Hong Kong’s 2 busiest cross-harbour MTR lines report peak-time commuter drop of up to 17 per cent, part of more even distribution of passenger flow from East Rail extension
- MTR Corporation attributes drop in passengers during morning rush hour to launch of Hung Hom to Admiralty section, says ‘effects are very positive and ideal’
- Daily number of commuters on East Rail Line rose by 2.5 per cent in July from one year ago, hitting 530,000 passengers, transport operator adds
The number of commuters using Hong Kong’s two busiest cross-harbour rail lines during the morning rush hour has dropped as much as 17 per cent since a new section of the East Island Line opened in mid-May, according to the MTR Corporation.
Cheung Chi-keung, head of MTR Corp’s cross-boundary operations, on Monday said the launch of the Hung Hom to Admiralty section had greatly reduced hassle for commuters, while making passenger flow more evenly distributed.
“We see that the effects are very positive and ideal. Also, passengers don’t have to switch trains as often when crossing the harbour. We can see that it is more convenient for them,” he said.
Cheung noted that the number of passengers taking the Tsuen Wan and Kwun Tong lines during the busiest morning commuting times had fallen by 17 per cent and 10 per cent respectively since the extension began operations.
But the daily number of commuters on the East Rail Line rose by 2.5 per cent in July from a year ago, hitting 530,000 passengers, he said.
The new route, also known as the cross-harbour extension of the East Rail Line, is the fourth such rail link to connect at Admiralty MTR station, with the others being the Tsuen Wan, Island and South Island lines.
Cheung also estimated the railway extension had shaved a collective 48,000 hours off passengers’ daily commuting times.