Hong Kong Railway Standards: Unified Benchmark for Excellence in Railway Construction
By the Highways Department
The Highways Department (HyD) is committed to keeping pace with the times, optimising the delivery of railway projects, and striving to construct railways in an efficient and robust manner.
In February 2026, the HyD promulgated the Hong Kong Railway Standards (HKRS), with a view to providing a unified and clear set of technical references and guidance for the railway design, construction, as well as operations and maintenance (O&M) in Hong Kong. As ever, this new benchmark will continue to foster the safety, reliability and sustainability of railway projects.
Through the formulation of the HKRS, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region strives to enhance the efficiency and quality in the construction of cross-boundary and local railways.
Opportunity
From its humble beginnings over a century ago to the current extensive 270 km railway network, railway development in Hong Kong has undergone a remarkable transformation and is set to sustain its momentum of expansion.
Alongside the implementation of various railway projects, the railway development is underpinned by the prevailing railway standards in Hong Kong, which have evolved over the decades. Instead of a single consolidated document, these standards constitute an integrated system comprising Hong Kong legislation and regulations, engineering standards, technical guidelines and requirements of government departments, together with the corporate design and technical specifications developed by the MTR Corporation Limited. This system encompasses various disciplines, including civil and structural engineering works, electrical and mechanical (E&M) engineering works, railway systems and O&M, with regulatory oversight provided by various Government departments. Predominantly based on British and European standards, this system has been in use for decades and is updated from time to time.
Capitalising on the opportunities presented by the two cross-boundary railway projects, namely the Northern Link and the Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Rail Link, the HyD has formulated the HKRS in collaboration with relevant Government departments and railway experts. In addition to retaining the prevailing railway standards in Hong Kong, the HKRS incorporates appropriate railway standards from the Mainland and other parts of the world (including European Norms, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards), adapted to local circumstances and on the premise of ensuring railway safety, quality, and performancebased outcomes.
Formulation approach
During the formulation processes, the HyD, with the support of approximately 350 personnel from relevant Government departments and railway experts, examined over 500 railway standards worldwide and conducted rigorous technical analyses and comparisons, producing a summary report of over 3,000 pages. Based on the criteria including safety levels, performance, cost-effectiveness, supply chain considerations, and procurement efficiency, best practices from various standards have been adopted with local adaptations, in accordance with the three overarching principles set out below:
- Compliance with the statutory requirements under local legislations, such as the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123), the Fire Services Ordinance (Cap. 95), the Electricity Ordinance (Cap. 406), the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499), the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance (Cap. 618), the Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400), the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311) and their relevant subsidiary legislation;
- Adaptation to local environmental conditions and circumstances, such as typhoon effects and geological conditions; and
- Enhancement of passenger experience in local railway travel, including improvements to the indoor environment (such as illumination, noise levels and air temperature).
Structure of the HKRS
The HKRS retains the prevailing railway standards in Hong Kong and, on this basis, introduces national railway standards and other relevant standards with appropriate adaptations. The provisions governing the application of these national railway sand other standards, with necessary adjustments, are set out in the following chapters of the HKRS according to their respective disciplines.
Structure of the HKRS
General
This section sets out the structure, principles, and scope of application of the HKRS, and lists the terminology and reference standards.
Civil and structural works
This section covers the core elements of civil engineering and structural design, including design actions and load classifications, technical requirements for construction materials, the construction and safety control of geotechnical engineering works, and design principles for elevated and underground structures, as well as professional design guidelines on seismic resistance, durability and waterproofing. Relevant specifications for ground investigation are also covered.
Building planning
This section outlines the architectural planning and station design, including design standards, spatial and environmental requirements, and extends to station disposition, public service and commercial facilities, ancillary facilities, barrierfree design and fire safety requirements.
Electrical & mechanical, building services, and railway systems
This section encompasses the fundamental components of E&M engineering works, building services, and associated railway systems (such as trackwork, rolling stock, environmental control, power supply, communication, and signalling systems) within railway infrastructure. It also covers the configuration of functions and equipment for depots, and requirements for environmental protection and energyefficient design.
