Hong Kong’s embattled MTR Corporation rolls out fare concessions as it works to get reputation back on track
- Overall fare savings to commuters estimated be over HK$800 million
- Despite recent fiascos, railway giant’s profit jumps more than 7 per cent
The MTR Corporation will roll out more fare concessions as part of efforts to rebuild its image after a wave of scandals and controversies.
The number of stations covered by the discount would also be increased to 44 from 35, with the nine additional stations from going from Lok Fu to Yau Tong, according to Ma.
Passengers exiting the participating stations between 7.15am and 8.15am from Monday to Friday are eligible for the discount.
Ma also said there would be a 3.3 per cent rebate for 40 weeks, until April 4, 2020, to commemorate the MTR’s 40th anniversary. He added that other fare schemes, such as MTR City Saver and monthly passes, would be unchanged.
“We hope that with the strengthening concessions for early birds, passengers will have more incentives to go to work earlier and it will ease the morning congestion,” Ma said.
Jeny Yeung, the commercial director of MTR Corp, said the overall fare savings under the new promotion package would be more than HK$800 million (US$ 101.9 million), up from HK$500 million in the past year.
“In putting together the fare promotions, we have listened carefully to the views of different stakeholders,” she said.
Yeung said the 3.3 per cent rebate would negate the 3.3 per cent fare rise slated under a fare adjustment mechanism that would go into effect at the end of June. She pointed out there would be no actual fare increase for Octopus users until April 2020.
Yeung’s remarks were in response to critics who said the MTR did not deserve to increase fares because of a string of recent blunders.
[T]he project management of the Sha Tin-to-Central link has not lived up to public expectation
Ma admitted the rail firm’s performance with the project had been disappointing, but stressed the board had taken active steps to improve.
“The board has taken active steps to improve project management. We’ve hired project consultants to advise us how to improve our procedures.”
Roger Bayliss, the newly appointed MTR projects director, said one of the significant improvements was the use of digital tools to improve on-site supervision, adding consultants were pleased with the progress.
“The government hopes we can run a partial opening as soon as possible and between as many stations as possible. But we are still studying the options because it involves the adjustment of the signalling system. We haven’t made a decision yet,” Kam said.
MTR, a listed corporation, remained highly profitable despite the operational and construction fiascos. Its profit from underlying operations in 2018 increased by 7.1 per cent – to HK$11.26 billion – from the year before.
