West Kowloon HSR Control Point · Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong XRLCo-location clearanceRail passengers · no vehiclestomacao · HK–Macau cross-border charter

West Kowloon HSR Control Point · Co-location clearance

West Kowloon HSR Control Point Crossing Guide
Two checks, one station, one stop

Hong Kong West Kowloon Station on the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link is Hong Kong's second "co-location" control point, and currently the fastest land route between Hong Kong and Mainland cities. It is a rail-passenger-only control point—no private cars or cross-boundary buses pass through. Travellers cross by high-speed rail, with Hong Kong and Mainland immigration, customs and quarantine all cleared in one go inside West Kowloon Station. Below we lay out the location, hours, in-station layout, clearance steps and real-time information in one place.

WeChat enquiry · West Kowloon Station transfer See the in-station layout first
Clearance mode
Co-locationCleared once inside West Kowloon Station
Operating hours
Follows the HSR timetableNot 24 hours; check the daily timetable
Crossing type
HSR passenger crossingNo private cars / cross-boundary buses
Opened
2018Hong Kong's second co-location crossing

01 — Control point details

West Kowloon HSR Control Point,Hong Kong's high-speed gateway to the Mainland

West Kowloon HSR Control Point sits in the West Kowloon reclamation area of Kowloon, Hong Kong, just north of the West Kowloon Cultural District, and is the terminus of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link. It opened on 23 September 2018 as Hong Kong's second control point to adopt "co-location" clearance—both the Hong Kong and Mainland immigration, customs and quarantine formalities are completed in one go inside West Kowloon Station, so once cleared, travellers board the high-speed train straight to Mainland cities with no further checks at the destination station.

It is a rail-passenger-only control point: only rail travellers cross the boundary here, and private cars, cross-boundary buses and through-buses do not clear here. So in charter travel, West Kowloon Station's role is "land-side transfer"—delivering travellers door-to-station from Hong Kong airport or the city centre to the ground-floor drop-off area, from where they board the high-speed rail across the boundary, seamlessly connecting with the train service.

Hong Kong side
Kowloon West Kowloon Station, adjacent to MTR Austin Station (Tuen Ma Line) and Kowloon Station (Tung Chung Line / Airport Express)
Mainland side
No separate site—the Mainland Port Area sits inside West Kowloon Station under co-location, with trains connecting to the national high-speed rail network
Clearance mode
Co-location—the Hong Kong Port Area and Mainland Port Area sit within the same station, completing both sides' checks in one go
Operating hours
Follows HSR train service hours (not 24 hours); allow time for real-name verification, security screening and clearance on both sides
Vehicles allowed
No (HSR passenger crossing; private cars / buses do not cross here); charter serves only as a land-side door-to-station transfer
Documents required
Mainland residents: Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao + valid endorsement and a valid HSR ticket; Hong Kong residents / foreign nationals carry the corresponding travel documents
West Kowloon HSR Control Point: Hong Kong West Kowloon Station on the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong XRL, co-location clearance in one station, door-to-station charter transfer

02 — Layout

How to get through the station,a vertical flow schematic that makes it clear

West Kowloon Station uses "co-location", and it is a vertical in-station clearance flow: the whole process is completed top-to-bottom within one building at West Kowloon Station. According to MTR, this is broadly: enter at ground level, ticketing and Hong Kong departure on the upper floor, cross the boundary line into the Mainland Port Area for Mainland arrival, then down to the waiting and platform levels. The diagram below is a clearance flow schematic (not an architectural survey drawing); floor levels are subject to on-site signage.

West Kowloon HSR Control Point co-location vertical flow schematic: G floor entry, B1 ticketing concourse and Hong Kong departure, cross the boundary line into the Mainland Port Area, B3 departure waiting hall, platform levelSchematic · not an official survey drawing
West Kowloon HSR Control Point · co-location vertical flow schematicSCHEMATIC · subject to on-site signage and official notices Official station facilities info

Note: According to MTR, West Kowloon Station is an underground multi-level station. The G floor is the ground-level entrance / drop-off area; the ticketing concourse (ticket purchase, real-name verification, security screening, Hong Kong departure) is around B1; the Mainland Port Area is set on a lower level; the departure waiting hall is around B3; and the platforms are on the lowest level (generally noted as B4). Ticketing counters are spread across B1 / B2 / B3. Exact floor levels and zone boundaries are subject to on-site signage at the station. Clearance hours follow the HSR timetable and are not 24 hours. The layout and flow are subject to the latest notices from MTR High Speed Rail, the Hong Kong Immigration Department and others (see sources at the end).

