In addition to the MTR and Airport Express Line, there are two other rail services in Hong Kong. Foremost is the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) East Rail (tel. 852/2602 7799), which travels from the KCR Kowloon-Canton Railway Station in Hung Hom (near Tsim Sha Tsui East) up to Sheung Shui in the New Territories. That is, Sheung Shui is where you must get off if you don't have a visa to go onward to China. If you do have a visa, you can continue to the border station of Lo Wu and travel onward all the way through China--and even Russia and Europe if you want to, ending up in London. There are two different kinds of trains: the express through-train to Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing; and the local commuter service for those going to towns in the New Territories.
At any rate, if you're taking the KCR East Rail commuter train, you'll make stops at Mong Kok, Kowloon Tong, Tai Wai, Sha Tin, Fo Tan, Sha Tin Racecourse (on horse-racing days only), University, Tai Po Market, Tai Wo, and Fanling before reaching Sheung Shui. The easiest place to board the KCR East Rail is at Kowloon Tong, since it's also a subway stop and transfer is easy. In 2004 a new station will open in Tsim Sha Tsui East that will link the MTR and KCR, making access to the KCR much easier. Presently the whole trip from Kowloon to Sheung Shui takes only a half hour on Hong Kong's new electric trains, so it's the easiest and fastest way to see part of the New Territories. It's also convenient, with trains running every 3 to 8 minutes daily from approximately 5:30am to midnight. Finally, it's also cheap, costing HK$9 (US$1.15) for ordinary (second) class and HK$18 (US$2.35) for first class if you go all the way to Sheung Shui. Fares to Lo Wu cost HK$33 (US$4.30) and HK$66 (US$8.50) respectively. Seniors 65 and older and children aged 3 through 11 pay half fare; those under 3 travel free. If you're curious about the New Territories, its scenery, and satellite towns, this is a fast, cheap, and painless way to see it. By the end of 2003, a new KCR West Rail will open linking Kowloon with the west part of the New Territories, useful primarily to commuters.
In addition to the KCR rail system, there's also a Light Rail transit system, which operates in the northwestern part of the New Territories and links the two towns of Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. It's not likely you'll use it, but fares range from HK$4 to HK$5.80 (US50¢-US75¢) and trains run from about 5:30 or 6am to midnight.
