Hong Kong Tramways

Hong Kong Tramways 香港電車
A typical HKT double-decker tram
Overview
Locale	Hong Kong
Transit type	Tramway
Number of lines	1
Number of stations	120
Daily ridership	180,000 (2015)
Website	hktramways.com
Operation
Began operation	30 July 1904 (1904-07-30)
Operator(s)	RATP Dev Transdev Asia
Number of vehicles	165
Technical
System length	Mainline: 13.3 km (8.3 mi) Happy Valley Loop: 2.6 km (1.6 mi) Total Track Length: 30 km (19 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	550 V DC (Overhead line, collected by a single trolley pole)
System map Kennedy Town Terminus Davis Street Smithfield North Street Sands Street Holland Street Kennedy Town Praya Queen's Road West Hill Road Shek Tong Tsui Terminus Whitty Street Whitty Street Depot Water Street Western Street Eastern Street Sutherland Street Queen Street Connaught Road West Macau Ferry Terminal Western Market Terminus Hillier Street Man Wah Lane Gilman Street Jubilee Street Pottinger Street Pedder Street Ice House Street Bank Street Murray Road Cotton Tree Drive Admiralty MTR Station Arsenal Street Fenwick Street Gresson Street Luard Road Swatow Street O'Brien Road Fleming Road Burrows Street Tonnochy Road Tin Lok Lane Canal Road West Sharp Street East Depot Morrison Hill Road Foo Ming Street Queen's Road East Leighton Road Hong Kong Cemetery Broadwood Road Happy Valley Terminus Wong Nai Chung Road Percival Street Paterson Street Pennington Street Causeway Bay Terminus Shelter Street Victoria Park Hing Fat Street Lau Sin Street Lau Li Street Wing Hing Street Jupiter Street Fortress Hill Chun Yeung Street North Point Road North Point Terminus Shu Kuk Street North Point Depot Tin Chiu Street Healthy Street West Healthy Street East Java Road Finnie Street Mount Parker Road Shipyard Lane Kornhill Tai Koo Shing Road Tai Hong Street Tai On Street Holy Cross Path Hoi Foo Street Sai Wan Ho Depot Sun Sing Street Nam Hong Street Chai Wan Road Shau Kei Wan Terminus

Hong Kong Tramways (HKT) is a 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow-gauge tram system in Hong Kong. Owned and operated by RATP Dev, the tramway runs on Hong Kong Island between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan, with a branch circulating through Happy Valley.

Hong Kong's tram system is one of the earliest forms of public transport in the metropolis, having opened in 1904 under British rule. It has used electric trams since its inauguration, and has never used horse or steam power. It owns the world's largest operational double-decker tram fleet, and is a very rare example of a tram system that uses them exclusively. In addition to being used by commuters, the system is popular with tourists, and is one of the most environmentally friendly ways of travelling in the city.

History

Trams crossing Bowrington Canal (now covered by Canal Road East and Canal Road West) in the 1920s

A tram in Central in 1942 during the Japanese occupation. The text in the background reads "First anniversary of reborn Hong Kong".

New tram driving panels were introduced in 2007

In 1881, Hon. F. Bulkeley Johnson, with the support of Ng Choy, proposed a Bill for the construction of a tramway system in Hong Kong. The following year, the Hong Kong Government published the preliminary Tramways Ordinance, which included six tramlines. However, the focus was primarily on the Peak Tram, which was of greater interest to the government and business interests residing on Victoria Peak, leading to the neglect of the tram proposal along Hong Kong Island.

Between 1883 and 1888, the population of Hong Kong increased from 173,475 to 215,800. The government hoped that the tram system would provide quick access to all areas of Victoria and reduce dependence on chair coolies. The Bill underwent several readings and was finally passed on May 23, 1902, as the Tramways Ordinance (No. 10 of 1902).

In 1902, the Hong Kong Tramway Electric Company Limited was founded in London and came under the control of the Electric Traction Company of Hong Kong Limited by the end of the year. Track construction began in stages from Happy Valley, Causeway Bay to Shau Kei Wan in September 1903, and was connected westbound to Arsenal Street by August 1904. Regular tram service commenced on July 30, 1904, with twenty-six single-deck cars delivered in sections and assembled in the depot. These cars included ten combination cars with enclosed saloons and open ends and platforms, and sixteen crossbench cars. Fares for first and third class were ten cents and five cents respectively, with preferential fares for workers on workmen’s cars from 1904 to 1909.

