The Hong Kong Express Rail Link: The Most Expensive Infrastructure in Hong Kong's History

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[@megaprojects9649]

To start comparing quotes and simplify your insurance purchase, check out Policygenius: policygenius.com/MEGAPROJECTS. Thanks to Policygenius for sponsoring this video!

[@watcher3209]

simon could you make a video about the soviet hover aircraft carrier by robert ludvigovich bartini

[@tamasmihaly1]

Simon says "The U.K. handed Hong Kong back to China. Typical British double-speak. What actually happened was that they sold Hong Kong to the Communists.

[@ThomasJHorrego]

not policy genius. Call me TJ Horrego. I am a professional.

[@andrewphillips8341]

How much has the Hong Kong government spent on secret prisons?

[@freeradicalpanda]

How about a video of the disastrous maiden voyage of the Swedish kings flag ship ‘Regalskeppet Vasa’ in 1628? According to legends, it sank as a result of too many elaborate gold ornaments at the stern.

[@wolfvontyr2266]

Here's a left field idea for you for a megaproject ... the Australian summer bushfire firefighting effort. Its a broad scope no doubt, but considering we're talking about an area the size of Syria was burned in the 2019-2020 fire season, its certainly a huge effort to try and contain these things. Some of the hazards to deal with are the sincere heat of the fires, the environmental heat (generally 40+ degrees Celsius, and the fact that the radiant heat of the fires is so hot it makes the sap in the trees flash boil causing the trees literally explode as the front approaches. The whole situation and scope if utterly Australian... AKA nuts!

[@J3scribe]

We have wildfires in the USA that create their own weather, including fire tornados and lightning. There's one currently burning in southern Oregon, the Bootleg Fire, that has consumed 340,000 acres and growing. I live in California myself. In 2020, 4.2 million acres burned up in the state. When you add in the rest of the West, the numbers are staggering. The men and women who fight wildfires are nothing less than heroic. I agree they would make an interesting subject.

[@rdgk1se3019]

@@J3scribe Simon would have to add in the tree hugging liberal idiots that put a ban on having fire breaks and cutting funding to the fire services in California...known to the rest of the world as "Komifornia"

[@wolfvontyr2266]

​@@J3scribe I remember seeing the Californian fires a few years ago, our fires also have their own weather systems but I figure exploding trees is a bit more... theatrical! California has a similar climate to south eastern, mainland Australia so I can understand the conditions (I'm in Victoria). In the 2019-2020 fire season my state lost 3.7 million acres alone, I remember it surrounding an entire coastal town, to the point where people had to be evacuated by the RAN! I completely agree with you there. Firefighters are completely unsung heroes. Especially when they're pulling 40 hour shifts... as a volunteer... because its the right thing to do. Come to think of it, each (normal) year, our two countries send reinforcements to each other during our respective fire seasons!!

[@J3scribe]

@@wolfvontyr2266 I fear we are in for another bad season. And they're already off to a bad start in British Columbia, Canada. I reckon we should all be prepared for more of the same going forward.

[@BabyMakR]

@@J3scribe Australia does to. Ash from Australian fires falls on Brazil.

[@jscotthatcher380]

could you cover very long bridges that were conceived but never built? probably would be better covered on side projects though.

[@rdgk1se3019]

The Bering sea bridge.

[@Gebenki]

Do a video on the Hong Kong Airport now! A vast artificial island, massive terminal, a cargo megahub, and oh yeah, a road, railway and bridge to get to the mainland. Thanks Simon!

[@adriancastellanos5335]

You should do a video on the process of making all your videos and such. I feel like that’s a side project worthy video at this point

[@ignitionfrn2223]

2:05 - Chapter 1 - History 4:00 - Chapter 2 - Planning & plotting 6:05 - Mid roll ads 7:25 - Chapter 3 - Controversy begins 10:15 - Chapter 4 - Construction & commencement 12:15 - Chapter 5 - The final controversy - Chapter 6 -

[@chrisyanover1777]

Next Megaprojects: All of Simon's projects!

