On 22 August 2023, an area of low pressure was generated off the east of Luzon, Philippines, and was named "91W". It intensified into a tropical storm in the morning of 24 August and was later named "Saola", which was the ninth (9th) tropical cyclone to be named in the 2023 Pacific typhoon season.
The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Standby Signal No. 1 at 5:40 pm on 30 August[1], and Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at 3:40 pm on 31 August[2], and the No.8 Northwest Gale or Storm Signal was later issued at 2:40am on 1 September.[3] The Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No. 9 was later issued at 6:20pm[4] and the Hurricane Signal No. 10 was later issued at 8:15pm[5] on the same day.
As Saola moved away from Hong Kong, the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal was issued at 3:40 am on 2 September to replace the Hurricane Signal No. 10[6], and the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 was issued at 4:20 pm to replace the the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal.[7] The Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 8:20 pm to replace the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 afterwards.[8] All Tropical Cyclone Signals were cancelled at 11:40 pm.[9]
The following special arrangements were implemented for railway services in Hong Kong during the storm.
MTR[]
Urban lines[]
31st August、1st September[]
| Line | Frequency (mins) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 31st August | 1st September | ||
| since the Signal No.3 announcement issued until the last train departed |
since the Signal No.8 announcement issued at 05:00 when the first train departed |
since the Signal No.9 announcement issued at 18:20 | |
| Tsuen Wan Line | Services remained normal until the last train departed |
10-minute intervals | Central Station - Lai King Station: 15-minute intervals |
| Kwun Tong Line | Whampoa Station - Choi Hung Station: 15-minute intervals | ||
| Island Line | Kennedy Town Station - Heng Fa Chuen Station: 15-minute intervals | ||
| South Island Line | South Horizons Station - Lei Tung Station: 15-minute intervals | ||
| Tseung Kwan O Line | North Point Station - Po Lam Station: 10-minute intervals Tiu Keng Leng Station - LOHAS Park Station: 15-minute intervals |
North Point Station - Po Lam Station: 15-minute intervals Tiu Keng Leng Station - LOHAS Park Station: 15-minute intervals | |
| Tung Chung Line | 10-minute intervals | Hong Kong Station - Kowloon Station: 15-minute intervals | |
| Disneyland Resort Line | 20-minute intervals | No service | |
| Airport Express | 10-minute intervals | ||
| East Rail Line | Admiralty Station - Lo Wu Station: 10-minute intervals Admiralty Station - Lok Ma Chau Station: 20-minute intervals |
Hung Hom Station - Admiralty Station: 15-minute intervals | |
| Tuen Ma Line | 10-minute intervals | Tsuen Wan East Station - Tsim Sha Tsui East Station: 15-minute intervals Ho Man Tin Station - Diamond Hill Station: 18-minute intervals | |
| Light Rail | 15-20 minute intervals (The service of Light Rail Route 614 & 615 suspended) |
No service | |
2nd September[]
| Line | Frequency (mins) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Signal No.8 announcement issued |
The Signal No.3 announcement issued since 16:20 | |||||
| when the first train departed | since 06:30 | since 07:45 | since 08:30 | since 09:15 | ||
| Tsuen Wan Line | 10-minute intervals | 10-minute intervals | 10-minute intervals | gradually resume to normal frequencies | ||
