Hong Kong Tramways

Hong Kong Tramways
Company type	Private
Industry	Public transport
Founded	1904
Headquarters	Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Area served	Hong Kong Island
Products	Tram transport services
Owner	RATP Dev
Parent	RATP Dev

Hong Kong Tramways (HKT) operates as a narrow-gauge tram network on Hong Kong Island, connecting Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan with an additional route passing through Happy Valley. The system is owned and managed by RATP Dev.

Founded in 1904 during the British colonial era, Hong Kong Tramways ranks among the oldest public transit services in the city. Since its inception, it has exclusively utilized electric trams, having never employed horse-drawn or steam-powered vehicles. HKT boasts the largest active fleet of double-decker tram cars globally, distinguished by its exclusive use of double-decker units. The service caters to both daily commuters and tourists, providing an affordable and eco-friendly mode of urban transportation.

History

In 1881, Hon. F. Bulkeley Johnson, with support from Ng Choy, introduced legislation proposing a tramway system for Hong Kong. However, the government initially prioritized developing the Peak Tram over tram lines on Hong Kong Island, causing delays in tramway progress.

Between 1883 and 1888, Hong Kong’s population increased from 173,475 to 215,800. To lessen dependence on chair coolies and enhance access to Victoria Peak, authorities focused on tram development. The Tramways Ordinance was enacted on May 23, 1902.

The Hong Kong Tramway Electric Company Limited was established in London in 1902 and subsequently came under the control of Electric Traction Company of Hong Kong Limited. Construction of tracks commenced in September 1903, beginning at Happy Valley and extending to Shau Kei Wan, reaching westward to Wan Chai by August 1904. Regular operations began on July 30, 1904, deploying twenty-six single-deck trams. Fare prices were set at ten cents for first class and five cents for third class passengers, with discounted rates for workers available until 1909.

In 1910, the firm was renamed “Hong Kong Tramway Company Limited.” To accommodate growing ridership, ten open-top double-deck trams were introduced in 1912; canvas roofs were added the following year. The company issued its inaugural dividend for the year 1912 and extended tracks within Happy Valley.

By 1914, local directors had replaced the London-based board. In 1922, HKT began purchasing electricity from the Hongkong Electric Company and rebranded as “Hong Kong Tramways Limited.” Wooden roofs were installed in 1923; double-tracking between Causeway Bay and Shau Kei Wan commenced in 1924. Enclosed double-decker trams painted green debuted in 1925 alongside first-class waiting areas.

From the late 1920s through the late 1930s, HKT expanded its services to include bus operations (starting in 1928), constructed new facilities such as the North Point Depot (completed in 1938), implemented safety enhancements like refuge islands (1934), reduced fares (1936), and installed air brakes (1939). Passenger numbers peaked during Coronation week in 1937.

During the Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945, tram services were severely curtailed and eventually suspended due to fuel shortages. After World War II, only fifteen out of one hundred twelve tramcars remained operational; daytime service resumed by October 1945 with a flat fare structure. Infrastructure improvements continued with relaying double tracks at Causeway Bay in 1948 and introducing new tram models such as Car 120 in 1949. Annual ridership exceeded one hundred million.

In the early 1950s, HKT collaborated with Taikoo Dockyard to renew its fleet and upgraded depots accordingly. The introduction of durable Swedish wheels mid-decade enhanced ride comfort. Changes included shutting down the Causeway Bay loop (1953), releasing official route maps (1954), and closing North Point Depot (1955).

The 1960s witnessed operational advancements such as testing single-deck prototype trailers (1964), installing emergency trolley reversers (1966), and phasing out trailers by the late ’70s. Female conductors joined the workforce in 1971; class distinctions were eliminated in 1972 alongside a transition to pay-as-you-leave boarding procedures. In 1974, The Wharf (Holdings) acquired HKT. Full-body tram advertising began in 1975 concurrent with implementing one-man operation.