In 1910, the company name was changed to “Hong Kong Tramway Company Limited.” Due to increasing ridership, ten double-deckers were introduced in 1912, featuring an open-top design with destination boxes and reversible seats on the upper deck. By 1913, open-top cars were fitted with canvas roofs for wet weather protection, and the first dividend was paid by HKT for the year 1912. The Happy Valley track was extended by 600 yards.

In 1914, the London Board was disbanded and replaced by a Hong Kong Board with local Directors. In 1922, HKT stopped generating its own electricity and obtained its supply from the Hong Kong Electric Company. The company name was changed to “Hong Kong Tramways Limited” (HKT). Wooden roofs were progressively fitted on tramcars in 1923, and double track construction between Causeway Bay and Shau Kei Wan commenced in 1924. Enclosed double-decker trams with a new green livery were introduced in 1925, along with a waiting room for first-class passengers.

In 1927, sided indicators were fitted on tramcars, and in 1928, HKT commenced operation on island and Kowloon buses. The Shau Kei Wan loop was put into service in 1929. The North Point Depot was under construction in 1932 and completed in 1938. Refuge islands were introduced at some busy tram stops in 1934 to increase passenger safety. Tram fares were reduced in 1936 to compete with buses, and during Coronation week in 1937, a million ridership was carried. Air brakes were fitted on tramcars in 1939.

During the Japanese occupation in 1941, limited service was provided, with one single-decker used for freight transport. Service was suspended in 1944 due to a fuel shortage. After the occupation, only 15 tramcars were operational out of 112. By October 1945, 40 tramcars were back in daytime service only. Tram service gradually resumed, with flat fares of 20 cents for first class and 10 cents for third class. The relaying of double track at Causeway Bay began in 1948, and in 1949, Car 120, the first new design constructed by HKT, entered service. The last single-track was replaced by double-track, and annual ridership exceeded 100 million.

In 1950, HKT rebuilt the entire fleet in collaboration with Taikoo Dockyard. The Russell Street Depot was rebuilt and renamed Sharp Street Depot in 1951. The Causeway Bay loop was closed in 1953, and the new North Point terminus was put into use. The first official route map was printed for passengers in 1954, and the North Point Depot was closed in 1955. New resilient wheels from Sweden were introduced in 1956 to improve riding quality. By 1959, all cars had half-drop windows for the driver.

Tram service was suspended under typhoon Ellen in 1961. The first single-deck prototype trailer was introduced in 1964, and the first tram overturned accident occurred. In 1965, ten additional trailers were ordered from the UK, designed to serve first-class passengers only. Service was limited to North Point due to the gradient at Taikoo Hill. A trolley reverser was installed at Causeway Road for emergency purposes in 1966. The last trailer built by HKT was withdrawn in 1978.

In 1969, a few experimental liveries were tested on tramcars. Female conductors were introduced in 1971. Class distinction was abolished in 1972, and passengers boarded at the rear and paid as they left (PAYL). HKT was acquired by The Wharf (Holdings) in 1974. The first full-body adverts were applied on trams in 1975. Fareboxes were installed at each tram front exit, and rotating turnstiles were fitted at the rear entrance in 1976. Trams were operated in one-man-operation (OMO), and conductors were no longer needed and shifted to become motormen.

Tram no.163, rebuilt from trailer 1, entered service in 1979. Trailers were withdrawn from service in 1982. Route maps were introduced on tram stops in 1983. Car 12 was exported for Expo’ 86 in 1985. Tram refurbishment began in 1986, and the first tour tram No.28 was launched. The second tour tram No.128 was launched in 1987. The Sharp Street Depot was closed in 1989, and new depots were relocated at Whitty Street and Sai Wan Ho. Trial runs on overnight service began in 1990. A new built tram 120 replaced the 1949 prototype in 1991. Two HKT-built double-decker tramcars were exported to the Wirral Tramway in Birkenhead, England, in 1992. Points automation was introduced in place of points men’s cabins.