| Kwun Tong Line | Due to failure of platform automatic gates at Kowloon Bay Station, service suspended between Choi Hung Station and Kwun Tong Station Whampoa Station - Choi Hung Station: 15-minute intervals Kwun Tong Station - Tiu Keng Leng Station: 15-minute intervals | |||||
| Island Line | 10-minute intervals | |||||
| South Island Line | ||||||
| Tseung Kwan O Line | North Point Station - Po Lam Station: 10-minute intervals Tiu Keng Leng Station - LOHAS Park Station: 15-minute intervals | |||||
| Tung Chung Line | 30-minute intervals | 15-minute intervals | ||||
| Disneyland Resort Line | Service suspended due to obstruction caused by fallen trees on tracks. | 20-minute intervals | ||||
| Airport Express | 30-minute intervals | 15-minute intervals | ||||
| East Rail Line | Due to obstruction caused by fallen trees on tracks, service suspended from Hung Hom Station to Fanling Station Admiralty Station - Hung Hom Station: 15-minute intervals Fanling Station - Lo Wu Station: 15-minute intervals Fanling Station - Lok Ma Chau Station: 25-minute intervals |
Due to obstruction caused by fallen trees on tracks, service suspended from University Station to Fanling Station Admiralty Station - University Station: 15-minute intervals Fanling Station - Lo Wu Station: 15-minute intervals Fanling Station - Lok Ma Chau Station: 25-minute intervals |
Admiralty Station - Lo Wu Station: 10-minute intervals Admiralty Station - Lok Ma Chau Station: 20-minute intervals | |||
| Tuen Ma Line | 10-minute intervals | |||||
| Light Rail | 15-20 minute intervals (The service of Light Rail Route 614 & 615 suspended) | |||||
Airport Express In-town Check-in service[]
1st September[]
- Announced in the morning:
- In-town Check-in service is suspended until further notice.
High Speed Rail[]
31st August[]
- Announced at 5:33 pm that:
- The Mainland railway authorities informed to MTR that train services between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Mainland from 31 August to 4th September had been adjusted or cancelled due to the typhoon.
- G6388 and G6381 will stop service at Shenzhen North Station.
- G305 will stop service at Guangzhou South Station.
- Cancelled trains:
- Departing from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G6392/89, G5614, G5612, G5610, G3006, G6510, G80, G3008, G6504、G100, G408/9, G320, G3002, G3004, G5616, G6506
- Departing from Mainland: G6390/1, G6387、G5609、G5603、G6501、G3005、G3007、G99、G6503、G6113、G6511、G3001、G3003、G2963
- 1st September:
- G305 will stop service at Guangzhou South Station.
- G306 will start service at Guangzhou South Station.
- Cancelled trains:
- Departing from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G5612 、G5610、G3006、G3008、G6586、G6588、G6514、G5604、G5650、G5652、G5654、G6562、G6384、G6386、G6388、G6382、G6392/89、G5614、G418、G6504、G100、G3002、G3004、G5616、G2964、G6506、G6528、G6530、G6580、G6556、G6560、G6564、G6546、G6548、G6550、G6558、G80、G6502、G6510、G320、G6512、G408/9、G6114、G5858、G5860、G5828、G5830、G5832、G5824、G5826、G5632、G5808、G5810、G5634、G5814、G5862、G5642、G5644、G5646、G5806、G5648、G6516、G5606、G6526、G6584、G5620、G5622、G6554、G6552、G6102、G5802、G5804、G6542、G6536、G6538
- Depart from Mainland: G5609、G3005、G3007、G6585、G6587、G6513、G6509、G5651、G5653、G5655、G6559、G6383、G5613、G6385、G6387、G5611、G6381、G6390/1、G417、G99 、G6503、G3001、G3003、G2963、G5615、G6505、G6527、G6529、G6533、G6553、G6557、G6561、G6545、G6547、G6549、G6555、G6501、G79、G5603、G6511、G319、G6113、G410/7、G5857、G5859、G5827、G5829、G5831、G5823、G5825、G5633、G5635、G5807、G5809、G5813、G5861、G5643、G5645、G5647、G5649、G5805、G6515、G6525、G5605、G6583、G5621、G5623、G6551、G5607、G6541、G5801、G5803、G6103、G6535、G6537
- 2nd September:
- G305 will stop service at Guangzhou South Station.
- G306 will start service at Guangzhou South Station.
