do not just provide professional services, but often chat with the passengers. There is an emotional accumulation in it over the years." Tang Jie said.

"And I can name many of the passengers on this train, and their family members are relieved. They put the old man at the entrance and said, 'Go find Xiao Tang', and left."

  According to Tang Jie's recollection, once the train was delayed for more than 20 hours due to the impact of the severe flood, but most of the passengers expressed their understanding, and a group of frequent passengers even spontaneously helped to appease a few impatient passengers.

Afterwards, Tang Jie also received a "thank you letter" from an old lady, thanking him for staying by the passenger's side during the more than 20 hours of the train delay.

  "I hope this line can continue to operate. Now we go out and say that we are 'Shanghai and Hong Kong people'!" Li Zhe said.

(Finish)