Construction
This section sets out the key elements of construction management, materials testing, quality acceptance, and engineering supervision.
Operations and maintenance
This chapter specifies the requirements for operational organisation design, operational safety assessment, and the management of O&M.
Benefits of the HKRS
Under the HKRS, the industry can flexibly apply appropriate standards to different railway projects, taking into account their individual needs and characteristics, after a holistic consideration of factors such as cost-effectiveness, technical requirements, supply chain conditions, site environment, and labour and machinery resources. The HKRS also encourages the use of innovative and advanced construction equipment, technologies and materials, as well as construction specifications. The benefits of the HKRS can be summarised under four key highlights, namely:
- Keeping pace with technology
Promoting unification and standardisation across different aspects of railway design facilitates the adoption of the latest construction technologies and advanced operating systems. Examples include prefabricated underground stations and advanced tunnel boring machines, both of which streamline construction and improve quality control. - Clear basis for expedited approvals
Providing a clear basis through the introduction of more detailed technical specifications for station design, construction equipment, rolling stock, and construction methods helps to simplify and expedite approval processes. Examples include technical specifications for station layouts, building equipment, rolling stock, and construction methods, which serve as recognised benchmarks for safety and usability, enabling more efficient approvals and smoother implementation. - Diversified options and leveraging strengths
Broadening the range of options for construction materials, construction equipment and railway systems enables better utilisation of regional and local supply chains. Examples include the incorporation of options for concrete, reinforcement steel and various E&M systems, empowering the industry to leverage a wider range of resources and drive efficiency in railway construction. - Optimised processes for greater efficiency
Facilitating the optimisation of construction procedures and enhancing cost-effectiveness through the provision of guidelines and recommendations on best practices. Examples include the promotion of advanced machinery and prefabricated station assembly, which enhance labour efficiency, reduce costs and improve overall productivity.
Four highlights of the HKRS
From these benefits, it shows that the HKRS is not merely a set of technical rules but a transformative framework. By embracing innovation, providing clarity, broadening choices, and optimising processes, the HKRS sets a new benchmark for railway development in Hong Kong—delivering projects in a safer, faster and more costeffective manner, while meeting the city’s longterm mobility needs.
In addition, the introduction of the new standards helps to expand the pool of qualified engineering consultants and contractors who are familiar with national railway standards or relevant international standards to participate in new railway
projects. This enhances market competition by offering greater choice and more realistic pricing, injecting renewed vitality into railway development in Hong Kong.
Practical implementation of the HKRS
The HKRS is designed for direct application to railway projects, providing clear technical references and a basis for approvals. that facilitates innovation, efficiency, and cost‑effectiveness across all stages of railway development, while ensuring that railway projects benefit from best practices and can be adapted to local circumstances.
Design phase - Stations
At the design stage, the HKRS encourages the optimisation and consolidation of equipment rooms within railway stations. In the past, each railway and building systems was provided with a dedicated room for separate operation. With the advent of multi-functional configurations, remote control, and self‑diagnostic capabilities, multiple systems can now be integrated into consolidated arrangements. By applying the principles of professional integration, facility centralisation and resource sharing within a railway station, the HKRS promotes the use of unified equipment rooms which result in reduced spatial requirements, as well as lower construction and operating costs. For example, integrated monitoring systems combining environmental control, power supply, platform screen doors, lighting, CCTV, access control, and passenger information systems can reduce the total station floor area by approximately 20 - 30%.
The HKRS also encourages the adoption of innovative technologies such as Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) with standardised components. While MiC has been widely applied to above‑ground stations, its use in underground stations has been limited due to various technical challenges. With technological advances in waterproofing, lifting and precision assembly, the HKRS promotes a high degree of standardised prefabrication for underground stations.
