The Transport Department will activate its Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre from December 20 to 24 to monitor the operation of the West Rail which officially opens at 2pm on December 20.

The department will also pay special attention to passenger demand, and conduct on-site observations.

Passengers are reminded to familiarise themselves with the revised bus and green mini-bus feeder service arrangements.

They are also advised to avoid rushing at the last minute to make their journeys - especially on Monday, the first working day after the railway's opening.

Feeder services network ready 

A network of feeder services has been put in place to help passengers interchanging for the West Rail.

At the urban end, West Rail connects with the MTR's Tsuen Wan Line at Mei Foo and its Tung Chung Line at Nam Cheong.

Within the Northwest New Territories, West Rail links up with the Light Rail Transit system at Tuen Mun, Siu Hong, Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long stations.

The KCRC will also continue operating its six free bus routes (Routes K62S, K66S, K67S, K75P, K76, and K2P) for a period following the West Rail's opening.

Two new franchised feeder bus route numbers 701 (Nam Cheong Station - Mong Kok KCR station) and 971 (Nam Cheong Station - Aberdeen) have been introduced.

About 30 franchised bus and 40 green minibus routes have been diverted or extended to West Rail stations.

Fare concessions for West Rail passengers  

To encourage the use of the new railways, the concerned transport operators have agreed to provide fare concessions for passengers using Octopus to interchange between West Rail and 30 existing bus and green mini-bus routes. The concessions range from $0.30 to $1.50.

The arrangement will start tomorrow and will be reviewed in six months' time.

From tomorrow until January 31, the KCRC will offer a flat West Rail fare discount of $2 to Octopus users if they take a taxi to a West Rail station in Northwest New Territories and then interchange for West Rail by using an Octopus card to West Rail Tsuen Wan West, Mei Foo or Nam Cheong stations.

Passengers using the MTR's Nam Cheong or Mei Foo stations can also enjoy a 10% discount on MTR fares. The offer is valid from December 16 to March 31.