Hong Kong High Speed Rail carried more than 16 million passenger journeys in the first half of 2026, its highest January-to-June total since the cross-boundary service opened in 2018.

MTR CRH380A Vibrant Express train at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station
An MTR CRH380A Vibrant Express at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. Illustrative file photograph, centre-cropped. Photo: Shwangtianyuan / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0.

MTR Corporation said in its 23 July ridership update⁠ that patronage rose by more than 10% compared with the same period in 2025. Average daily use exceeded 92,000 passenger journeys, while weekends and public holidays remained busier than weekdays.

The strongest single-day result came on 4 April during the Easter and Ching Ming Festival holiday period. Almost 150,000 journeys were recorded, setting a daily high for the Hong Kong section since passenger service began.

Service frequency rises on the Futian corridor

MTR increased short-haul frequencies from 1 July. At least 112 trains now operate each day between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Futian, with intervals falling to about five minutes during the busiest periods.

Additional summer capacity will follow. The temporary service schedule⁠ provides 13 extra pairs of trains between the two stations on five consecutive weekends from 25 July to 23 August, targeting the holiday-period increase in cross-boundary travel.

Hong Kong West Kowloon now has direct services to 113 destinations⁠ across mainland China. Guangzhoubei, Yiwu and Fuqingxi were the latest additions, extending the network while the extra Futian trains concentrate capacity on the short-haul corridor.

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West Kowloon opens upgraded passenger lounge

The record announcement coincided with the 23 July opening of an upgraded Business Class Lounge at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. MTR redeveloped the facility with Plaza Premium Group, creating about 200 seats across approximately 8,600 square feet.

The lounge offers mobile charging, dedicated Wi-Fi, complimentary beverages and light refreshments, as well as seating areas designed to provide greater privacy. It forms part of a wider set of changes inside the terminus.

MTR has shortened the advance-entry window for ticket checks, immigration and boarding procedures from 120 minutes to 90 minutes before departure. The station has also installed new tables and chairs on the G/F, B1 and B2 levels and upgraded its complimentary Wi-Fi service for faster access.

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