03 — Clearance guide

From Hong Kong to the Mainland,this is how you clear at West Kowloon Station

The advantage of "co-location" is that the whole journey stays within one station, clearing both Hong Kong and Mainland formalities top-to-bottom, and boarding the high-speed train directly after clearance. Below is the typical flow heading north via West Kowloon Station (Hong Kong → Mainland).

  • STEP 1 · Enter the station
    Arrive by transfer / charter at the West Kowloon Station ground-level (G floor) drop-off area, enter the station, and allow ample time
  • STEP 2 · Ticketing concourse
    At the ticketing concourse (around B1), collect / exchange tickets, complete real-name verification and ticket checks, and pass through baggage and security screening
  • STEP 3 · Hong Kong departure
    Complete Hong Kong departure formalities, then cross the boundary line between the Hong Kong Port Area and the Mainland Port Area
  • STEP 4 · Mainland arrival
    Enter the Mainland Port Area for Mainland arrival checks and customs formalities (Mainland law applies within this area)
  • STEP 5 · Board
    Head to the departure waiting hall (around B3), pass the boarding gate with your ticket down to the platform level, and board the high-speed train straight to your Mainland destination

04 — Transport connections

Getting to / from West Kowloon Station,what are the options

West Kowloon Station sits in the urban core, with easy MTR, taxi and charter connections. Below are the main options.

Hong Kong city · MTR

Walk to Austin Station / Kowloon Station

Walk via the pedestrian link to Austin Station (Tuen Ma Line); you can also connect to Kowloon Station (Tung Chung Line / Airport Express), with the Airport Express running direct to Hong Kong International Airport.

Station arrival level · Taxi

Taxi stand and self-service taxi tickets

The arrival level (around B2) has self-service taxi-ticket collection machines, and there is a taxi stand at ground level; on arrival you can take a taxi nearby to districts across Kowloon / Hong Kong Island.

Door to station · Charter

Licensed-vehicle land-side transfer

Pick-up at your door from Hong Kong airport or the city, delivered door-to-station to the G-floor drop-off area at West Kowloon Station, then board the high-speed rail across the boundary; the vehicle does not enter the port area and does not cross.

05 — Real-time information

Before you set off,check the HSR service and timetable first

HSR passenger service follows the train timetable, and how busy the station is fluctuates with the time of day. Below are the official real-time sources, which we recommend checking before you leave (external links, open in a new window). This is an HSR passenger crossing, so there is no vehicle-plaza real-time footage.

Service status · HSR

MTR High Speed Rail Service Status

Shows the real-time service status and delay alerts for the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong XRL.

View service status ↗

Train times · Timetable

MTR High Speed Rail Timetable

Check each train's departure time, and use it to allow time for real-name verification, security screening and clearance on both sides.

View the timetable ↗

Traffic news · Waiting time

Traffic News + Security Bureau "Easy Boundary"

MTR High Speed Rail Traffic News posts the latest alerts; the Security Bureau's "Easy Boundary" shows waiting times at each land crossing.

HSR traffic news ↗ Easy Boundary waiting time ↗

06 — Charter connection

Via West Kowloon Station,how one car connects you to the high-speed rail

West Kowloon HSR Station is a passenger crossing where vehicles do not cross the boundary, so the charter's role here is a door-to-station transfer for "airport / city ↔ West Kowloon Station": one licensed vehicle picks you up at your door from Hong Kong airport or hotel and delivers you straight to the G-floor drop-off area at West Kowloon Station, and you enter the station with your luggage to board the high-speed rail across the boundary, seamlessly connecting with the train. It is especially suited to families, elderly travellers and business guests—sparing you the hassle of dragging luggage through MTR interchanges yourself.

West Kowloon Station adjoins the West Kowloon Cultural District (M+, Hong Kong Palace Museum); if your schedule allows, you can fit in a visit along the way; when rushing for a train, prioritise "arriving on time and allowing time for clearance".

The tomacao approach

Licensed vehicles, delivered door-to-station to West Kowloon Station

01

Door to station

Door pick-up at Hong Kong airport / city, straight to the West Kowloon Station drop-off area

02

Seamless connection

Arrive on time to the HSR timetable, with time allowed for clearance and security screening

03

Effortless with luggage

Luggage travels with the car straight to the station, sparing you dragging bags through the MTR

Transferring via MTR yourself
  • Cheaper, but you drag your own luggage
  • More interchanges, stairs up and down
  • Crowded at peak times
Licensed charter, door to station
  • Door to station, one car direct
  • On your own schedule, private
  • Suits families / business / elderly
Licensed vehicle providing a door-to-station transfer to West Kowloon HSR Station

After arriving in the Mainland city, you can also continue with a local charter to the city centre, airport and attractions, sparing you frequent taxi-hailing and luggage-dragging.