In 1993, HKT built two maximum traction bogies for testing. Testing of pantographs on trams began in 1994. Double platforms were introduced at the Happy Valley terminus in 1995. The final year of The Most Attractive Tram Ads Competition was in 1997. Coloured destination blinds were introduced in 1998. HKT launched new “Millennium” trams designed and manufactured by its own engineering team on October 24, 2000. The Octopus electronic smart card payment system was introduced on trams in 2001. HKT celebrated 100 years of service in 2004. Route maps were reinstalled at each tram stop, and new tram driving panels were introduced on November 7, 2007. Air conditioning was installed on tour tram 128 in 2008.

In 2009, a 50% stake and operating rights were obtained by Veolia Transport RATP Asia (now RATP Dev Transdev Asia), followed by full ownership in 2010. HKT launched Signature trams on November 28, 2011, featuring a combination of modern interior design and traditional outlook with LED displays, stops reporting, and AC motors. The “NexTram” passenger info system was launched in 2012. HKT proposed a modern light rail system for East Kowloon as a cheaper alternative to monorail in 2013. HKT celebrated 110 years of service in 2014. Following the opening of the West Island line of the MTR, daily tramway ridership dropped 10% to 180,000 in 2015. HKT provided real-time estimated time of arrival data to Citymapper in 2016, becoming the first transport operator in Hong Kong to do so. The first sightseeing car was launched in January, and the first air-conditioned car in June 2016.

In 2017, HKT rebranded with a new logo, new livery, and new map. The fourth party tram was launched in 2018. HKT celebrated 115 years of service with a series of events in 2019, including the introduction of the Bright Ring Tram. Day running lights were introduced on trams in 2020 for better night service, and Ding Ding Cat was employed as the tram ambassador. HKT achieved the Guinness World Record for the “Largest double-decker tram fleet in service” in 2021. A total of 10 fare free days were organized in 2022 with favorable responses, and new fares were applied on July 11. In 2024, HKT celebrated 120 years of service.

Practical information

Hong Kong Tramways
Traditional Chinese	香港電車
Simplified Chinese	香港电车
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xiānggǎng diànchē Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Hēung góng dihn chē Jyutping Hoeng1 gong2 din 6ce1 IPA hœ̂ːŋkɔ̌ːŋ tìːn tsʰɛ́ː

• Fare – HK$3.00 (aged 12 or above), HK$1.5 (children aged 3 to 11/ general seniors aged 65 or above), HK$1.3 (elderly Hong Kong residents with JoyYou card aged 65 or above)
• Operating hours – 5:30 am to 12:30 am
• Total length – 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) (Track length 30 kilometres (19 mi))

On average, the headway between each tram departure is approximately 1.5 minutes during peak hours. The maximum capacity of each tram is 115 people. Previously, the average tram speed was around 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph). Since early 2008, the speed of the trams was increased. The tram's general speed is currently around 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph). Most of the trams have a maximum speed of more than 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph), while some have a maximum speed of 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph). Hong Kong people informally call the tramway the "Ding Ding" and the trams as "Ding Dings", in reference to the double-bell ring used by the trams to warn pedestrians of their approach. Relative to buses and the subway system, trams are often the cheapest public transportation option.

Fares

As of 8th August 2024, HKT fares are HK$3.0 for adults, HK$1.5 for children and elderly, and HK$1.3 for HK JoyYou cardholder senior citizens. Unlike most forms of public transport in Hong Kong, HKT fares are uniform regardless of the distance travelled. There is also an option for monthly tickets, which cost HK$260 are sold at the Shek Tong Tsui, Causeway Bay, and North Point termini at the end of each month.

Passengers pay upon alighting by either depositing the exact fare in coins into the farebox, with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, JCB and UnionPay), mobile wallet e.g. Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay or using an Octopus card. Turnstiles at the tram entrances and closed-circuit television are installed to prevent fare evasion by passengers.

Tourist services

Tramcar No. 128

Sightseeing tours are available on antique-style tramcar No. 68, which has an open balcony and a historical exhibit on board. Sightseeing tram boarding and alighting take place at the sightseeing tour termini: Western Market and Causeway Bay.

