As 2024 comes to an end, we reflect on the past year and recognize the significant achievements of the Hong Kong Branch of the National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Center (CNERC-Rail (HK Branch)) across various domains, including rail transit technology innovation, international collaboration, and talent development. Committed to technological advancement, coordinated growth, and societal service, we have remained steadfast in our mission. By confronting challenges with determination, continuously refining our expertise, and striving for excellence, we have made substantial progress in our pursuit of innovation and impact.
In the realm of scientific research, we have achieved significant advancements. This year, we made major breakthroughs in the intelligent operation and maintenance of rail transit and successfully secured approval to establish the PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute. For technology innovation, we have independently developed an intelligent operation and maintain platform for rail transportation. The platform covers various operation and maintenance management field, including track maintenance, intelligent station yard maintenance, vehicle depot maintenance, rolling stock maintenance, and trackside monitoring, making significant contributions to enhancing operational efficiency and safety. For noise reduction, CNERC-Rail (HK Branch), in collaboration with CRRC Tangshan Co., Ltd., optimized the noise reduction solutions. We successfully developed an intelligent noise reduction barrier using optimized acoustic metamaterial model, achieving remarkable results. Additionally, we have also made breakthroughs in UAV-based geological disaster prevention, obstacle instruction detection, and intelligent maglev control. These breakthroughs not only accelerate the intelligent development of rail transit but also contribute significantly to the industry’s sustainable growth. Furthermore, the “Intelligent tropical-storm-resilient system for coastal cities” project was officially launched, aiming to enhance the intelligent management of tropical storm risks. A key research outcome, “Increasing temporal stability of global tropical cyclone precipitation”, was published in a Nature Partner Journals, highlighting our research excellence and global impact. Additionally, the centre’s director, Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, received The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement, validating the significant contributions of entire team to scientific research.
In advancing technological transformation, we actively engage in initiatives to facilitate the application of scientific research outcomes. In June, we participated in the “Innovative π-Industry Science and Technology Innovation Conference” in Hangzhou, collaborating closely with government agencies, enterprises, and investment institutions to foster technical integration and cooperative exchanges in areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, and rail transit. These efforts have strengthened the pathway for translating technological innovations into practical applications, effectively driving the growth and development of related industries.
In supporting the advancement of rail transit in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), we hosted the 2nd Seminar on Maglev Train and Advanced Railway Transportation Development in the GBA, and the 2nd Greater Bay Area Modern Railway Transportation Technology Forum (Bay Area Forum) and the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Modern Railway Transportation Co-Innovation Center Annual Conference. These events have established a strong foundation for promoting innovation and international collaboration in high-speed rail and maglev technology, providing significant momentum for the continued development of rail transit in the GBA.
We have also achieved substantial progress in both domestic and international collaborations. In July, Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, Director of CNERC-Rail (HK Branch), Nicholas Kwan, Deputy Head, and Dr. Pamela Tin, Research Director from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, visited the CNERC-Rail (HK Branch). In-depth discussions were held on the potential development of maglev transportation, aimed at integrating Hong Kong into the national rail planning. In September, Wen-Bin Miao, member of the Standing Committee of the Taizhou Municipal Committee of Zhejiang Province, visited the CNERC-Rail (HK Branch) and signed multiple cooperation agreements with PolyU. These agreements have paved new paths for international collaboration in maglev transportation and intelligent operation and maintenance.
Looking ahead to 2025, we remain committed to our foundational mission, striving to advance innovation in intelligent rail transit operation, maintenance, and maglev technology while fostering deeper collaboration and exchange with various parties. Simultaneously, we further enhance investment in technological research and development, talent cultivation, and knowledge transfer, contributing even greater efforts to the advancement of Hong Kong and the GBA.