[@BonShula]

Haha, Simon is so smart and not reading from a script :0

[@j.a.weishaupt1748]

Yes please do this so these extremely unoriginal and annoying reactions will finally end…

[@Viper-dn8ix]

Still hoping to see Denver International Airport! The second largest airport in the world by land (though tbh King Fahd shouldn’t count since it has a third of the runways as DIA!)). It’s one of the busiest in the world and has some of the more unique architecture and interior design among airports. There’s also a few interesting controversies around it, as well as a massive blue bronco we love to call “Bluecifer.” Seriously worth looking at! Did I copy/paste this from the last video? Maaaaaybe.

[@ryanatkinson2978]

Flew into Denver last year at the end of February I think, got to see Bluecifer. He is a magnificent beast. It's also one of only a few structures to incorporate tensegrity into its architecture which is really cool to me. The Georgia Dome was one of them until a few years ago when it was demolished I also got to see more snow fall than I've ever seen, being born and raised in Atlanta

[@Viper-dn8ix]

@@ryanatkinson2978 We had a pretty decent year, though I hope you weren't here for our little blizzard! That was rough even for us locals... And what is tensegrity? I'm not familiar with the term.

[@samonethousandandone]

The Illuminati airport 🤣

[@chrisyanover1777]

Well as far as biggest airports I think Atlanta airport is #1 per passenger that travel through the airport.

[@Viper-dn8ix]

@@chrisyanover1777 That's correct, I think DIA is #5 in the US, and like 20th worldwide.

[@patricks_music]

Hey Simon! Could you do a video on the WinGD's 14RT-flex96C? It's the world's largest Diesel Engine for ships. Would be really fascinating!!

[@jademichalick]

You should do one on CLYMB the 32 foot wide indoor skydiving tunnel just built in Abu Dhabi. By far the biggest one ever built!

[@chrisyanover1777]

Simon you know we love our choo choo trains!

[@engineeredmedia7490]

Hey Megaprojects, you should do an episode of Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop since its projected cost will be around 50 billion (probably/likely to balloon over) and take 2-3 decades to complete. Obviously there's controversy and history of the city's rail network. I can help with some information and point you in the right direction. Cheers!

[@Hoigwai]

The train station was just an ice cube on top of a gargantuan iceberg. Hong Kong is now just China.

[@dragonfastback5440]

The people who live in Hong Kong may have a different view...

[@MrDadyD]

@@dragonfastback5440 yeah.. thats why they had 1.7 million ppl in the steets before corona happened. Ppl of HK really like Vinnie the PUH and his lapdog Carrie Lam.

[@Fortunes.Fool.]

When the Megaprojects notification comes in at work you excuse yourself, grab your headphones, and head to the restroom for 15 minutes.

[@florians9949]

15 minutes? That some serious case of diarrhea.😂

[@Fortunes.Fool.]

@@florians9949 The video is 15 minutes long...

[@florians9949]

@@Fortunes.Fool. I knwo, but imagine your co-workers being like “are your intestines alright?”

[@Fizz-Pop]

@@florians9949 You could always say you're constipated lol

[@florians9949]

@@Fizz-Pop diearrhea is the next level of constipation.

[@huwjones4214]

Please do the Model T Ford!!!

[@sniperfromaustrialia3169]

Can you do a story on the 400 series highways in Ontario Canada. Please

[@Metallica4Life92]

the QEB is hella impressive.

[@keithsmith4946]

When are we going to find out that Simon is a Host and all of his channels are actually season 4 of West World?

[@Dutch-Maker]

10:30 That's Futian Bus station. Around 7KM from Futian Railway station. That station almost completly underground.

[@shadetree.engineering]

Make a video on rotary engines please

[@frankgulla2335]

Terrific report and very nice handling the political nature of some of the human condition.

[@charlottemorris4685]

Please do a video on the Chicago Exhibition!!

[@cyph33r10]

You post on some many channels so often. It's great, but I'm just curious if you sleep.