Standard tramcars and antique-style, open-balcony tramcars No. 18, No. 28, No. 68, and No. 128 are available for private charter. Charter tram boarding and alighting take place at Whitty Street Depot, except for premium charter tramcar No. 18; its boarding and alighting takes place at Western Market Terminus.

Routes and stops

Network diagram

The trams run on a double-track tram line built parallel to the northern coastline of Hong Kong Island from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan, with a single clockwise-running track of about 3 km (1.9 mi) around the Happy Valley Racecourse.

A broken-down tram may result in serious traffic congestion.

There are six overlapping routes:

• Kennedy Town ↔ Happy Valley
• Kennedy Town ↔ Shau Kei Wan
• Shek Tong Tsui ↔ Causeway Bay
• Shek Tong Tsui ↔ North Point
• Western Market ↔ Shau Kei Wan
• Happy Valley ↔ Shau Kei Wan

HKT currently has around 120 tram stops, including its seven termini. The termini, from west to east, are Kennedy Town, Shek Tong Tsui, Western Market, Happy Valley, Causeway Bay, North Point, and Shau Kei Wan. The stops are densely located, with an average interval of 250 metres (820 ft) between them. Several tram stops are located in the middle of the road on sheltered refugee islands, which are accessed by pedestrian crossings or footbridges. Track crossovers near the Davis Street, Eastern Street, Pedder Street, Admiralty MTR station, Gresson Street, Victoria Park, North Point Road, and Mount Parker Road stops are used in emergency situations, such as en-route traffic accidents. The majority of HKT stops have remained unchanged since their establishment, but some have had name changes. The Pedder Street stop was previously named Shu Shun Kwun (書信館), which referred to a now-demolished former General Post Office building.

Most of the tram stops have dedicated platforms, albeit narrow, for passengers to wait for trams. However, 6 stops, namely Kennedy Town Praya, Hong Kong Cemetery, Wong Nai Chung Road, Nam Hong Street, Chai Wan Road, and the alighting stop of Shau Kei Wan Terminus, have no dedicated platforms and are instead located in the middle of the roadway. Passengers need to cross lanes for motor vehicles to board or alight from trams. Drivers of motor vehicles must stop behind the yellow 'stop' line at such stations and give way to pedestrians crossing to or from the tram, and must wait until there are no more passengers getting on or off the tram.

• Hong Kong Tramways termini
• 
  Kennedy Town Terminus
• 
  Shek Tong Tsui Terminus
• 
  Western Market Terminus
• 
  Happy Valley Terminus
• 
  Causeway Bay Terminus
• 
  North Point Terminus
• 
  Shau Kei Wan Terminus

Interchanges

Admiralty station (platform pictured) is one of several MTR stations accessible from the tramway.

The Island line of the MTR is roughly parallel to the tram line between the Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan termini. Some sections of MTR tunnels are built directly under roads with tram tracks. Many HKT stops are near MTR stations.

Ferry terminals can be accessed from the tram line via footbridges, such as the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal and the Central Ferry Piers. The latter contains Star Ferry Pier, which is one of the stops for the Star Ferry.

Fleet

HKT has a rare fully double-decker tram fleet. As of 2014, HKT owned 165 double-axle, double-decker trams. There are three maintenance-only trams (No. 200, No. 300, and No. 400) that operate after regular tram service has stopped. The trams are equipped with sliding windows and almost all have full-body advertisements.

