MTR to extend popular second-trip fare concession beyond June
MTR Corporation's commercial director Jeny Yeung said passengers would continue to get a 10 per cent discount when they took a second trip on the same day, after the first phase of the scheme ends next month.
The MTR will extend its popular fare concession on second journeys until next March as it has not yet spent all the HK$670 million it put aside to provide travel discounts last year.
MTR Corporation's commercial director Jeny Yeung said passengers would continue to get a 10 per cent discount when they took a second trip on the same day, after the first phase of the scheme ends next month.
The operator will also improve its designated-route monthly pass, which allows a 25 per cent discount on routes other than the designated ones.
"These [concessions] are all part of the new fare adjustment scheme that allows us to share our profit with commuters," Yeung said.
The formula was adjusted so rises would be lessened, and a profit-sharing system was introduced in which the railway had to offer concessions of a certain amount when its profit exceeded HK$5 billion. Some lawmakers complained the scheme helped the MTR to cap the level of discounts it must offer.
Last year, the MTR decided to repay 100 per cent of its HK$670 million in extra earnings to passengers after public pressure to abandon a 5.4 per cent fare rise.
According to documents submitted to the Legislative Council, 14 million passengers enjoyed a "ride-10-get-one-free" concession during the second half of last year, using up HK$170 million. That was compared with a total of HK$240 million spent on the "10 per cent same-day second trip discount" since December 31, which benefited an average of 3.2 million passengers per day.
Combined with other concessions, this meant only HK$470 million of the HK$670 million extra earnings was used last year.
