Hong Kong’s MTR Corp to keep fares unchanged for second year in row

he last MTR fare hike occurred in 2024, when the corporation increased fares by an overall 3.09 per cent.

Photo: Jelly Tse Hong Kong’s rail giant has announced it will keep fares unchanged for the coming year after an annual review, marking the second year without any increase. “The corporation will continue to offer ongoing fare concessions, covering the elderly, children, eligible students and persons with disabilities … benefiting more than 600 million passenger trips,” the MTR Corporation said. “The total value of these concessions exceeded HK$3.2 billion [US$409 million] last year.” The fare freeze was the result of the so-called direct-drive formula under the fare adjustment mechanism, which takes into account factors such as inflation, wages in the transport sector and median monthly household incomes.

Under an operating agreement with the government, the mechanism has been in place since 2007, when the company merged with the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation.

MTR Corp Hong Kong transport services director Wilson Kwong Wing-tsuen said: “The [mechanism] provides an objective and transparent formula for [the] MTR’s annual fare review, fully taking into account the prevailing socio‑economic conditions and the public’s affordability. “As a company with a unique role in Hong Kong, [the] MTR strives to maintain fare levels that remain competitive, while giving back to the community through a range of concessions and other initiatives.” This year marks the second consecutive year of a fare freeze under the mechanism, and the sixth instance of a fare freeze or fare cut over the past decade.

The last MTR fare hike occurred in 2024, when the corporation increased fares by an overall 3.09 per cent.

The MTR runs a nine-line commuter network and the Airport Express in the city.

According to its data, it served about 4.9 million commuters on an average weekday in February.

The public transport operator reported a net profit of more than HK$14.6 billion in 2025.

原文链接: 南华早报