- Cancelled trains:
- Depart from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G5612 、G5610、G3006、G3008、G6384、G6386、G6388、G6382、G6392/89、G5614、G418 、G6504、G100、G3002、G3004、G5616、G2964、G6506、G6528、G6530、G6580、G6552、G6556、G6560、G6564、G6546、G6548、G6550、G6554、G6558、G6562、G80、G6502、G6510、G320、G6512、G6514、G5604、G408/9、G6114
- Depart from Mainland: G5609、G3005、G3007、G6383、G5613、G6385、G6387、G5611、G6381、G6390/1、G417、G99、G6503、G3001、G3003、G2963、G5615、G6505、G6527、G6529、G6533、G6553、G6557、G6561、G6545、G6547、G6549、G6551、G6555、G6559、G6501、G79、G5603、G6511、G319、G6513、G6509、G6113、G410/07
- 3rd September:
- G305 will stop service at Guangzhou South Station.
- G306 will start service at Guangzhou South Station.
- Cancelled trains:
- Departing from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G5612 、G5610、G3006、G3008、G6384、G6386、G6388、G6382、G6392/89、G5614、G418 、G6504、G100、G3002、G3004、G5616、G2964、G6506、G80、G6502、G6510、G320、G6512、G6514、G5604、G408/9、G6114
- Departing from Mainland: G5609、G3005、G3007、G6383、G5613、G6385、G6387、G5611、G6381、G6390/1、G417、G99、G6503、G3001、G3003、G2963、G5615、G6505、G6501、G79、G5603、G6511、G319、G6513、G6509、G6113、G410/07
- 4th September：
- G306 will start service at Guangzhou South Station.
- Cancelled trains:
- Depart from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G2964、G6502、G6512、G6514、G5604、G6114
- Depart from Mainland: G5615、G6505、G79、G319、G6513、G6509、G410/07
- The Mainland railway authorities informed to MTR that train services between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Mainland from 31 August to 4th September had been adjusted or cancelled due to the typhoon.
1st September[]
- Announced at 10:43 am that:
- Except for the following remained trains on 1st September that will be maintained, all other trains on 1st September have been cancelled:
- Depart from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G5624、G5820、G5636、G5822、G5626、G6582、G5602、G5638、G5812、G5628、G6540、G5640、G5816、G6534、G5630、G5818
- Depart from Mainland: G5819、G5625、G6539、G5637、G5821、G5627、G5601、G5639、G5811、G5629、G6581、G5815、G5641、G6579
- All trains on 2nd September have been cancelled.
- 3rd September:
- G305 will stop service at Guangzhou South Station.
- G306 will start service at Guangzhou South Station.
- Cancelled trains:
- Depart from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G5612 、G5610、G3006、G3008、G6384、G6386、G6388、G6382、G6392/89、G5614、G418 、G6504、G100、G3002、G3004、G5616、G2964、G6506、G80、G6502、G6510、G320、G6512、G6514、G5604、G408/9、G6114
- Depart from Mainland: G5609、G3005、G3007、G6383、G5613、G6385、G6387、G5611、G6381、G6390/1、G417、G99、G6503、G3001、G3003、G2963、G5615、G6505、G6501、G79、G5603、G6511、G319、G6513、G6509、G6113、G410/07
- 9月4日：
- G306 will start service at Guangzhou South Station.
- Cancelled trains:
- Depart from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G2964、G6502、G6512、G6514、G5604、G6114
- Depart from Mainland: G5615、G6505、G79、G319、G6513、G6509、G410/07
- Except for the following remained trains on 1st September that will be maintained, all other trains on 1st September have been cancelled:
- Announced at 12:35 pm that:
- Train service on the High Speed Rail between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and the Mainland is suspended.
2nd September[]
- Announced at 11:38 pm that:
- Train services on 3 September:
- G305 stop service at Guangzhounan Station, do not stop at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.
- G306 start service at Guangzhounan Station, do not stop at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.
