Portal:Hong Kong/Selected article/2007/May

MTR, or Mass Transit Railway (地下鐵路, literally "underground railway"; usually abbreviated to 地鐵 or 地下鐵), is the main rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong and the first in south-east Asia. Since the MTR service first opened in 1979, the network has expanded to encompass seven lines and 53 stations along 91.0 kilometres (56.5 miles). The MTR system was constructed and is operated by MTR Corporation Limited. Due to its efficiency and affordability, the MTR system is a common transportation mode of public transport in Hong Kong, with an average of 2.557 million journeys recorded each day as of January 2007. The integration of the Octopus smart card fare-payment technology into the MTR system in September 1997 has further enhanced the ease of commuting with the MTR.

In 1967, construction of the MTR was prompted by a government-commissioned study. The Hong Kong Government had previously commissioned a study in the 1960s to find solutions to the growing traffic problem caused by the expansion of the city's economy. Construction started soon after the release of the study, and the first line was opened in 1979. The MTR was immediately popular with residents of Hong Kong; as a result, subsequent lines have been built to cover more territory. There are continual debates regarding how and where to expand the MTR network, including new lines and a possible merger with Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation.