Hong Kong Introduces Unique Rail Standards for Safer, Greener Travel

Government departments and railway experts spent six months to compile the standards

Hong Kong has introduced its own railway standards for the first time, aiming to support the use of advanced construction technologies and establish a dedicated inspection unit to speed up new projects. These measures are seen by analysts as laying the foundation for the city’s transport development over the next decade.

The Highways Department released a 336-page document on Monday that outlines a unified set of technical references and guidelines for railway design, construction, operations, and maintenance in Hong Kong. The new standards aim to enhance the safety, reliability, and sustainability of future railway projects.

“The new Hong Kong Railway Standards will enable the use of a broader selection of advanced construction technologies, construction materials, equipment and systems for railway projects,” said Director of Highways Tony Yau Kwok-ting. He added that the standards provide “clear technical specifications for supervisory approvals” and help the industry develop and optimize work processes.

“This move helps to leverage and introduce the extensive experience and world-leading technologies in railway construction of our nation, as well as the recognized standards in other parts of the world, with a view to driving new railway projects in Hong Kong with enhanced speed and efficiency, and striving for shorter construction times and lower costs,” he said.

The documents are based on Hong Kong’s existing railway standards, relevant standards from mainland China, and international benchmarks such as those set by the European Norm, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the International Electrotechnical Commission, and the International Organization for Standardization, with adaptations made to suit local conditions.

Engineering sector lawmaker Aaron Bok Kwok-ming said the new standards replace the previously fragmented British and European codes with a systematic integration of national and international norms, laying a solid foundation for the next decade of railway development while reducing costs and shortening project timelines.

He added that the standards also encourage the use of intelligent and automated construction machinery and promote unified, standardized designs. For example, station roofs could now fully adopt modular integrated construction methods. “Standardized designs are also applied to carriages and tracks, enabling the use of higher-strength steel and concrete, and eliminating the previously time-consuming and inefficient process where designers had to seek individual departmental approvals for new designs, equipment or technologies,” he said.

He expected the new standards to help lower costs without compromising safety, noting that signaling systems previously followed British or European codes – restrictions that limited sourcing mainly to Europe or the Americas. “But the new standards expand options and optimize the supply chain,” Bok said. “Designers and contractors can now source signaling systems manufactured in mainland China that meet the same safety and quality benchmarks. This approach is expected to be far more cost-effective, improving efficiency and accelerating railway development.”

Michael Tien Puk-sun, former chairman of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, said the new standards would finally end the 26-year duopoly of two major engineering consultancies by opening tenders to firms from Europe, Asia, and the mainland.

Hong Kong government departments and railway experts took half a year to compile the standards.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said such standards were previously never compiled into a single volume, and were instead outlined in various laws, technical requirements, and the corporate specifications of rail firms. She added that the new standards would cover the entire lifecycle of railway projects, providing clear technical references and guidance for every stage, from design and construction through to operation and maintenance, ensuring compliance with established regulations.

The goal was not only for the standards to become a Hong Kong brand but also to establish a benchmark for the Greater Bay Area and potentially at an international level, the minister said. She said the government was also actively preparing legislation to introduce a new regulatory framework that would provide a legal basis for regulating franchises and services for future land-based mass transit systems.

Chan said the framework would help shorten the lead time for introducing new systems and operators, enabling the government to respond flexibly to changes and capitalize on technological breakthroughs. The bill is expected to be tabled in the Legislative Council within this year.

Last September, the Highways Department signed a cooperation charter for the Hong Kong Railway Standards with mainland and overseas railway experts, representatives from relevant government departments, the Building Technology Research Institute, and rail giant the MTR Corporation.

The government is currently developing 10 heavy rail networks and four smart and green mass transit systems across Hong Kong to broaden coverage and enhance connectivity with the rest of the bay area.