How Hong Kong has re-energised its iconic electric trams for the 21st century
- Hong Kong Tramways – in service on Hong Kong Island since 1904 – operates 165 trams, which together carry about 200,000 daily passengers
- Fleet’s modern trams have added hi-tech innovations and upgraded, energy-saving features to ensure they stay relevant as city transport
Trundling its way back and forth along the northern edge of Hong Kong Island – flanked by rows of modern skyscrapers and surrounded by the never-ending traffic – is a historic form of public transport that has witnessed the city’s transformation for more than a century.
The Hong Kong Tramways – which started serving generations of Hongkongers in 1904 – form an integral part of the city’s heritage. The 165-strong fleet comprises one of the world’s few remaining double-decker trams, the company says.
One of the regular passengers is 45-year-old Frenchman Cyril Aubin, the company’s managing director, who takes a tram every morning from his home in Wan Chai to the tram depot in Sai Wan. “It’s a part of my daily routine,” he says.
What I really enjoy [on the tram] in the morning is that I can observe the city just coming to life ... preparing everything for Hong Kong life to start
Riding on the tram across different districts has allowed him to appreciate Hong Kong Island’s diversity and vibrancy – where the Wan Chai’s buzzy stalls, Central’s sparkling high-rises and Sheung Wan’s many dried seafood stores happily coexist alongside one another.
“What I really enjoy [on the tram] in the morning is that I can observe the city just coming to life – people delivering goods and setting up stores – preparing everything for Hong Kong life to start,” he says.
Hong Kong’s collective memory
The Frenchman, who moved to Hong Kong in 2016, is no stranger to managing tramway systems. The trained architect was running France’s mass transit systems for more than a decade. In his previous job, he launched five new tram lines within two years in Paris.
