Railways are safe, efficient, reliable, comfortable and environmentally friendly mass carriers. They play a key role in Hong Kong's transport systems strategy and the Government gives high priority to railway development. Its Railway Development Strategy 2000 is both a blueprint for the next phase of railway development and a scheme to meet Hong Kong's increasing transport needs in a sustainable manner over the next two decades.

West Rail, which opened in December 2003, the East Rail Tsim Sha Tsui Extension, which opened in October 2004, the East Rail Tai Wai to Ma On Shan Rail Link, which opened two month later and the Disneyland Resort Line, which opened in August 2005, involved an investment of about $65 billion. Construction work continued in 2005 on two rail projects, the Spur Line and the Kowloon Southern Link, which are now under construction at a total cost of about $18 billion.

The Sha Tin to Central Link, West Island Line, the Northern Link and the Hong Kong section of the Express Rail Link are now under active planning.