Design phase - Stations of practical implementation
Design phase – Railway systems
The HKRS provides technical specifications for standardised rolling stock and railway systems. In the past, train dimensions and system designs lacked unified standards, leading to costly bespoke models. The HKRS promotes standardised train types with operating speeds in the range of 80 to 160 km/h, together with corresponding system specifications (including signalling, communications, power supply, ticketing, and environmental control). This enhances supply chain efficiency, reduces lifecycle costs, and simplifies approval procedures. Standardisation of rolling stock dimensions, operating speeds, and structure and equipment gauges also improves compatibility and interchangeability. For cross‑boundary projects, the HKRS provides options for adopting compatible signalling and communications standards, ensuring seamless systems integration between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.
Design phase - Systems of practical implementation
Construction Phase
The HKRS facilitates the direct application of advanced technologies in railway construction. For tunnel boring machines, the HKRS specifies the principles for machine type selection, design, and deformation control, enabling the use of cutting‑edge machinery with intelligent guidance, precision adjustment, and prefabricated segment assembly. The HKRS also expands material options beyond traditional British and European standards, allowing the adoption of advanced materials such as high‑performance structural steel and reinforcement models, enhancing flexibility and cost‑effectiveness in design and procurement.
Construction phase of practical implementation
Operations and maintenance phase
For the O&M phase, the HKRS introduces For the O&M phase, the HKRS introduces technical specifications and best practices that enhance passenger experience and operational efficiency. In particular, the use of cloud platforms is recommended to support big data, AI and IoT applications, enabling automated operation, intelligent control, and smart maintenance in railway operations. Smart functions, such as one‑click station opening, intelligent customer service, biometric ticketing and energy management, can reduce manpower requirements and operating costs whilst improving service quality. Passenger information systems provide real‑time data on train loading, arrival times, and station facilities via mobile apps and station
displays, enhancing passenger convenience. The HKRS also sets standards for indoor comfort, including the intelligent regulation of temperature and humidity, ensuring a more pleasant environment and further elevating the passenger experience.
O&M phase of practical implementation
Complementary arrangement
To effectively implement the HKRS, the HyD redeployed internal resources to establish the Railway Checking Unit (RCU), comprising multi-disciplinary professionals, including building surveyors, structural engineers, and civil engineers. The RCU is
dedicated to processing approvals of building plans for new railway projects through a “single-window” service, ensuring the safety and quality of these projects. An electronic centralised approval platform is also established to facilitate the efficient submission of documents and approval of building plans, thereby enhancing administrative efficiency.
The HyD promulgated the HKRS and announced the official establishment of the Railway Checking Unit
The performance targets of the RCU are to substantially reduce processing timeframes for first plan submissions from 60 days to 30 days, and for amendment submissions from 30 days to 21 days. Key performance indicators (KPIs) set to ensure that no less than 90% of approval decisions are completed within these timeframes. Meanwhile, the RCU also incorporates a monitoring and intervention mechanism. If a major issue cannot be resolved within 15 days, it will be escalated to an officer at Assistant Director level for handling, so that senior officers can intervene in a timely manner and explore viable solutions.
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Railway checking unit
Furthermore, the prevailing building control mechanism will continue to be implemented throughout the design, construction, and completion stages of the railway projects in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance (Chapter 123) to ensure their quality and safety. Prior to the commissioning of new railways, relevant government departments will conduct "safe and sound" testing and acceptance procedures to ensure the proper functioning and safety of mechanical, electrical, and fire-fighting systems and railway operations. Through these robust assurance processes, the safety, quality, and performance of railway projects will remain on par with established benchmarks.
Way forward
The HKRS will initially be applied to two upcoming crossboundary projects in Hong Kong, namely the Northern Link and the Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Rail Link. The Government is considering progressively enhancing the Standards to cover other new railway projects in the future.
The HKRS embodies a forward‑looking vision, integrating statutory compliance with international best practices into a single benchmark for excellence in railway construction. As a living document, the HKRS will be updated in line with technological advancements and evolving industry needs, guiding railway projects towards greater efficiency, safety, and sustainability. By fostering innovations and realising these benefits in new railway projects, the Government aspires to establish the Standards as a benchmark within the Greater Bay Area, ultimately, as an international standard, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong’s position in the regional and global railway construction arena.