[@f1sh__]

Agreed aha

[@MattHuey]

Yea he has about 10 different channels!! How u keep all that together!!💯🤔🙌😂😂

[@GeorgeVCohea-dw7ou]

He is only a presenter. Other people write and edit these. This is a bit oversimplified, but it is known that he gets other specialised professionals to do what they do best, in order to concentrate on what he does best. The more work that he can farm out, the more time he can spend shooting videos for his channels. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpq0gWieqbSWhsU It's time management, and Simon is at a point where he can just look at a script and know about how long it will take him to get through it.

[@cyph33r10]

@@GeorgeVCohea-dw7ou Ik XD

[@Far-Right_Celt]

it doesnt take long to record yourself reading what your ghost writer has written, i mean simon doesnt even do his own editing so he probably spends 2 hours a day recording.. no sleep lost. (didnt see others made the same point lol)

[@banksyboy5k]

Please do a video on the Dambusters raid and The Bouncing Bomb

[@ishalef]

Hong Kong was great back in the day

[@dv4310]

Do the Skyway Bridge in St. Pete Florida. Has death, intrigue, big engineering, etc.

[@chrisyanover1777]

Has @Megaprojects done a video on the Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope?

[@fredleung616]

The biggest difference between the immigration facilities in Hong Kong and similar facilities in the US/Canada and the EU is that in the Mainland section of the terminus, ALL Mainland law applies, rather than just immigration law. If you're arrested in the Mainland section, you're brought in front of a Shenzhen court, while if you're arrested in the US section of a Canadian international airport, you're brought in front of a Canadian court.

[@benbrown6490]

Please do a video about the north south divide in Cyprus

[@morgandlaw]

Have you done a video on the pony express?

[@judahbdavis]

Most (but not all) flights departing Canada, Ireland, or Bermuda for the USA pre-clear Customs first in Canada at USA Immigration checkpoints

[@joyl7842]

Interesting timing for you to post this. The same week the fastest train in the world goes into public operation, with a maximum speed of 600 kph. Also in China.

[@randomchannel-px6ho]

This is not true. CRRC has a prototype designed to travel at speeds up to 600kmh, but to date no high speed test have taken place. CRRCs prototype is based on German Transrapid technology, which is used by the world's only commercially operating highspeed Maglev, the Shanghai Maglev, which remains the world's fastest commercially operating train with a top operating speed of 431 khm. The fastest train in the world is the L0 Series Maglev, which uses JRCs super conducting technology. It has achieved a top speed of 602 kmh and the under construction Chuo Shinkansen line, planned to open in 2027, is slated to operate at a max speed of 505 kmh. In general though the potential benefits of Maglevs over conventional high speed rail have not been able to justify the significantly higher installation and operation cost. In Japan and the Unitrd States plans to build maglev high speed rail lines have been meet with heavy skepticism sand opposition for these reasons.

[@terenceconnors9627]

Thanks for another entertaining video. Digging the wooly beard, mate.

[@Heyo727]

Guess I'm watching this instead of 10 hours of hardbass

[@haaspaas2]

Why not both?

[@JackSebat]

More about trains please.

[@oldenweery7510]

I second that motion!

[@pikeman80]

The bridge cost per car is about the same as what drivers pay between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island but is only paid coming off the island.

[@thegunslinger1363]

Could you cover the operation to capture Berlin by the Red Army?

[@Battle_Beard]

Has he not covered that? Damn! Yes!

[@jonathanwest6564]

The whole concern of mainland infiltrating customs into Hong Kong has become a mute point.

[@eddyjenkins001]

Nice vidoe

[@marcoosvald8429]

Bums me out to hear they got rid of the Star Ferry Terminal. I remember many trips through there during my stay on the Island back in 90'. Then again, I remember when Kashgar was still powered by Yak Oil lanterns and Camel caravans were still traveling the silk road and coming to the Bazzar once a month... all gone, and paved under. Sooo Sad

[@Skeletomania]

Majority of the people who visited hk wasn't here as a tourist. They come over to grocery shop, and leave the same day. That's why the locals are so against it because everyone knew the service will never make enough to balance the operating costs.

[@Nick-hm2dm]

When are you going to do a Side Projects on your awesome shirts?

