On the move: The KCRC opened the Mody Road section of the TST interchange subway system on September 19. Air conditioned and equipped with moving sidewalks, it is a convenient way to move between the KCRC and the MTR.

The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation will have an open day at its newly built East Tsim Sha Tsui station and a public trial ride on its Tsim Sha Tsui Extension on Sunday.

The one-kilometer long TST Extension runs from the existing Hung Hom Station to the East Tsim Sha Tsui Station. When it officially opens on Sunday, October 24, East Rail passengers will have convenient and direct access from the New Territories to the heart of TST. The journey on the extension is about 1.5 minutes and will cost $3.90, while a journey from Sheung Shui to TST will take about 37 minutes and cost $12.

It is also offering intermodal discounts at the East Tsim Sha Tsui Station with other transport operators. These concessions, coupled with the 20% discount offered to domestic passengers on East Rail for a second trip on the same day until March 2005, will reduce total journey fares further.

The following are some sample fares and concessions:

* from Sheung Shui to TST East will cost $12;

* from Tai Po Market to TST East will cost $10.30;

* from Shatin to TST East will cost $7.60;

* from Hung Hom to TST East will cost $3.90;

* the MTR will offer a $1.50 fare concession to TST East Extension passengers; and

* green mini buses #77M and 78 offer a $1 fare concession to TST East Extension passengers.

Passengers willing to pay more for time saved

In setting the fares for the TST Extension, the company considered passengers' acceptability, market competitiveness and project costs.

A passenger survey indicated that the North East New Territories residents are willing to pay 16 cents more for every one minute saved in the journey. A direct journey on East Rail from Sheung Shui to TST will take 42 minutes - including getting in and out of the stations at both ends - 36 minutes less than on a bus and 11 minutes less than taking the East Rail via Kowloon Tong to the MTR.

Using the survey's recommended 16 cents per minute saved, passengers would  be willing to pay $18.10 for the new Sheung Shui to TST KCRC journey compared to a bus fare of $12.30, or $15.90 compared with the East Rail/MTR (via Kowloon Tong) fare of $14.10

Low fares aim to boost competitiveness

The KCRC is setting the fares for the extension lower than this to ensure that its service is competitive and attractive to passengers in terms of fares, time and convenience.

For the first three days of operation - from October 24 to 26 - the company will donate revenue attributed to the ETS Station to charity.