Shenzhen mulls maglev train to H.K

Asian Economic News, June 11, 2001

HONG KONG, June 4 Kyodo

Shenzhen Mayor Yu Youjun has indicated his government is considering the possibility of building a magnetically levitated train between the Chinese special economic zone and neighboring Hong Kong, Beijing-backed newspapers in Hong Kong reported Monday.

Yu reportedly told a press conference on the sidelines of gatherings of senior officials from 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum group in Shenzhen on Sunday that the study also includes a possible maglev train link among Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

If implemented, the train trip between Hong Kong and Shenzhen would shorten to just 15 minutes, Yu was quoted as saying by the newspaper Ta Kung Pao. Travel time now is about 50 minutes.

A maglev train can travel faster than conventional trains because it floats on a magnetic field that eliminates wheel friction at high speeds.

Reacting to the news reports, a spokeswoman for the Hong Kong government's Transport Bureau declined to confirm whether Hong Kong authorities have had discussions with Shenzhen on the idea.

But the spokeswoman said the Hong Kong government pays attention to the development of various railway technologies, including maglev trains, and is open-minded about their application.

''The government will keep in view these technologies and at an appropriate time may consider the possibility of introducing such technologies,'' the spokeswoman said.

She added the Hong Kong government has been in close contact with railway authorities in China on the development of rail networks between the two regions.

The Hong Kong government is investing HK$200 billion (US$25.7 billion) to expand its railway networks until 2016, which will include strengthening the territory's connections with other parts of China, the spokeswoman said.