Between the late ’70s and ’90s, HKT modernized its fleet and infrastructure by refurbishing trams, replacing Sharp Street Depot with new facilities at Whitty Street and Sai Wan Ho (1989), conducting overnight trial services (1990), exporting trams to England’s Wirral Tramway (1992), upgrading automation systems including pantograph trials (1994), and adding double platforms at Happy Valley terminus (1995).

During the late ’90s and early 2000s, HKT introduced internally designed “Millennium” trams (2000) and adopted Octopus electronic payment technology (2001). The centennial was celebrated in 2004 with reinstated route maps; new driver control panels arrived in 2007. Air conditioning was installed on tour tram No.128 in 2008.

Veolia Transport RATP Asia acquired a majority stake in HKT in 2009 and achieved full ownership by 2010. November 2011 saw the launch of signature trams blending modern interiors with traditional exteriors; enhancements included LED displays, stop announcements, and AC motors improving operational quality. The “NexTram” passenger information system debuted in 2012. In 2013, HKT proposed an East Kowloon light rail alternative to a monorail plan. The company celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2014. Following the opening of MTR’s West Island line, daily ridership declined by approximately ten percent to around 180,000 passengers by 2015.

In 2016, HKT became Hong Kong’s first transport provider to deliver real-time arrival data through the Citymapper app; that year also introduced its inaugural sightseeing tram along with its first air-conditioned vehicle.

A rebranding campaign launched in 2017 unveiled a new logo, livery design, and updated route map. Subsequent milestones included launching a fourth party tram (2018), commemorating its 115th anniversary with events like the Bright Ring Tram (2019), implementing day running lights for night service and appointing Ding Ding Cat as ambassador (2020), setting a Guinness World Record for operating the largest double-decker tram fleet (2021), organizing several fare-free days receiving positive public response (2022), adopting revised fare structures from July that year, and celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2024.

Practical information

Adult fare is HK$3.3 for those aged 12 and above, children aged 3 to 11 pay HK$1.6, and seniors aged 65 and over are charged HK$1.5
Service hours run from 5:30 in the morning until 12:30 after midnight
Total track length is approximately

During peak periods, trams depart roughly every 90 seconds, each accommodating up to 115 passengers. Since 2008, the average operating speed has improved from about to nearly , with peak speeds surpassing , and some units reaching . Commonly referred to as "Ding Ding" due to their distinctive dual-bell alert system, these trams continue to be among the most economical public transit options when compared with buses and the MTR.

Fares

Effective from 12 May 2025, the fare structure is set at HK$3.3 for adults, HK$1.6 for children, and HK$1.5 for elderly passengers; children below three years ride free. HKT employs a flat fare regardless of travel distance. Monthly passes priced at HK$260 can be purchased at termini including Shek Tong Tsui, Causeway Bay, and North Point.

Payment is made upon disembarking using coins, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, JCB, UnionPay, American Express), mobile payment platforms (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay), or Octopus cards. Turnstiles combined with CCTV surveillance help deter fare evasion.

Tourist services

Heritage tramcar No. 68 offers sightseeing tours featuring an open balcony and a historical display. Passengers board and disembark these tours at designated sightseeing termini: Western Market and Causeway Bay.

Additionally, both standard and vintage open-balcony tramcars numbered 18, 28, 68, and 128 may be privately chartered. Boarding and alighting for charters generally occur at Whitty Street Depot, except for the premium tramcar No. 18 which operates from Western Market Terminus.

Routes and stops

The tramway operates on a double-track route that runs along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan. There is also a single clockwise loop of approximately encircling the Happy Valley Racecourse.

There are seven interlaced routes:

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

HKT manages about 120 tram stops across the network, including nine key termini: Kennedy Town, Whitty Street Depot, Shek Tong Tsui, Western Market, Happy Valley, Causeway Bay, North Point, Sai Wan Ho Depot, and Shau Kei Wan. Stops are closely spaced with an average gap of . Several are located on protected road islands accessible via pedestrian crossings or footbridges. Track crossovers near major stops allow for emergency rerouting during incidents such as collisions or traffic disruptions.

