More ticket counters at Hong Kong terminus of high-speed rail link after chaotic first day marked by queues and ticket confusion
Critics say MTR needs to overcome major flaws at new West Kowloon station if it wants Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link to become a sustainable attraction to users
Two ticket counters were added at the terminus of Hong Kong’s high-speed rail link after its opening day was dogged by large queues of people struggling to collect pre-ordered tickets, while the operator confirmed minor leaking on-site after heavy rain on Monday.
Critics said it was a wake-up call to the rail giant and warned it needed to overcome major flaws at the new Hong Kong West Kowloon station, especially with ticketing and integration with the mainland Chinese system, before the much hyped railway could become a sustainable attraction to users.
Dr Hung Wing-tat, a fellow of the Hong Kong Society of Transportation Studies, said crowd management at the terminus was disappointing.
“It was difficult to find seats to take a rest with long queues everywhere. On the mainland [Chinese side] there are machines that allow passengers to collect pre-booked tickets but the Hong Kong side … relies on manned counters,” Hung said on a radio programme on Monday morning.
Francis Li Shing-kee, the high-speed rail operating chief, admitted early problems needed to be ironed out, especially concerning integration between the systems either side of the border.