10-cent MTR surcharge to be lifted by 2014

MTR received $1.063b in surcharge collection.

A 10-cent surcharge the MTR Corporation Limited collects for each rail journey taken using an Octopus card to cover the cost of installing platform safety equipment is expected to stop next year, Secretary for Transport & Housing Prof Anthony Cheung says.

In reply to a lawmaker’s query, Prof Cheung said platform screen doors or automatic platform gates can ensure passengers’ safety and stop them from falling onto the railway tracks.

The corporation decided to install platform screen doors at 30 underground stations beginning in 2000, and completed the works in 2006, at a cost of about $2 billion.

As the corporation’s original investment plan for constructing the early railway lines did not include the capital cost of installing the safety devices, Prof Cheung said passengers had to contribute to half of the cost, through the 10-cent surcharge.

In 2008, the corporation decided to retrofit gates at eight other stations, at a cost of about $300 million - half of which was to be borne by passengers.

Up to April, the corporation had collected $1.063 billion through the surcharge collection. The full $1.15 billion is expected to be recovered by the first half of 2014, at which time the surcharge will cease, Prof Cheung said.