Railway buffs get carried away as KCR reaches end of the line

About 3.5 million commuters pass through Hong Kong's railway stations daily without pausing for a second glance, but the stations became an attraction in themselves yesterday.

People took special rides between the two formerly separate railway systems to check out if there was any difference in the new unified network.

Although operations on the first day of the merged KCR and MTR rail networks were generally smooth, some passengers became confused about directions at Tsim Sha Tsui station - one of the four interchange stops - after Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation logos were removed.

Customer service centres at busy stations like Mong Kok said they received no complaints from passengers about incorrect fare deductions from Octopus cards.

But a few holders of the old purple student Octopus cards, which the MTR Corp said on Saturday would charge the wrong fare, did request card renewals.

The merger has been touted as bringing savings of HK$0.20 to HK$8.20 per trip to 2.8 million commuters who use Octopus cards, and other savings brought about by unifying the new systems.

Many people took the opportunity to ride the rails under the new concessionary fare regime. Some stayed up all night to witness the last KCR East Rail train leaving Tsim Sha Tsui East station - the last journey in a century of service.