[@danielzambrano8932]

You should make a video on the USS Wiliam D. Porter. It's considered the US Navy's unlukiest ship. It almost caused the accidental death of President Roosevelt and a few other mishaps all in its first ever mission.

[@deoon247]

Do the Northrop YF-23

[@ryanatkinson2978]

If only we had a decent rail network in Atlanta... so much sprawl and cars. MARTA sucks, I used it exclusively for a couple years

[@poorman1787]

Hey you need to do a video about blue LED

[@SunilKhiataniHK]

That rail link says so much about the good and bad things about Hong Kong...

[@ericcoskun1]

GBA is actually nine mega cities of Guangdong province: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Huizhou, and Zhaoqing as well as two special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau.

[@Slonyarka]

Actually G306/G6538/G80/G100/G320/G6584 goes from Hong Kong to Guangzhou 46-51 minutes. And there are some other trains which go under an hour.

[@plausiblequotes7643]

Speaking of trains, how about the Las Vegas monorail? The system that never went where people wanted (airport and downtown), casinos pushed against it off of its original route, relatively expensive to ride compared to other near by options, bankrupt twice and now owned by the Las Vegas convention center. That’s just some of it too

[@jarjarbinks6018]

Las Vegas REALLY could benefit from a proper subway system but they’re too stubborn to see the viability of such a system. Unfortunate considering the sheer net inflow of money the city gets on a daily basis

[@plausiblequotes7643]

@@jarjarbinks6018 we got something even better! A slow moving, low capacity, boring tunnel.

[@jarjarbinks6018]

@@plausiblequotes7643 Ugh that thing saddens me 😂

[@eaphantom9214]

Impressive megaproject 👍👍👍 That trains looks remarkably futuristic haha & I love it , looks like Japan now has a rival to derail - pun intended 😂😂

[@Mustang-ll9ud]

I mean, the Chinese got their tech from Alstom, Siemens, Bombardier and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. So yeah, the Japanese are threatened by their own tech lmao

[@eaphantom9214]

@@Mustang-ll9ud oh so the Japanese should hate the Germans because.of.this too? 🇩🇪🇯🇵🇨🇳I see 😂😂

[@Mustang-ll9ud]

@@eaphantom9214 nope. That means the Japanese has nothing to fear because the Chinese are using borrowed tech. Its achievement doesn't reflect its tech prowess.

[@the-gti-guy3940]

Time to trim that beard Billy Gibbons 😂😉

[@sandybarnes887]

Gibbons

[@stephanieden4]

Agreed

[@kingsrook9866]

would you do videos on the Confederation Bridge and SNOLAB please?

[@geffreimaudeleyne6041]

You have very talented writers.

[@Ynhockey]

Huh, an hour and 18 minutes? I remember going from Guangzhou to Hong Kong by train in 2013 and it took about this much time - and this project was only opened in 2018. I guess they didn't really cut travel time at all, though to be fair, my route probably used the mainland section and only slowed down inside Hong Kong.

[@jameswebb2856]

How about a program on the Saigon subway system?

[@charlesklug5562]

The SR-99 tunnel in Seattle Washington definitely qualifies as a megaproject. The boring machine ran into a train.

[@brisbanebill]

while rail projects that go over budget are exciting, why not do one on the HS1 (Channel Tunnel Rail Link)? It was a success, made the old victorian St Pancras station look brilliant and changed the Kings Cross area for the better. I was lucky enough to work on it and it was my best rail project ever.

[@andrewbeil1799]

Megaproject: The evolution/invention of the Internet

[@jimbobbob9063]

It’s life assurance

[@donkey18071980]

Just a thought what about doing one on the fastest train in the world ?

[@twocvbloke]

"We build this line, not to give you more freedoms, but to take them away from you!!!" :P

[@JackieWelles]

Just some good old communism ;)

[@georgewilliams8448]

How about the California Water Project? Millions of people depend on it for both drinking water and water to irrigate farmland.

[@NikhilKanamarla]

More Asian mega projects!

