Hong Kong’s MTR Corp to slash early bird discount from 35 per cent to 25 per cent in February
- Lawmaker Michael Tien calls on rail giant to provide financial justification for move, says discount should not be reduced during economic downturn
- MTR Corp introduced the discount in 2014 to encourage passengers to complete train trips before peak hours
Hong Kong’s rail giant will lower its early bird discount for adult commuters from 35 per cent to 25 per cent starting on February 26.
The MTR Corporation announced the move in a press release on Thursday, providing no further explanation.
But lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun said the decision was made after the company found that there was no significant change in the number of people exiting the gates before 8.15am after the discount was raised from 25 per cent to 35 per cent in 2019, indicating that the incentive was not effective in encouraging people to commute earlier and resulted in financial losses for the rail giant.
The former chairman of the now-defunct Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation also criticised the MTR Corp’s decision to slash the discount during the year of its 45th anniversary and called on it to provide a financial justification for the move.
“I can understand that [the MTR Corp] suffered a price concession without achieving its original objective, but I don’t think they should make this adjustment this year, considering the anniversary celebrations and the current economic downturn,” Tien said.
The railway operator introduced the early bird discount in 2014 to encourage passengers to complete their train trips to designated urban stations before morning peak hours on weekdays.
Elderly Hongkongers will need personalised transport cards for HK$2 fare scheme
The MTR Corp on Thursday also said it would launch a “morning delights” promotion from February 19 to March 28 which would offer users of its mobile app a HK$10 e-voucher for its shops for completing five rides on its heavy rail network with an exit time between 7.15am and 8.15am on Monday to Friday.
It added it would also host a “thank you day” on February 24 to express gratitude to its passengers. Coinciding with the Spring Lantern Festival, the rail giant will offer a 50 per cent discount on fares as part of the event.
Hongkongers warned scammers could be sending out fake MTR annual passes
Passengers can enjoy the reduced fares by using their Octopus card to pay for trips on MTR trains, light rail routes and MTR bus services in the northwestern New Territories, or by using a QR code on the heavy rail network.
The half-fare discount also applies to cross-boundary trips between Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations on the East Rail line.
To accommodate the expected increase in passengers, about 370 additional train trips will be added to various routes that day.
