Hong Kong Photo Gallery - Farewell to East Rail's MLR Trains

The last 12-car Mid-Life Refurbishment Train (MLR) on the East Rail line ran just after 1pm on May 6, 2022. Serving for 40 years, these trains were a legacy from the Kowloon-Canton Railway and were last refurbished in 1997. The final journey from Hung Hom to Sha Tin was packed with train fans and their retirement will pave the way for newer 9-car trains to run all the way across the new extension to Admiralty in less than 2 weeks.

At Hung Hom station, signs of the MLR's departure pointed to the special Sha Tin train.

The packed train left for the short 20 minute journey to Sha Tin with special audio announcements about the train along the way.

The route map will also look different soon as the East Rail line will be extended from Hung Hom to Admiralty.

Fans lined along the route to capture history as it headed north from Kowloon.

The train pulled into a spare platform at Sha Tin, where it kept its doors open for passengers to take photos. Company executives held a ceremony along a small section of platform to commemmorate the occasion.

The platform crowd persisted.

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