Hong Kong MTR adds more train trips to cut back on waiting times

The MTR Corp is adding 541 train services every week on eight busy light rail routes and three railway lines starting later this month.

The extra services will accommodate 420,000 more passenger journeys every week, the company announced yesterday.

"We have a clear focus on improving areas where our passengers have told us they want us to do better," said Dr Jacob Kam Chak-pui, operations director of the MTR Corporation. "Since 2012 we have added over 2,400 train trips a week for the heavy rail and more than 200 extra weekly services on the light rail."

The Tseung Kwan O Line - between North Point station and Po Lam station - will see an extra 22 services on Sundays from March 29, which will shorten the frequency from every five minutes to every four minutes.

The Ma On Shan Line will have 10 more services every Saturday from March 28, cutting the frequency from 5.5 minutes to 4.5 minutes.

The Hong Kong Island Line will have an extra 63 services on Friday nights, Saturday nights and Sunday mornings and afternoons, raising the frequency from up to five minutes to about 3.5 minutes.