HONG KONG - The first high-speed sleeper train from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Beijing departed from the SAR's West Kowloon Station on Saturday evening.

The new train service runs between the West Kowloon Station and Beijing West Railway Station every Friday to Monday. The time it takes to travel between Beijing and Hong Kong will be reduced to about 12.5 hours from 24.5 hours.

We have sleeper train service four days per week. It depends on how it goes and if it is welcomed by the general public, we will push for more.

Lam Sai-hung, Secretary for Transport and Logistics

A Hong Kong passenger surnamed Koo on board was excited about the journey, saying the train offered older people a convenient and comfortable option to travel.

READ MORE: High-speed trains to boost HK-mainland travel

Lam Sai-hung, secretary for transport and logistics of the HKSAR government, was also on the train to witness the moment.  

Lam said the railway network usually had to undergo maintenance during the nighttime. He believes that the public will welcome the new service as it is an alternative mode of transport.

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Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung on Sunday told the media that the authorities will look at the demand to consider whether to increase the train frequency.

"We will see the response to this service, and then we will liaise with the MTR and of course with the Mainland authorities. And then we will decide whether to increase the frequency or not."