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. The Railway Development Strategy 2000, which provides a blueprint for the next phase of railway development, includes a number of new railway schemes to meet Hong Kong's increasing transport needs in a sustainable manner over the next two decades.

The Tseung Kwan O Line, which commenced operation in August 2002, the West Rail, which commenced operation in December 2003, the East Rail Tsim Sha Tsui Extension, which commenced operation in October 2004, the East Rail Tai Wai to Ma On Shan Rail Link, which commenced operation in December 2004, and the Disneyland Resort Line, which commenced operation in August 2005, involved an investment of about $83 billion. Construction works of three railway projects, namely the Spur Line, the Kowloon Southern Link and the Tseung Kwan O South Station, continued in 2006 at a total cost of about $20 billion.

The Sha Tin to Central Link, the West Island Line, the Northern Link and the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link are now in the planning stage.