- Cancelled Trains:
- Depart from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G6384、G6386、G6388、G6382、G6392/89、G5614、G418 、G6504、G100、G2964、G6506、G6502、G6512、G6514、G5604、G6114
- Depart from Mainland: G6383、G5613、G6385、G6387、G5611、G6381、G6390/1、G417、G99、G6503、G5615、G6505、G79、G319、G6513、G6509、G410/07
- The remaining trains have resumed normal service.
- Train services on 4 September:
- G306 start service at Guangzhounan Station
- Cancelled Trains: G6505
- Train services on 3 September:
3rd September[]
- Announced at 9:21pm that:
- Due to the Tropical Cyclone Haikui, some train services between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and the Mainland have been adjusted or cancelled.
- Train services on 4th September:
- G6391 start service at Chaoshan station.
- G6392/89 Stop service at Chaoshan station.
- G306 start service at Guangzhounan Station, do not stop at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.
- Cancelled Trains:
- Depart from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G3008/G5612/G6386/G6388/G3002/G3004
- Depart from Mainland:G3007/G3005/G5613/G6385/G6387/G6505//G3001/G3003
- Train services on 5th September:
- Cancelled Trains:
- Depart from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G5612/G3006/G3008/G6382/ G6392/89 / G5614/G6386/G6388//G3002/G3004/G6384
- Depart from Mainland: G3005/G5609/G3007/G5611/G6381/ G6390/1 /G5613/G6385/G6387/G3001/G3003/G6383
- Cancelled Trains:
- Train services on 4th September:
- Due to the Tropical Cyclone Haikui, some train services between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and the Mainland have been adjusted or cancelled.
5th September[]
- Announced at 8:59pm that:
- Due to the Tropical Cyclone Haikui, some train services between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and the Mainland have been cancelled. Affected Trains are shown as below:
- Depart from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station: G5612/G3006/G3008/G3002/G3004
- Depart from Mainland: G3005/G5609/G3007/G3001/G3003
- Due to the Tropical Cyclone Haikui, some train services between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and the Mainland have been cancelled. Affected Trains are shown as below:
Ngong Ping 360[]
31st August[]
- Ngong Ping 360 announced at 3:40 pm that:
- Due to the impact of Strong Wind Signal No. 3, cable car service was suspended and was set to resume as soon as possible once the weather improved.
Hong Kong Tramways[]
1st September[]
- Announced in the morning:
- All service are suspended.
Peak Tram[]
1st September[]
- Announced in the morning:
- All service are suspended.
Other Incidents[]
1st September[]
- Due to the announcement of class suspension by the Education Bureau, the Light Rail Route 506P service originally scheduled for that day will be postponed and put into service on 4th September.
- At 10:38 pm, MTR announced that due to the adverse weather condition near the station, Entrance/Exit A1 and A2 in Tiu Keng Leng Station were temporarily closed, passengers had to use other Entrances/Exits.
2nd September[]
- Due to obstruction caused by fallen trees on tracks, the service of Disneyland Resort Line and East Rail Line between Hung Hom Station and Fanling Station were suspended when the first train departed. The service of East Rail Line between Hung Hom Station and University Station resumed from 6:30 am onwards, and then the service of Disneyland Resort Line and East Rail Line gradually resumed at around 07:10 am and 8:53 am separately.
- At 7:44 am, MTR announced that due to equipment failure of the automatic gates at the platform of Kowloon Bay Station on the Kwun Tong Line, train services between Kwun Tong Station and Choi Hung Station were suspended. Services gradually resumed at around 8:22 am.
