Starting this month, MTR passengers will enjoy 368 additional weekly train trips along the three busiest rail lines – Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line and Island Line, which will boost carrying capacity by some 800,000 passenger journeys.

Designed to improve the convenience and comfort of travel as part of the MTR Corporation’s new Listening．Responding programme, the additional train trips will be introduced to peak periods on
weekdays as well as during the day on weekends.

“The Listening．Responding programme is an enhanced focus on customer service. The initiatives are in direct response to what we have heard our customers say they would like us to do more of—from easing crowding to improving access to enhancing station facilities such as installing toilets and platform gates. Listening to our customers and responding quickly are critical to demonstrating we are focused on serving their needs. I believe the Listening ．Responding programme will help make the MTR a stronger part of the community and we will ensure that resources of over $1 billion are made available for
the different initiatives planned,” said Mr Jay Walder, Chief Executive Officer of the MTR Corporation. The Listening．Responding programme starts immediately with the first initiative to ease crowding through enhancing train service to be implemented starting 24 March 2012.

“With five of the 10 new trains that we have recently taken delivery of now in passenger service, we are able to enhance train service in the parts of our network where demand is heaviest such as peak periods on the Tsuen Wan Line, as well as Saturdays and Sundays on the Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong and Island lines,” said Dr Jacob Kam, Operations Director of the MTR Corporation. “As more new trains become available for service, we will look at boosting the train service in other parts of the network.” In continuing to anticipate train service needs into the future for existing MTR lines, Dr Kam said the Corporation has placed orders for four more new trains, which will be delivered in 2014/15.
Throughout the year, MTR passengers will also notice more staff at stations and on platforms helping to ensure smooth passenger flows so that trains can depart efficiently, which in turn will allow the whole system to operate more effectively.

“A total of 500 additional staff will be recruited this year to be on duty at stations to assist passengers, especially during the busy peak periods,” Dr Kam confirmed.
“We believe the enhancements announced today will allow our passengers to enjoy an even more efficient train service and a more comfortable travelling environment that is less crowded. We will continue to listen and respond to feedback from our customers. And we will work to anticipate their needs into the future,” Mr Walder added.