WeChat enquiry · Custom route

Station facilities · passenger services

Station facilities,passenger services inside the station at a glance

West Kowloon Station is the urban HSR terminus, with one-stop facilities inside for ticketing, real-name verification, security screening, waiting and transfers. Below are the common passenger services by category; floor levels follow MTR High Speed Rail's "Station Facilities" and are subject to on-site signage.

Convenient transport
MTR: walk to Austin Station (Tuen Ma Line) and Kowloon Station (Tung Chung Line / Airport Express to HKIA); taxi: taxi stand and self-service taxi tickets at the arrival level (around B2); a bus terminus and cross-boundary transfers by the station
Parking · drop-off
A drop-off area on the G floor; a car park (around B2) offers HSR "Park & Ride" (subject to MTR notices / on-site signage)
Ticketing · real-name verification
The ticketing concourse (around B1) handles ticket purchase / exchange, real-name verification and ticket checks, plus baggage and security screening
Waiting · business
The departure waiting hall (around B3) has waiting areas and boarding gates, plus a first / business class lounge, The Lounge
Service facilities
Enquiry counters, left-luggage, lost property, self-service lockers and more (subject to MTR notices / on-site signage)
Real-time info
MTR High Speed Rail service status, timetable and traffic news (see the "Real-time information" section above and the sources below)

Note: The facilities and their floor levels above follow MTR High Speed Rail's "Station Facilities — Hong Kong West Kowloon Station". Exact locations, floor levels and availability are subject to on-site signage at the station and the latest MTR notices; some facilities may change with operational arrangements.

07 — FAQ

About West Kowloon HSR Control Point,the questions people ask most

Can private cars cross at West Kowloon HSR Control Point?
No. This is a rail-passenger-only control point; only rail travellers cross here, and private cars, cross-boundary buses and through-buses do not clear here. The charter's role here is a land-side transfer—delivering travellers door-to-station to the West Kowloon Station drop-off area, from where they board the high-speed rail across the boundary; the vehicle does not enter the port area and does not cross.
What are the operating hours of West Kowloon HSR Control Point?
It is a rail passenger crossing, so clearance hours follow the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong XRL train service hours and are not 24 hours. Please rely on the MTR High Speed Rail timetable and service status, and allow time for real-name verification, baggage security screening and immigration checks on both sides.
How does "co-location" work at West Kowloon Station?
It means completing both Hong Kong and Mainland immigration, customs and quarantine formalities in one go inside West Kowloon Station. The station is divided into a Hong Kong Port Area and a Mainland Port Area with a clear boundary line between them, and Mainland law applies within the Mainland Port Area. Those departing from Hong Kong can, once cleared, board the high-speed train straight to Mainland cities with no further checks at the destination station.
What are the clearance steps and floor levels roughly like?
According to MTR, broadly: G floor for ground-level entry and drop-off; the ticketing concourse (around B1) for ticket purchase, real-name verification, security screening and Hong Kong departure; cross the boundary line into the Mainland Port Area for Mainland arrival; then to the departure waiting hall (around B3), where you pass the gate with your ticket down to the platform level to board. Ticketing counters are spread across B1 / B2 / B3, and the platforms are on the lowest level. Exact floor levels are subject to on-site signage at the station.
Can a charter drive straight through the HSR crossing into the Mainland?
No. Vehicles do not cross here. The suitable approach is to have a licensed vehicle deliver you door-to-station to West Kowloon Station, and then you board the high-speed rail across the boundary; after arriving in the Mainland city you can pick up a separate local charter. If you need a "one car, people and vehicle all the way" road crossing, you should instead use crossings that allow vehicles, such as Shenzhen Bay or Huanggang / Lok Ma Chau.
How do I transfer from Hong Kong airport to West Kowloon Station to take the high-speed rail?
You can take the Airport Express to Kowloon Station and then walk across to West Kowloon Station; or choose a licensed charter that takes you door-to-station straight from the airport to the G-floor drop-off area at West Kowloon Station, with luggage travelling with the car and no interchange needed. We recommend allowing ample time for entering the station and clearance to the HSR timetable, and you can have the driver arrange the transfer timing.

West Kowloon HSR Control Point · Co-location · Door to station

Give us your pick-up address and vehicle type, and we'll deliver you door-to-station to West Kowloon Station for the high-speed rail

Licensed vehicles, door pick-up at Hong Kong airport / city, delivered on time to the HSR timetable straight to the West Kowloon Station drop-off area, with luggage aboard and a seamless HSR connection.

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