Gallery[]
MTR service arrangements web-screenshots[]
1st September[]
MTR service arrangements since the pre-no.8 special announcement issued at 01:30 on 1st September
MTR service arrangements during the issuance of the signal no. 8 (2023-09-01 02:40)
MTR service arrangements during the issuance of the signal no. 8 (2023-09-01 05:00)
MTR service arrangements during the issuance of the signal no. 9 (2023-09-01 18:20)
MTR service arrangements during the issuance of the signal no. 10 (2023-09-01 20:15)
Tiu Keng Leng Station access arrangements (2023-09-01 22:38)
2nd September[]
MTR service arrangements during the issuance of the signal no. 8 (2023-09-02 06:01)
MTR service arrangements during the train service disruption on the East Rail Line (2023-09-02 06:14)
MTR service arrangements during the train service disruption on the Disneyland Resort Line (2023-09-02 06:27)
MTR service arrangements during the issuance of the signal no. 8 (2023-09-02 09:45)
MTR service arrangements since the pre-no.3 special announcement issued (2023-09-02 15:10)
High Speed Rail train service arrangements web-screenshots[]
1st September[]
High Speed Rail train service arrangements (2023-08-30 17:54)
High Speed Rail train service arrangements during the issuance of the signal no. 8 (2023-09-01 02:40)
High Speed Rail train service arrangements during the issuance of the signal no. 8 (2023-09-01 10:43)
High Speed Rail train service suspension announcement (2023-09-01 12:35)
High Speed Rail train service arrangements during the issuance of the signal no. 9 (2023-09-01 18:20)
High Speed Rail train service arrangements during the issuance of the signal no. 10 (2023-09-01 20:17)
2nd September[]
High Speed Rail train service arrangements during the issuance of the signal no. 8 (2023-09-02 03:44)
High Speed Rail train service arrangements announcement (2023-09-02 21:43)
High Speed Rail train service arrangements announcement (2023-09-02 23:38)
3rd September[]
High Speed Rail train service arrangements announcement (2023-09-03 21:21)
6th September[]
High Speed Rail train service arrangements announcement (2023-09-06 11:59)
High Speed Rail train service arrangements announcement (2023-09-06 22:20)
References[]
- ↑ 天 氣 稿 第 137 號 - 發出/取消熱帶氣旋警告信號 (Weather Bulletin No. 137 - Issuance/Cancellation of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals), Hong Kong Observatory of the HKSAR, 30 Aug 2023.
- ↑ 天 氣 稿 第 129 號 - 發出/取消熱帶氣旋警告信號 (Weather Bulletin No. 129 - Issuance/Cancellation of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals), Hong Kong Observatory of the HKSAR, 31 Aug 2023.
- ↑ 天 氣 稿 第 023 號 - 發出/取消熱帶氣旋警告信號 (Weather Bulletin No. 023 - Issuance/Cancellation of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals), Hong Kong Observatory of the HKSAR, 1 Sep 2023.
- ↑ 天 氣 稿 第 210 號 - 發出/取消熱帶氣旋警告信號 (Weather Bulletin No. 210 - Issuance/Cancellation of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals), Hong Kong Observatory of the HKSAR, 1 Sep 2023.
- ↑ 天 氣 稿 第 250 號 - 發出/取消熱帶氣旋警告信號 (Weather Bulletin No. 250 - Issuance/Cancellation of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals), Hong Kong Observatory of the HKSAR, 1 Sep 2023.
- ↑ 天 氣 稿 第 047 號 - 發出/取消熱帶氣旋警告信號 (Weather Bulletin No. 047 - Issuance/Cancellation of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals), Hong Kong Observatory of the HKSAR, 2 Sep 2023.
- ↑ 天 氣 稿 第 206 號 - 發出/取消熱帶氣旋警告信號 (Weather Bulletin No. 206 - Issuance/Cancellation of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals), Hong Kong Observatory of the HKSAR, 2 Sep 2023.
- ↑ 天 氣 稿 第 273 號 - 發出/取消熱帶氣旋警告信號 (Weather Bulletin No. 273 - Issuance/Cancellation of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals), Hong Kong Observatory of the HKSAR, 2 Sep 2023.
- ↑ 天 氣 稿 第 311 號 - 發出/取消熱帶氣旋警告信號 (Weather Bulletin No. 311 - Issuance/Cancellation of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals), Hong Kong Observatory of the HKSAR, 2 Sep 2023.