Fleet list and details

Make/model	Description	Fleet size	Year acquired	Year retired	Notes	Photographs
Dick, Kerr & Co of Preston, England (No. 1–16, No. 27–36), and Electric Railway & Tramway Works of Preston (a Dick Kerr subsidiary) (No. 1–16) first batch of third class tramcars (No. 17–26) first class tramcars (No. 27–36) second batch of third class tramcars	Single-deck tramcars – wood	36 (reduced to 18 in 1912–1913, and further to 14 in 1923)	1904–1905	1935
United Electric Car Company of Preston, England, and Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Co of Kowloon (No. 37–46) first batch double-decker tramcars	Double-decker trams – wood	28 (10 as new, 18 rebuilt from single-deck tramcars)	1912–1913	1924 (all were converted into fixed-roof trams)	Open balcony (fitted with canvas roof during bad weather)
English Electric of Preston, England, and Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Co of Kowloon (No. 47–62) new-build canvas-roof tramcars (No. 63–80) fixed wood-roof tramcars	Double-decker trams – wood	48 (44 as new, 4 rebuilt from single-deck tramcars; canvas-roof tramcars also rebuilt with fixed wooden roof)	1923–1924	1935 (pre–1920 bodies; others converted to fully enclosed tramcars)	First 16 new tramcars fitted with canvas roof; others fitted with fixed wooden roof
HKT, Hong Kong – fully enclosed tramcars (prewar design)	Double-decker trams – wood	119 (57 as new, 62 were rebuilt from existing fleet)	1925–1949	1955	62 trams were converted from 14 single-deck trams and 48 canvas-roof and wood-roof trams
HKT, Hong Kong – postwar tramcars (1949, 1950s design)	Double-decker trams – aluminium panels, teak frame	163 (43 as new, 1 rebuilt in 1979 from non-powered trailer No. 1; others rebuilt from existing fleet)	1949 (original No. 120), 1950–1964 (No. 121–162), 1979 (No. 163)	1992
HKT, Hong Kong – refurbished postwar tramcars, tramcars with 1987 design (current design)	Double-decker trams – aluminium panels, teak frame	160 – No. 120 (rebuilt in 1990s based on 1950s design) and rest from the 1980s (No. 1–27, No. 29–43, No. 45–119, No. 121–127, No. 129–143, No. 145–163, No. 165–166)	Rebuilt from 1986, 1987–1992	1991 (refurbished postwar tramcars)	Tramcar No. 120 is distinguished by its green-coloured interior, teak-lined windows, and rattan seats. The interior of the No. 50 tramcar displayed at the Hong Kong Museum of History (different from the No. 50 tramcar currently in service) has a similar appearance.
HKT, Hong Kong – Millennium	Double-decker trams – aluminium alloy	4 (only 3 in service) – No. 168–171	2000	2023 (No. 171)	Tramcar No. 168 was modified into a Signature prototype car in 2011, No. 171 (different from the No. 171 tramcar currently in service) was a prototype air-conditioned tramcar which was never in service
HKT, Hong Kong – trailer tramcars	Passenger single-deck tramcars – aluminium alloy, (No. 1 – aluminium panels, teak frame)	22	1964, 1965–1966	1982 (except No. 1, which was rebuilt as double-decker tramcar No. 163)	Non-powered trailers
HKT, Hong Kong – work tramcar	Single-deck tramcar	1 – No. 200 (first generation)	1956	1984
HKT, Hong Kong – work tramcars	Double-decker trams	3 – No. 200, No. 300, and No. 400	1997 (No. 200), 2007 (No. 300), 2013 (No. 400)	2023	Tramcar No. 300 runs on electricity and also a diesel motor
HKT, Hong Kong – private hire tramcars	Antique-style double-decker trams – aluminium panels, teak frame	2 – No. 28 and No. 128 (rebuilt from postwar tramcars No. 59 and No. 119)	1985, 1987		Private charter only
HKT, Hong Kong – first batch of VVVF drive vehicle	Double-decker trams – aluminium alloy, (No. 172 – prototype, aluminium panels, teak frame)	91 – No. 1, No. 3, No. 5, No. 11–14, No. 19, No. 21-23, No. 29, No. 32, No. 35–36, No. 39–43, No. 45-49, No. 52, No. 54-60, No. 64-66, No. 69–70, No. 73-74, No. 77, No. 79-80, No. 88-89, No. 93–95, No. 98–103, No. 105-106, No. 108–109, No. 115–119, No. 122, No. 126, No. 129, No. 132–133, No. 136-137, No. 140-141, No. 143, No. 146, No. 148-149, No. 153–158, No. 162, No. 165, No. 168-169, No. 171–175	2009–present		Exterior of body based on 1987-cars, but with Millennium tramcars interior, fitted with LED destination display. "Bright Ring" trams No. 14, No. 39, No. 57, No. 89, No. 102 and No. 119 have LED panels installed on the sides.
HKT, Hong Kong – sightseeing tramcar	Antique-style double-decker tram – aluminium alloy	1 – No. 68	2016		1920s design; used for sightseeing tours
HKT, Hong Kong – first air-conditioned commuter vehicle "Pilot Cooler Tram"	Double-decker trams – aluminium alloy	1 – No. 88	2016		Three months trial service from 6 June 2016; first HKT commuter tram with air-conditioning installed
HKT, Hong Kong, and Circus Limited, Hong Kong – premium private hire tramcar	Antique-style double-decker tram – aluminium alloy	1 – No. 18	2018		Amenities include three separate themed rooms, air conditioning, and an on-board restroom.