Most stops feature narrow platforms dedicated to boarding; however, six stops—including Kennedy Town Praya and Hong Kong Cemetery—lack formal platforms requiring passengers to cross active traffic lanes when boarding or alighting. Drivers must halt behind yellow stop lines and give way to pedestrians at these points.

Interchanges

The Island line runs alongside the tram route from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan, with certain MTR tunnels situated directly beneath the tram tracks. Numerous HKT stops are positioned conveniently close to MTR stations.

Ferry terminals including the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal and the Central Ferry Piers, as well as the Star Ferry Pier, can be reached easily by footbridges connected to the tram line.

Fleet

HKT's fleet is distinguished by its exclusive use of fully double-decker trams. As of 2014, the company operated 165 double-axle, double-decker vehicles. Three trams (Nos. 200, 300, and 400) are dedicated solely to maintenance work and operate outside regular service hours. The majority of trams are equipped with sliding windows and display full-body advertisements.

**Fleet overview and specifications**
Manufacturer/Model	Description	Quantity	Acquisition Year(s)	Retirement Year(s)	Remarks	Photos
Dick, Kerr & Co of Preston, England, and Electric Railway & Tramway Works (subsidiary) (Nos. 1–16, 27–36)	Single-deck wooden tramcars	36 (reduced to 14 by 1923)	1904–1905	1935
United Electric Car Company of Preston and Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock (Nos. 37–46)	Double-decker wooden trams	28 (10 newly built, 18 converted from single-deck)	1912–1913	1924 (converted to fixed-roof)	Open balconies covered by canvas roofs in inclement weather
English Electric of Preston and Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock (Nos. 47–80)	Double-decker wooden trams with either canvas or fixed wooden roofs	48 (44 new, 4 rebuilt)	1923–1924	1935 (pre-1920 bodies retired; others enclosed)
HKT prewar fully enclosed wooden double-decker trams	Double-decker wooden vehicles	119 (57 new, 62 rebuilt)	1925–1949	1955	62 units converted from earlier models
HKT postwar aluminium-panelled, teak-framed double-decker trams	Double-decker aluminium and teak construction	163 (43 new, remainder rebuilt; includes No. 163 rebuilt in 1979)	1949–1964; refurbished in 1979	1992
HKT refurbished postwar trams featuring the 1987 design (current fleet)	Double-decker with aluminium panels and teak frames	160 (rebuilt starting in 1986)	1987–1992	1991 (for refurbished units)	No. 120 exhibits green interiors with rattan seating; No. 50’s interior, showcased at the Hong Kong Museum of History, follows this design.
HKT Millennium series trams (Nos. 168–171)	Double-decker aluminium alloy construction	4 (3 currently operational)	2000	2023 (No. 171 retired)	No.168 serves as a modified Signature prototype; No.171 was an air-conditioned prototype never put into service.
HKT trailer tramcars (Single-deck aluminium alloy trailers)	(No.1 featuring aluminium panels and teak frame)	22	1964–1966	1982 (except for No.1 which was rebuilt as double-decker No.163)
HKT work tramcars (Single- and double-decker maintenance vehicles)	(Nos. 200, 300, and 400)	4 total	(Initial unit from 1956; subsequent models introduced in 1997, 2007, and 2013)	2023 for latest maintenance vehicles	(No.300 operates using both electric power and a diesel motor)
HKT private hire antique-style double-decker trams (Nos.28 and 128 rebuilt from postwar cars)	(Aluminium panels with teak framing)	2	(1985,1987)		(Available exclusively for private charters)
'First batch' VVVF drive vehicles (Double-decker aluminium alloy)	(94 cars numbered from Nos.1 to175 excluding some)	(2009–present)		(Exteriors based on the 1986 design combined with Millennium series interiors; certain units fitted with LED displays.)
'Sightseeing' antique-style tramcar No.68 (Double-decker aluminium alloy)	1	(2016)		(Styled after the 1920s; utilized for tour services)
'Pilot Cooler Tram' air-conditioned commuter tram No.88 (Double-decker aluminium alloy)	1	(2016)		(Trial period lasting three months beginning June 2016; first air-conditioned commuter tram in service)
'Premium private hire' antique-style tramcar No.18 (Double-decker aluminium alloy)	1	(2018)		(Equipped with three themed compartments, air conditioning, and onboard restroom facilities)

Note: The term "tram generations" denotes significant design evolutions; numerous units represent upgraded versions of earlier models such as open balcony cars retrofitted with roofs or refurbished interiors.

