Airport Express (MTR)

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Airport Express
An Airport Express train
An Airport Express train
leer KBFa
AsiaWorld-Expo
FLUG BHF
Airport
leer WBRÜCKE
leer HLUECKE KRZt tSTRlg
- Tung Chung Line
leer leer STR TUNNELe
leer leer ABZrg STRrf
leer leer ABZlf STRlg
leer leer STR DST
Siu Ho Wan Depot
leer leer ABZrg STRrf
STRrg ABZ3rg ABZrf leer
LUECKE LUECKE DST leer
Sunny Bay Emergency Platform
LUECKE STRlf ABZlg leer
- Disneyland Resort Line
leer WBRÜCKE
Kap Shui Mun Bridge
leer WBRÜCKE1
Tsing Ma Bridge
leer TUNNEL1
STRrg ABZrf
CPICl CPICr
Tsing Yi (Tung Chung Line)
WBRÜCKE WBRÜCKE
Tsing Lai Bridge
LUECKE TUNNEL1
LUECKE STR
- Tung Chung Line
leer TUNNELa TUNNELa exLUECKE
- Kowloon Southern Link
leer tCPICl tCPICm texCPICr
Kowloon (Tung Chung Line,
leer tSTRlf tABZlg exLUECKE
West Rail Line)
leer tWASSER
LUECKE leer tABZlf tSTRlg
- Island Line
tCPICl tCPICma tCPICme tCPICre
Hong Kong (Island Line,
tSTR tSTR leer leer
Tsuen Wan Line, Tung Chung Line)
tSTR LUECKE leer leer
- Tsuen Wan Line
LUECKE leer leer leer
- Island Line
Airport Express
Traditional Chinese: 機場快綫
Simplified Chinese: 机场快线

The Airport Express is one of the ten MTR lines in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, providing the only train service between Hong Kong International Airport and the urban areas of Hong Kong.

Contents

The line runs from Hong Kong Station in the Central and Western District, through West Kowloon and the southwestern New Territories, to AsiaWorld-Expo station, located adjacent to Hong Kong International Airport.

Unlike all other MTR lines, the Airport Express is not primarily a commuter line. Instead, it provides express service for passengers using the Hong Kong International Airport (Airport Station) or for visitors to AsiaWorld-Expo (AsiaWorld-Expo Station). The line is not part of the MTR fare system, and its fare is much higher than any other MTR lines.

If used as a commuter line, the "Morning Express Service", is a special offer in which passengers can travel from Kowloon or Tsing Yi Stations to Hong Kong Station between 0700-1000 for only HK$20.

With the opening of Sunny Bay Station on the adjacent Tung Chung Line in June 2005, the total journey time between the Airport and Hong Kong Stations increased to 24 minutes, up from 23 at the beginning of the line's operation in 1998. With the opening of AsiaWorld-Expo, Airport Express was extended to AsiaWorld-Expo Station on 20th December, 2005. The complete journey time has been extended to 28 minutes, without affecting the journey time between Hong Kong Station and Airport Station.

The line is indicated in the colour teal.

The line runs mostly beside (sometimes directly on) the tracks of Tung Chung Line, but has its own tracks and platforms at stations, as well as diverting itself towards the Airport at the outskirts of Tung Chung town.

A sign showing the direction to the Airport Express platform in the Hong Kong station
A sign showing the direction to the Airport Express platform in the Hong Kong station

In October 1989, the Hong Kong government decided to replace the over-crowded Kai Tak Airport, located in Kowloon, with a new airport to be constructed at Chek Lap Kok. The government also invited the MTR, then called the MTRC, to build an express line to the airport called the Lantau Airport Railway. The project did not begin until the Chinese government and the British government settled financial and land disagreements in November 1994.

The Lantau Airport Railway turned into two MTR lines: the Tung Chung Line and the Airport Express. The Airport Express began service on 6 July 1998, along with the new Hong Kong International Airport.

The Airport Express features a more comfortable environment than the MTR's other operations and are designed specifically for airline passengers. There is a baggage hold beside each door, each seat is equipped with in-seat loudspeakers for listening to current news, advertisements and announcements showing on the LCD television in front of the seats. The Airport Express has a more spacious environment and more passenger-friendly compartments and stations.

Currently, Airport Express passengers can check-in for flights and receive boarding passes for flights at the Hong Kong and Kowloon Stations, with no extra cost. However, this is not applicable to some minor airlines and flights to the United States.

There are free Airport Express shuttle bus services at the Hong Kong and Kowloon Stations, travelling to several major hotels in Hong Kong Island, Yau Tsim Mong District, and also the Hung Hom KCR station.

Free porter service is also available at all stations except AsiaWorld-Expo to help passengers with baggage.

Fares for the Airport Express are substantially higher than main line fares. Single trips from the Hong Kong, Kowloon and Tsing Yi Stations to Airport Station (and vice-versa) cost HK$100, HK$90 and HK$60 respectively. Apart from single tickets, same-day return tickets (same price as a single), and one-month return tickets are also available. Some of these tickets are available from all MTR stations and MTR online booking service.

As of December 2005, a trip on the Airport Express from Hong Kong Station to the Airport or AsiaWorld-Expo Station costs HK$100, $50 concessionary rate. The rate for a one-month return ticket is HK$180. Discounts are available for group travellers of 2-4. Hong Kong residents can also obtain discount coupons, such as those sent from credit card companies.

Same-day return discount will be given to Octopus Card users who have stayed in AsiaWorld-Expo for at least 2 hours. The discounted fare costs HK$72 from Hong Kong Station, and includes free connection to other MTR lines. A single-trip from Airport to AsiaWorld-expo station is HK$5.

For the convenience of Airport passengers, the Airport Station does not have any turnstiles or gate barriers separating the paid and unpaid zones of the station.

Airport Express passengers using Octopus cards can connect the MTR urban lines for free, right before or after the Airport Express journey.

There are various promotions as well, such as Group Ticket Discount, free taxi connections, Rewarding program, Asia Miles program, etc. Passengers may also buy discounted tickets from some local travel agents.

Due the high fare of the Airport Express, some passengers who wish to travel more cheaply to the airport choose to use the cheaper, local Tung Chung Line combined with a bus route instead or solely by the Cityflyer services provided by Citybus.

This is a special promotional service, allowing passengers from Tsing Yi and Kowloon stations travel to Hong Kong Station on weekday mornings at a discounted fare.

MTR Airport Express and Tung Chung Line route map. (drawn in scale)
MTR Airport Express and Tung Chung Line route map. (drawn in scale)

This is a list of all the stations on the Airport Express.

Name District Connection(s) Date opened
Airport Express
AsiaWorld-Expo Islands December 20, 2005
Airport July 6, 1998
Tsing Yi Kwai Tsing Tung Chung Line
Kowloon Yau Tsim Mong
Hong Kong Central and Western Tung Chung Line
Central Station for Tsuen Wan Line and Island Line

Interior of the MTR Airport Express Train.
Interior of the MTR Airport Express Train.

The Airport Express line is served by 184 Bombardier Metro cars. [1]

Both of the "airport bus" companies offer lower prices but trips take longer

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