LCQ6: Flexi-trip Arrangement for High Speed Rail
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Question:
The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) launched in August 2023 the Same-day Flexi-trip Arrangement (Flexi-trip) for passengers travelling between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Futian Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. The service has been extended to include train trips running to and from Shenzhenbei Station since March 18 last year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it knows the current number of Flexi-trip-applicable train trips, its percentage in the total number of train trips running via Futian Station and/or Shenzhenbei Station, and the average proportion of passengers utilising Flexi-trip among such train trips;
(2) whether it knows the average occupancy rates of Flexi-trip-applicable train trips during weekdays, weekends and public holidays respectively from August 2023 to March 17 last year, and from March 18 last year to the present; and
(3) as it is learnt that the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway fully implemented the electronic ticket "valid once throughout the ticketed date" services in March this year, allowing passengers who have purchased their tickets to travel on trains of the same direction and of the same class throughout the ticketed date without having to alter tickets, whether the Government will require MTRCL to study applying this ticketing model to Flexi-trip so as to facilitate passenger travel; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Since the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) on September 23, 2018, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the operator of the XRL Hong Kong Section, i.e. the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), have all along been committed to enhancing the services and operational arrangements of the XRL, with a view to fully realising its socio-economic benefits and the advantages of interconnectivity with the national high-speed rail network. The XRL Hong Kong Section connects with the national high speed rail network, which currently spans over 47 000 kilometres. The number of Mainland destinations directly accessible from West Kowloon Station has more than doubled from 44 in the initial commissioning to 96, including 11 short-haul destinations and 85 long-haul destinations. The number of train trips operated per day has also increased from 166 in the initial stage to at least 208 currently. Apart from gradually introducing more destinations, the MTRCL has been actively exploring the provision of diversified XRL train services and products with the Mainland railway authorities, with a view to providing convenience to passengers and meeting their different needs. Of these, there are Same-day Flexi-trip Arrangement (Flexi-trip Arrangement) that provides greater flexibility in journey planning for short-haul travellers; multiple journey tickets, such as the 30-day Ticket and 20-ride Ticket, for frequent travellers commuting between the two places; and sleeper train service running in the mode of evening departures and morning arrivals that provides an alternative travelling experience to long-haul travellers. The XRL caters for the different needs of travellers ranging from short-haul and long-haul trips to business, leisure, and family visits, facilitating more frequent flow of people between the two places.
In consultation with the MTRCL, my consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Gary Zhang is as follows:
(1) and (2) The Flexi-trip Arrangement, first introduced on August 14, 2023, was a new ticketing arrangement, allowing passengers travelling between West Kowloon Station and Futian Station to flexibly alter their train trips on the same day. Apart from altering their tickets once for free before train departure through the General Ticket Alteration arrangement, passengers are also allowed to alter their train trips for up to three times on the day of travel through the Flexi-trip Arrangement. Since March 18, 2024, the arrangement has been extended to cover direct trains running between West Kowloon Station and Shenzhenbei Station, and trains departing from or terminating at Shenzhenbei Station that call at Futian Station. "Non-reserved Seats" are also available for train trips covered by the Flexi-trip Arrangement to provide more room and flexibility to passengers in altering their train trips.
According to the information provided by the MTRCL, starting from July 1, 2025, there is a daily total of 109 train trips at West Kowloon Station calling at, departing from or terminating at Futian Station, with 74 of these train trips open for the Flexi-trip Arrangement, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of the total; and 167 trains calling at, departing from or terminating at Shenzhenbei Station, with 60 of these trains open for Flexi-trip Arrangement, accounting for about 40 per cent of the total. Overall, Flexi-trip Arrangement is applicable to a total of 98 train trips.
Based on the MTRCL's assessment, after the introduction of the Flexi-trip Arrangement, the overall patronage of the relevant train trips has increased, suggesting that Flexi-trip Arrangement is one of the factors attracting more passengers to take the XRL. The average loading of the Flexi-trip Arrangement-applicable train trips was about 40 per cent for the first phase, and remained at similar level after the extension of the arrangement to Shenzhenbei Station in the second phase, among which the related loading was nearly 60 per cent on average during weekends and public holidays. Of the train trips applicable for Flexi-trip Arrangement, passengers using Flexi-trip Arrangement account for an average of nearly 10 per cent of the total patronage of these trips.
(3) With the increasingly frequent flow of people between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the commissioning of the XRL Hong Kong Section has realised the "one-hour living circle" in the Greater Bay Area. The Flexi-trip Arrangement further facilitates the flexible travel of visitors, marking a significant breakthrough in the services of the XRL Hong Kong Section. The HKSAR Government and the MTRCL have been actively reviewing how to further bring greater convenience to visitors.
As we understand, the China Railway Guangzhou Group Company Limited introduced the "Same-day One-time Valid" electronic ticket service on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway running between Guangzhou and Shenzhen in March 2025. In short, passengers with a "Same-day One-Time Valid" ticket can choose to take any train of the same direction and class on the same day according to their travel needs. This arrangement saves passengers the hassle of altering their train ticket, enabling more flexibility in choosing different trains and bringing greater convenience to passengers.
Upon introduction of such ticketing arrangement at the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway, the MTRCL approached the relevant Mainland authorities to explore the feasibility of introducing a similar arrangement in the XRL Hong Kong Section. The HKSAR Government supports the MTRCL to continue exploring various measures to facilitate passengers' travel. We understand that the MTRCL has recently been actively studying the details of the relevant arrangements with relevant Mainland authorities, with due consideration to factors such as the clearance procedures, ticketing arrangements, train operation safety involved in the XRL Hong Kong section, etc.
The HKSAR Government and the MTRCL will maintain communication and co-ordination with the Mainland railway authorities and the relevant departments to continuously enhance the services of the XRL Hong Kong Section, with a view to providing convenient and comfortable services to passengers.
Thank you, President.
Ends/Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:35
Issued at HKT 15:35
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