Service fleet

Overhead cable maintenance vehicle No. 6016, a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter model.
A temporary truck stand designed for elevating tram bodies and chassis during truck repairs; fitted with small wheels to facilitate movement within the depot.

Active depots

The Whitty Street Depot in Shek Tong Tsui, inaugurated on 27 May 1989, functions as the primary operational base and tram refurbishment center. Following the closure of Sharp Street Depot in 1989, this facility was expanded and now includes a two-level workshop capable of accommodating more than 100 trams.

Opened on 28 April 1989, Sai Wan Ho Depot is situated on a government-leased parcel adjacent to the Island Eastern Corridor, providing parking space for upwards of 60 trams.

Former depots

The initial full-service depot located at Russell Street in Causeway Bay commenced operations in 1904, housing approximately 120 tramcars. Due to overcrowding by 1932, the North Point Depot on King's Road was established to offer additional parking for 30 trams. The Russell Street facility was subsequently expanded and renamed Sharp Street Depot. North Point Depot ceased operations in 1951; its former location is currently Healthy Gardens. In July 1986, the Executive Council approved establishing new depots at Shek Tong Tsui and Sai Wan Ho to cut operating expenses by $3.5 million, with fare levels maintained until the end of 1988. Sharp Street Depot was closed on 20 March 1989; its site is now occupied by Times Square.

Ongoing projects

In 2010, HKT commissioned a feasibility study for implementing a state-of-the-art tram system within the Kai Tak Development, intended as an alternative to the government’s earlier monorail proposal. A formal submission was made to the Development Bureau on 29 April 2013. HKT emphasized that the projected cost of $2.8 billion for the tram network is substantially lower than the $12 billion estimated for the monorail plan. Suggested extensions include routes to To Kwa Wan, Kowloon City, and Kwun Tong. Bruno Charrade, managing director of HKT, remarked that tramcar designs could either replicate those used on Hong Kong Island or introduce new styles depending on governmental preferences.

Beginning in 2011, HKT initiated a seven-year fleet modernization project valued at HKD $75 million. While preserving the original exterior appearance, this program involves replacing teak components with aluminium structures, upgrading lower deck seating from benches to individual seats, installing digital displays for upcoming stops alongside LED lighting, switching from DC to AC motors, and integrating magnetic emergency braking systems.

Discontinued projects

During the 1910s, HKT proposed a tramway system for Kowloon, but following completion of the KCR Railway, the government declined approval.

In 1970, plans were considered to extend tram lines from Shau Kei Wan to Chai Wan in response to growing residential and industrial development there. However, due to significant tunneling expenses, this proposal was rejected. Instead, the Island line was constructed and opened its initial segment between Chai Wan and Admiralty on 31 May 1985.

During development of Tuen Mun New Town in the 1970s, rail transit corridors were reserved by authorities. In 1982, HKT was invited to build and operate a tram system in this area and initially expressed interest in deploying double-decker trams but later withdrew from the project. Subsequently, the government commissioned the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation to develop a light rail network that commenced service on 18 September 1988 and now forms part of the Light Rail system.

April 2017 incident

On 6 April 2017, a tram overturned in Central, resulting in injuries to 14 passengers. Investigations indicated that the tram was traveling at an excessive speed while negotiating a curve. The operator was taken into custody on charges of dangerous driving causing serious bodily injury. In response to the event, HKT temporarily halted a speed monitoring initiative that aimed to prevent slow driving.

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