[@richardmiller1340]

There is a current plan to add a maglev between Guangzhou and Hong Kong with times under 30 minutes. The maglev train was shown only yesterday. A future video for you?

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@jsinope2786]

Formula 1 cars. Just the bonkers things that mechanics, engineers and drivers need to do to get these things to do a fast lap!

[@duncasaur5074]

A-10 Thunderbolt II

[@hateeternalmaver]

Hi there, I'm kinda new to your channel(s) and *not* subscribed yet - but we're gettin' there. ;)

[@sandybarnes887]

Take your time. He has 10 😃

[@beachboy0505]

Megaprojects

[@tsvetankunchev4477]

Guangzhou was the most important city for Chinese overseas trade since the middcenturies. It is tge reason why the British took "that rock" to make HK!

[@QBCPerdition]

Mackinac Bridge for Mega Project

[@TheWuffball]

train go brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[@dgattenb]

in the uk , we cant even link high-speed rail line 1 to high-speed rail link 2.. that only goes to Birmingham !!

[@JackieWelles]

Becsuse there was way more politically interested than just linking two cities. The railway was probably part of CCP HK integration plan.

[@dgattenb]

@@JackieWelles the over all plan is to link up to Scotland etc... it will never happen :(

[@JackieWelles]

@@dgattenb I think it's more likely that China will build a railway linking China with Scotland FIRST than UK with Scotland. lol But I totally get it, we just recently got few new lines in Germany where trains can actually go faster than 200km/h on actually high speed railway and links North and Sough Germany... just recently... and this project took decades to finish -.- Before in many locations high speed train speed was limited to 150-199 km/h and railway was shared with regional trains even though ICE German high speed trains are capable of 300km/h.

[@2001mkmk]

ayy thats the video I suggested

[@vustvaleo8068]

just keep it away from Godzilla, Kong, and MechaGodzilla, lol.

[@mabunsen]

Could you do a video about the GTX (Great Train eXpress) in Seoul as well? It is a similarly large project and construction is already under way! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Train_eXpress

[@VDPEFi]

Simon is now an extremely wealthy man, obviously financial products are now his sponsors. And fair play to him, crack on Simon you're a genius. Someone else writes something and you read it out, I actually love it. What a lad lol

[@Petteri82]

I agree it is funny but to be honest I would prefer he even pretended to read the scripts in advance. :P Though I assume the constant mistakes are a ploy to drive comments.

[@IrishMike22]

How is that different from any number of other people doing the exact same thing? Radio people, actors, book on tape voices, etc., loads of people read from a script. p.s. While we're at it I might as well let you know "reality shows" are fake, Santa isn't real and the stripper you're convinced thinks you're special practices those lines on everyone. Everything is scripted mate.

[@CamMackay96]

@@IrishMike22 who pissed in your cereal?

[@IrishMike22]

@@CamMackay96 just found out myself and I'm kinda pissed 😉

[@markcoulas]

how about the "the Halifax explosion" on 6 December 1917 when two ships collided in the city's harbor, one of them a munitions ship loaded with explosives

[@madmick3794]

Was not that covered on Geographics?

[@sandybarnes887]

@@madmick3794 yes, a year ago

[@sandybarnes887]

He covered it 4 months ago on sideprojects

[@pamelamays4186]

I'm not sure if this would be a Mega or a Geo, but, how about the U.S.-Mexico border located at San Ysidro, California? San Ysidro is the most southernmost community in San Diego, with a very unique character. One big business there is currency exchange, dollars for pesos and vice versa. One infamous incident in San Ysidro was the McDonald's Massacre that happened there in the 1970's. A very tragic event in an otherwise quiet community. I'm still hoping that there'll be a Mega about the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania steel industry.🤞

[@fyrman9092]

Interesting that countries other than the US have white elephant projects.

[@marksapollo]

An hour and 18 minutes, if that was the U.K. it would be 5 hours!

[@TalesOfWar]

Add another hour or two waiting for it to show up.

