Hong Kong's cross-border high-speed rail link saw more than 30 million passenger trips in 2025, a 17 percent increase from 2024 and a new record. The MTR Corporation reported that cumulative patronage since the service launched in September 2018 has surpassed 100 million journeys. The West Kowloon terminus also set a single-day ridership record of about 140,000 on December 27.
Hong Kong's cross-border high-speed rail link achieved a milestone in 2025, with passengers making more than 30 million trips—a 17 percent rise from 2024 and the highest figure since its launch. The MTR Corporation announced these details on January 4, 2026, highlighting the network's growing role in regional connectivity.
The West Kowloon rail terminus recorded a new single-day high of about 140,000 passenger trips on December 27. Overall, cumulative journeys since the service began in September 2018 have now exceeded 100 million, according to the company, which described last year's usage as a "record high."
Data from MTR shows that short-haul travellers make up approximately 80 percent of total passengers. The share of Hong Kong residents using the service has risen steadily from around 30 percent at the start to about 45 percent today, with the remainder comprising mainland Chinese and overseas visitors.
"Currently, the majority of [high-speed rail] passengers are short-haul travellers, accounting for approximately 80 per cent of the total," the company said. "The proportion of Hong Kong residents [using the service] has steadily increased from about 30 per cent initially to approximately 45 per cent."
This surge underscores the rail link's importance in fostering economic ties between Hong Kong and the mainland, particularly in the post-pandemic recovery. While MTR did not detail future expansions, the steady rise in ridership positions the line as a vital transport artery.
