Randy GlucksmN viaits Hong Kong

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daveklepper

Member since
June 2002
20,096 posts

Randy GlucksmN viaits Hong Kong

Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, January 21, 2018 10:12 PM

Hi:

We are presently in Bali, having arrived here from Hong Kong last night. The flight was just over five hours (2,125 miles).

In Hong Kong the MTR operates the city’s rail system and it is a fabulous one at that. Our trip was not for the sole purpose of riding all of Hong Kong’s rail system, so for those of you who have been here, please don’t think less of me that I did not ride every line.

The first two photos were taken after getting off the Victoria Peak Tramway which opened in 1888 and is now into its fifth generation of rolling stock, and show HK and the “actual” Victoria Peak. One example of their earlier cars is preserved on their property and is used as a tourist office.

On Hong Kong Island one finds their famous double-deck trams. All are wrapped in advertising. Having earlier in the trip purchased Octopus fare payment cards for “concession” fares (persons over age 65) the cost of each ride was HK$110 (US$ 0.14). Regular fares are HK$2.30.

Service began in 1904 according to sources on the Internet there are 163 cars in the fleet. The highest numbered car that I saw was #173, so there some missing cars.

Cars operate frequently and I don’t believe that there are any timetables because often as many as 3 or 4 cars will show up at once. After boarding we went to the upper level and found that the first seats were available. Naturally there is no PTC or any signal system so at traffic lights cars stop literally within inches of each other. During our ride there were no accidental bumps. The photo below show how close the cars can come to each other. Could you pass the Grey Poupon?

Here are some views of these famous cars.

All of the MTR network that we rode has full screen doors in underground stations or partial screen doors on the outside stations, except for the East Rail Line, so photography was limited, but in no way restricted.

Every train has the “open seating” style, a great idea in my opinion.

Next stop, Singapore, later this week.

Regards,

Randy

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