ENG-2011 — Page 312

268 Transport

cross-boundary passenger traffic by rail, road and ferry increased by about 5 per cent, reaching 597 000 passengers a day.

Rail Crossings

At present, there are two rail-based boundary crossings in Hong Kong at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau. The Lo Wu crossing into the Mainland operates daily between 6.30 am and midnight. In 2011, it handled an average of 254 000 passengers a day, and more than 374 000 on a festive day.

The crossing at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line operates between 6.30 am and 10.30 pm daily. Cross-boundary travellers can reach this crossing either by rail or designated local public transport. In 2011, the East Rail (Lok Ma Chau Spur Line) handled an average of about 50 700 passengers daily, and more than 82 900 travellers on a festive day.

Cross-boundary travellers may also take the MTR Intercity through-trains to the Mainland from Hunghom. In 2011, a daily average of 10 700 travellers made the crossing in through-trains.

Road Crossings

Four road crossings between Hong Kong and the Mainland are open daily for goods and travellers. These are at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok crossings and at the Shenzhen Bay Port. The Lok Ma Chau crossing operates round-the-clock. The Sha Tau Kok and Man Kam To crossings are open from 7 am to 10 pm, while the Shenzhen Bay Port crossing is open from 6.30 am to midnight.

The passenger clearance area at Wenjindu Port in Shenzhen is closed for reconstruction but clearance for cargoes and for students crossing the boundary to attend school in Hong Kong, has been maintained. Coach operators run six coach round trips between Sheung Shui and Wenjindu Port during morning and evening peak hours each day.

The daily average number of vehicle trips recorded at the Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok crossings and Shenzhen Bay Port during the year was 26 600, 4 200, 2 400 and 9 500 respectively, and the daily average number of travellers using these crossings was 86 000, 500, 8 500 and 68 600 respectively. Travellers cross the boundary in cross-boundary coaches most of the time. There are also shuttle buses at the Lok Ma Chau crossing, plying between Huanggang in Shenzhen and the public transport interchange at San Tin, while travellers using the Shenzhen Bay Port may use the local public transport services there.

In 2011, about 120 companies operated cross-boundary coach services, carrying an average of about 68 100 passengers a day. The shuttle bus service at Lok Ma Chau carried a daily average of about 26 600 passengers and the designated local public transport services at Shenzhen Bay Port carried an average of 42 200 passengers a day.