Note: Generally, there are no specific/official generation categories on tramcars. Many of the trams in one generation were simply modifications of the previous, such as open-balcony tramcars fitted with canvas roofs and then wooden roofs. The term "generation" should only apply to the new designs.

Service fleet

• Mitsubishi Fuso Canter overhead cable maintenance vehicle No. 6016.
• Temporary truck stand used for raising tram bodies and frames when trucks are removed for maintenance; it has small wheels that allow it to move around the depot.

Depots

Current depots

Whitty Street Depot

Whitty Street Depot, which opened on 27 May 1989 and is located in Shek Tong Tsui, is the main depot for current operations and trams overhaul. It previously operated as a terminus. When the Sharp Street Depot was closed in 1989, the site was expanded by 1.28 hectares (3.2 acres). It has a two-storey workshop with capacity of over 100 trams.

Sai Wan Ho Depot opened on 28 April 1989 and occupies a site of 0.7 hectares (1.7 acres) leased from the government on a 5-year renewable tenancy. It lies beneath the Island Eastern Corridor near Shau Kei Wan Road and Hoi Foo Street. It has a capacity of over 60 trams and is for parking purpose only.

Defunct depots

A single, comprehensive depot at Russell Street in Causeway Bay was the only depot of the system from 1904. It was able to house the whole tram fleet (approximately 120 tramcars). By 1932, Russell Street Depot became overcrowded due to an upsurge in the number of trams, prompting HKT to build North Point Depot at King's Road for tram parking purposes (storage for 30 tramcars). Russell Street Depot was later expanded and renamed Sharp Street Depot. North Point Depot closed in 1951; its former location is now the site of the Healthy Gardens complex. In July 1986, the Executive Council approved HKT's plan to establish new depots at Shek Tong Tsui and Sai Wan Ho. HKT claimed that $3.5 million in operating costs would be saved. HKT promised that fares would be unchanged until the end of 1988. Sharp Street Depot was closed on 20 March 1989. The site is now occupied by the Times Square complex.

Projects

Current projects

In 2010, HKT appointed a consultancy firm to investigate the feasibility of constructing a 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) modern tramway system in the Kai Tak Development, built on the vacated site of the former Kai Tak Airport, in place of the Environmentally Friendly Linkage System monorail proposed by the Hong Kong Government. A proposal was submitted to the Development Bureau on 29 April 2013. HKT pointed out that the cost of constructing the proposed tram system is $2.8 billion, which is less than the $12 billion needed for a monorail system. Possible extensions to neighbouring places such as To Kwa Wan, Kowloon City, and Kwun Tong were suggested. Bruno Charrade, managing director of HKT, said that the new system's tramcars could be designed to resemble their Hong Kong Island counterparts or have a totally new design, depending on the government's discretion.

Beginning in 2011, the entire HKT fleet will be refurbished over a period of seven years at a cost of $75 million HKD. The trams will keep their original exterior design, but the outer teak structures will be replaced with aluminium structures. The benches on the lower decks of the trams will be replaced with modern-looking single seats. Digital broadcasts will be placed inside the trams to inform passengers of the next stop, and LED lighting will be installed. AC motors will replace the current DC motors and a new magnetic emergency braking system will be added.

Abandoned projects

During the 1910s, HKT proposed the Kowloon Tramways Project. However, the completion of KCR Railway caused the government to veto the plan.

