With both Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays creating back-to-back long weekends, Hong Kong’s Transport Department has put travellers on alert for record flows at its land and rail checkpoints from 25 September through 4 October. A special bulletin released on Saturday, 26 September, details a package of measures designed to smooth movement of people and freight across the border. The highlight is a set of temporary trains on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. On 27 September, an additional G5866 service was scheduled from West Kowloon to Futian, while new G5680 and G5679 trains linked West Kowloon with Shenzhenbei. Between 25 September and 4 October, thirteen extra pairs of trains will shuttle between West Kowloon and Futian during peak morning and late-evening slots. Tickets were immediately made available via the 12306 mainland rail app, authorised agents and station counters. Road users have also been cautioned. The Department predicts vehicle queues at the Lok Ma Chau and Shenzhen Bay control points could extend beyond normal capacity on the afternoon of Sunday, 27 September, when mainland visitors return home. Contingency lane reversals and holding areas will be activated if congestion builds. Private-car permit holders are advised to shift crossings to off-peak hours or switch to park-and-ride facilities at Sheung Shui and Tuen Mun. Public-transport operators are pitching in: MTR has lengthened train formations on the East Rail Line to Lo Wu and is keeping key urban and Light Rail lines running 90 minutes later on 26 and 27 September. Cross-harbour and airport bus companies will operate holiday timetables with spare drivers on standby. Travellers can monitor live CCTV feeds of vehicle plazas via the HKeMobility app before setting out. For multi-national companies moving staff or goods across the boundary, the bulletin provides critical lead-time to adjust delivery schedules, redeploy drivers and remind employees to carry the correct travel documents. Logistics firms shipping temperature-controlled cargo have been told to anticipate up to two hours’ additional clearance time at peak periods.
