[Explanation] The Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, which has been out of service for nearly three years due to the epidemic, resumed operations on January 15.

At 7:58 on the same day, train G6551 slowly departed from Guangzhou East Station and headed for Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.

Guangzhou East Railway Station is a newly added station after the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link resumed operation, marking a more complete construction of the comprehensive transportation system of the "Greater Bay Area on Rails".

　　[Explanation] At 7:10 on the same day, passengers checked in and entered the waiting area on the fourth floor of Guangzhou East Railway Station.

Railway enthusiast Li came here early to experience the first train, and he also showed reporters the high-speed rail map he drew.

　　[Explanation] Ms. Ao, who works in an advertising company in Guangzhou, is a native of Hong Kong. Due to work reasons, she often travels between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

She is very excited about the resumption of the high-speed rail between Guangdong and Hong Kong and the addition of Guangzhou East Station.

　　[Concurrent] Passenger Ms. Ao

　　The main reason for my return to Hong Kong this time is to visit relatives and have business meetings.

I am very happy to take the first train today, from Guangzhou East Station to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.

Because it is very convenient, it saves 30 minutes than I went to Guangzhou South Railway Station.

It is very convenient for those of us (Guangdong and Hong Kong) who travel frequently between the two places. For me, it is easier for me to achieve the "one-hour living circle" in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area at work.

　　[Explanation] Guangzhou East Railway Station is located in the center of Guangzhou. The opening of the high-speed rail from Guangzhou East Railway Station to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station (hereinafter referred to as: Guangzhou-Kowloon Direct High-Speed ​​Railway) is an important measure to improve passengers' travel by car.

After the opening of the Guangzhou-Kowloon through high-speed railway, the fastest running time of the whole journey is 1 hour and 37 minutes, which is about 23 minutes shorter than the original Guangzhou-Kowloon through train.

Ms. Fang, who has not been back to Hong Kong for a year, specially chose to take the first train today. She believes that the opening of the Guangzhou-Kowloon high-speed rail has provided great convenience for the exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland.

　　[Concurrent] Traveler Ms. Fang

　　I believe that everyone is in the same mood as I am looking forward to the opening of the (Guangzhou-Kowloon through) high-speed rail, and then the transportation between Hong Kong and the mainland will become more and more convenient.

For example (before) it took two hours to go to Hong Kong by the Guangzhou-Kowloon Railway, but now the high-speed rail can be faster.

So I believe that more and more Hong Kong compatriots are willing to travel to the mainland, and they are also welcome to come to Hong Kong to experience life after the epidemic and eat some delicious food.

　　[Explanation] The reporter saw at the scene that the windows of the Guangzhou-Kowloon high-speed rail train were pasted with various window grilles. The staff on duty decorated the dining car and set up a punch-in message wall. The flavor of the year overflows the car.

　　[Explanation] The first high-speed train from Guangzhou East Station to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station went smoothly, but the first high-speed train from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Guangzhou East Station was a few minutes earlier than expected.

Yang Meizhen, Director of Hong Kong Passenger Services of the MTR Corporation, and several members of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region appeared at Guangzhou East Railway Station. They had just experienced the whole process of taking the high-speed train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou East Station.

　　[Concurrent] Yang Meizhen, Director of Hong Kong Passenger Services, MTR Corporation

　　We are really very happy today, because the high-speed rail (Hong Kong section) is back in service, very excited.

A historic moment has also been completed just now, that is, the (high-speed rail) departs from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Guangzhou East Station.

We arrived at Guangzhou East Railway Station very smoothly.

　　[Concurrent] Hong Kong SAR Legislative Council Member Chen Shaoxiong

　　I saw that many facilities are relatively new and more convenient for passengers.

Including that we don't need to use the paper tickets of the past, we only need to use the "Home Return Permit" (Hong Kong and Macau residents travel to and from the Mainland) to enter the gate, and in addition, we can pass the customs with fingerprints in the Hong Kong section. relatively smooth.

　　[Explanation] It is worth mentioning that after the opening of the Guangzhou-Kowloon High-speed Railway, the customs clearance mode of "one place, two inspections" will be adopted, which further optimizes the customs clearance process compared with the previous "two places, two inspections" mode, and it is expected to save about 20 minutes for customs clearance time.

　　[Explanation] According to reports, at the beginning of the operation, the railway department arranged 6 pairs of high-speed rail trains to travel between Guangzhou East and Hong Kong West Kowloon every day. In the future, according to the passenger flow situation, the operation plan of cross-border high-speed rail trains will be optimized and adjusted in due course.

　　(Reporter He Junjie from Guangzhou)

Editor in charge: [Fang Jialiang]