For many students in Hong Kong, a ride on the MTR is part of their daily routine.
But for one school, the trains have become part of their learning experience.
At the Ying Wa College and Primary School in Kowloon, two retired MTR carriages have been transformed into train-themed classrooms.
The Ying Wa project is the first time MTR carriages have been sent into a school. The carriages are used for technology, engineering, conservation and design lessons.
"For many children, the old trains will greatly enhance their sense of belonging to the school," said one person online.
But some other people online said the old trains would be better in a museum where more people could see them.
The school project is part of the MTR's "Legacy Train Revitalisation Programme", which aims to give retired trains a second life.
Recycling old carriages also fits into the MTR's plan to use retired carriages in an environmentally friendly way.
How did this project start? In 2021, the MTR was criticised when a pile of retired trains were photographed in a scrap metal yard. People pushed the railway company to use the retired trains for community projects.
"After all, these old trains have historical value, and many people have happy memories of them," said the Public Transport Research Team.
It is not just carriages that are getting a second life. More than 400 train parts have also been upcycled into different uses. These include passenger seats donated to schools. Train parts have also been turned into exercise equipment and installed in homes for the elderly.
The classrooms will boost the students' understanding of Hong Kong's railway history. The project could be extended to other schools soon.
Five things to know about
1. A train is a series of connected vehicles that travel along railway tracks.
2. Trains are powered by a locomotive, which is also called an engine.
3. A locomotive can be powered by diesel or electricity. In the past, they were powered by steam. In some parts of the world, you can still travel on trains powered by steam engines.
4. There are two types of trains: a passenger train and a freight train. A passenger train carries people to and from different locations. A freight train is used to transport heavy cargo.
5. Nowadays, there are many high-speed trains which travel faster than ever before. Some of them use magnetic technology so the train does not touch the tracks!
