HK high-speed rail hits record 30mn trips in 2025, surpasses 100mn milestone

The Hong Kong section of high‑speed rail patronage reached a record high of over 30 million passenger trips last year, an increase of around 17 percent year‑on‑year, according to its operator MTR Corporation.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Corporation highlighted that on the Saturday of the past Christmas holiday (Dec 27), the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station recorded nearly 140,000 passenger trips, setting a new single‑day ridership record.

Since the commencement of service in September 2018, the cumulative patronage of the railway has recently surpassed 100 million passenger trips.

Meanwhile, multiple new lines -- including Guangzhoudong, Chengdudong, Zhangjiajiexi, and Xi’anbei -- have been launched, providing direct access to numerous tourist hotspots and economic hubs.

The majority of passengers are short‑haul travelers, accounting for approximately 80 percent of the total, while the proportion of Hong Kong residents has steadily increased from about 30 percent initially to approximately 45 percent.

The Corporation stressed that it has been working proactively with mainland Chinese railway counterparts and governments on both sides to add more destinations and enhance services.

“In addition to meeting the pressing needs of business and other travel for short, medium and long-distance between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, we are also pleased to see the tourism industry opening up new opportunities for high-speed rail travel,” said Jeny Yeung Mei‑chun, chief executive of MTR.

The Corporation pledged that it will continue to coordinate closely with relevant parties to improve the travel experience, expand the network, and promote integration to leverage its advantages.