In 1970, Chai Wan on the east side of Hong Kong Island was developed into a residential and industrial area, which greatly increased traffic demand to Central. Extending the tram line from Shau Kei Wan to Chai Wan was considered, but was ultimately rejected. This was due to low cost effectiveness associated with the need to tunnel through the hills between Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan to maintain level track. The Island line of the MTR was built instead, and its first phase, between Chai Wan and Admiralty, opened on 31 May 1985.

During the development of Tuen Mun New Town in the 1970s, the government reserved space for the construction of a rail transportation system. In 1982, the government invited HKT to construct and operate a tram system in the area. HKT initially expressed interest in the construction of the railway and intended to operate it with double-decker trams, but later withdrew. The government then invited Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation to construct and operate a light rail system. That system, now known as the Light Rail, opened to the public on 18 September 1988.

April 2017 accident

During the early hours of Thursday, 6 April 2017, a tram tipped over in Central, injuring 14 people. Soon after, it was suggested that the tram was travelling too fast into a turn. The driver was later arrested for allegedly causing grievous bodily harm due to dangerous driving. Two days later, it was reported that HKT suspended a speed monitoring programme intended to discourage drivers from travelling too slowly.

See also

• Blackpool Tramway, also uses double-deck trams, but not exclusively
• Trams in Alexandria, also uses double-deck trams, but not exclusively
• Trams in China
• Transport in Hong Kong

Further reading

Books

• 謝耀漢 Joseph Tse Yiu-hon, John Prentice, 香港電車文化保育學會 Hong Kong Trams Culture Preservation Society (2022). 由電線車說起 – 駛過百年的軌跡. Chung Hwa Book Co. ISBN 978-988-8807-89-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• 謝耀漢 Joseph Tse Yiu-hon, 香港電車文化保育學會 Hong Kong Trams Culture Preservation Society (2020). 香港電車 – 城市軌跡 Hong Kong Trams: The City's Heritage. 超媒體出版. ISBN 978-988-8700-31-8.
• 謝耀漢 Joseph Tse Yiu-hon, John Prentice (2017). Hongkong Tramways 香港電車: updating the original work of R.L.P. Atkinson and A.K. Williams. Light Rail Transport Association. ISBN 978-0-948106-48-4.
• R.L.P. Atkinson, A.K. Williams (1970). Hongkong Tramways: A history of Hongkong Tramways Limited, and predecessor companies. Light Railway Transport League. ISBN 978-090-04333-1-3.
• Barnett, Martin (1984). Tramlines: The Story of the Hong Kong Tramway System. South China Morning Post. ISBN 962-100-032-7.
• Davis, Mike (2004). Hong Kong Trams — Hong Kong Tramways 100 Years. DTS. ISBN 1-900515-95-4.
• Jones, Martin (1984). Tram Jam: The Hong Kong Tram Collection. Presstram. ISBN 962-711-801-X.
• Joseph, Tse; Lau, Ricky (2012). Amazing Ding Ding. 天地圖書有限公司. ISBN 978-988-219-819-7.
• C.L., Lee (2015). Hong Kong Tramways: a glimpse of its century. Chung Hwa Book Co. (H.K.) Ltd.
• Lee, Eric (2012). A Centenary Date with Hong Kong Tramways. Tramric. ISBN 978-988-16655-0-8.
• Lee, Eric (2016). Hong Kong Tramways: Across the City, Across the Century. 中華書局(香港)出版有限公司. ISBN 978-988-83669-6-5.
• Liu, Bona; Lee, Eric; et al. (2013). Tram Art Gallery. Tramric. ISBN 978-988-16655-8-4.
• WE LOVE TRAM. Hong Kong Tram Enthusiasts. 2011. ISBN 978-988-19956-4-3. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013.

Websites

• DeWolf, Christopher (30 September 2013). "Rethinking Hong Kong's Trams". URBANPHOTO: Cities / People / Place. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
• Frederick Stewart. "Report on the Blue Book and Departmental Reports for 1888" (PDF). Colonial Secretary's Office. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
• Mullany, Gerry (14 October 2013). "Modern Subways Zip Below, but a City's Trams, Slow and Sweaty, Plod On". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
• "The proposed new tramway to Victoria Gap". Hong Kong Telegraph. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
• The Complete Guide of riding HK Tramways Central Lion Rock. May 2023

External links

• Official website