Govt will monitor flexible XRL ticketing: Lam Sai-hung

Transport chief Lam Sai-hung said on Saturday that authorities will monitor the implementation of a new arrangement for passengers travelling across the border via high-speed rail to change trips within the same day. In his official blog, the transport minister said the MTR Corporation will launch the initiative on Monday, adding that many residents and legislators have welcomed the flexible travel arrangement. The railway company announced earlier this week that passengers between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Futian Station can make up to three last-minute changes to their train trips on the day of travel with no service charge. Lam, however, said passengers are only allowed to change to specific train trips that run between West Kowloon and Futian, but not those with Futian as an intermediate stop. “The government will continue to closely monitor the implementation of relevant arrangements,” he wrote. Lam added that the railway company will work with mainland authorities to review the arrangement and explore how to optimise it.