Slaughter and May has advised the MTR on the operational and financial arrangements for the US$10.7 billion XRL

Slaughter and May has advised MTR Corporation Limited (MTR), the operator of the Hong Kong metro system, on the operational and financial arrangements for the HK$84.4 billion (US$10.7 billion) Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL). Scheduled to open in September 2018, the XRL comprises a 26 km high speed rail link connecting Hong Kong to the 25,000 km Mainland high speed rail network with connections from Hong Kong to 44 Mainland destinations, including Beijing and Shanghai. In place is also a customs and immigration co-location arrangement implemented between the Hong Kong and Mainland Governments which will enable passengers to clear Hong Kong and PRC formalities in Hong Kong, further providing for faster and more convenient cross-boundary travel.

MTR has been appointed the operator of the Express Rail Link for a concession period of ten years.