[@paulsnickles2420]

👍

[@jscotthatcher380]

i was wondering why there was Liberty Mutual advert before this video.😹

[@lazyishardwork]

travel time is about 45 minutes quicker if you just get the train from Guangzhoudong station to Shenzhen, that's about an hour 20 minutes. Then from Lo Wu to Mong Kok along the Mong Kok East line is another 45 minutes. From Guangzhoudong to Hong Hum is over 2 1/2 hours. The customs at Hung Hom are no quicker than going through Shenzhen into HK anyway. And the express from Guangzhoudong to Hong Hum is far more expensive. Plus the duty free between Shenzhen and LoWu is far more extensive. I've taken both routes at least 100 times, I know what I prefer, fuck the express line. And that sped up footage that's used repeatedly is the corner of Nathan Rd and Peking rd just across the road from the Chunking Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui: know it very well. And it takes far longer than 15 minutes to travel from HK to Shenzhen. Your fact checkers are pathetically inept. And that station you talk about in HK must be photoshopped because it simply doesn't exist and I've got personal photos of HK harbour from Dec. 2019 to prove it.

[@Simonsvids]

Simon, comparing the size of somewhere to that of West Virginia means nothing to us Brits. It needs to be compared to the size of Wales!

[@stephanieden4]

It probably means nothing to most of us from the states either, sadly. I’m glad however, any time my state gets some attention.

[@Grand58742]

You should do SoFi stadium in Los Angeles as a Megaproject.

[@arc8216]

Chinese infrastructure planning is pretty reckless. Like when they build dams flood a lot of residential areas.

[@MrMrchatcity]

America we could have infrastructure like this but some of you playin

[@nos676]

you need life insurance, that is just a fact. actually.. no.

[@JackieWelles]

Wouldn't be surprises if the railway was just another part of China master plan on fully integrating HK into China and they did. They managed to secure HK against the scheduled 2049. Chinese government efficiency is really outstanding! 👌🏻

[@dragonfastback5440]

Hmmm, that's an interesting definition of "outstanding" ....

[@JackieWelles]

@@dragonfastback5440 Sarcasm mate, sarcasm...

[@fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718]

Life insurance = only a moron or suicidal maniac looking for some assistance not only puts a price on their own heads but also pays a monthly fee for that. After I'm dead what happans after is no longer my problem(s).

[@luism5514]

You could do dozens of these videos on China’s infrastructure projects alone. Probably hundreds. Do the Hong Kong Macao bridge or the Shenzhen Zhongshan link.

[@Prosper_Dean]

Unfortunate that most youtubers/viewers hate China and cant even enjoy their amazing engineering marvels for what they are 👎

[@2001mkmk]

@@Prosper_Dean cause theyre crap

[@geoffreyhansen8543]

Is part of St Pancras station subject to French laws?

[@MattHuey]

If China and there police would back up there own ppl...during these protest!! Man that would be a game changer!!💯💯👍🙌🙌 I hope we see change over there!!💯

[@fredivory4304]

Tunneling machines are boring. 🤭

[@TobyAnderson]

Atlas cheetah

[@meredithv3168]

Video 3 and I believe channel 2 of commenting that Simon doesn't even whistle. Updates pending.

[@ybing]

The Most Expensive Infrastructure in Hong Kong's History.......... yet....... soon will be overtaken in Chinese style expansion lol

[@JackieWelles]

That was the plan probably.

[@ybing]

@@JackieWelles ya keep building stuff and draining the government's reserve funds, then can slowly take full control

[@Nicklan1961]

yes I believe this was all part of the one state two system agreement at least they got the railroad they could have just ripped that up like they did the two system agreement

[@TheNinjaDC]

Simon seemed to avoid acknowledging Hongkong's current repression, that those earlier protests warned about.

[@madmick3794]

Depends when he shot this clip. He posted one only a few days ago that was recorded in Feb/March.

[@williamlee7672]

Just wondering. Do you know people there?

[@Mustang-ll9ud]

@@williamlee7672 I can confirm it is fucked up over here. As a Hongkonger.

[@FurryMetalFerretVT]

​@@madmick3794 the HK issue has been going on longer then that, but no it most likely because he does not want the video removed