Notes » August 2004

First-Class Solution

The Kowloon-Canton Railway is installing an electronic checkpoint at each end of its first-class carriages.

Despite announcements, posters and warning signs which stipulate the fines for riding in first-class without a valid ticket, some people try to cheat the system, going so far as to play dumb when caught out. Risking a $500 fine to save a few bucks is stupid; the maximum first-class surcharge is $33.00 (US$4.23), for passengers travelling from Hung Hom in Kowloon to Lo Wu at the border.

The cheapskate problem has forced the KCR into the $2.3 million re-fit. When completed, only passengers with valid first-class tickets or approved Octopus cards will be able to open the doors to move to another car. Standard-class passengers wishing to pass through the first-class carriage will have to pay the surcharge.

The upgrade will prevent riders in standard-class from:

• using the doors to sneak into first-class.

• moving to the first-class car to take advantage of better exit points at station platforms.

Kudos to the KCR for keeping the riff-raff out of first-class.

Too bad standard-class passengers have to share space with them.

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