Carrying an average 3.4 million passengers every weekday, the MTR is regarded as one of the world's leading railways for safety, reliability, customer service and cost efficiency.

The MTR network comprises nine railway lines serving Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. In addition, a Light Rail network serves the local communities of Tuen Mun and Yuen Long in the New Territories while a fleet of buses provide convenient feeder services.

The Corporation also operates the Airport Express, a dedicated high-speed rail link providing the fastest connections to Hong Kong International Airport and the city's newest exhibition and conference centre, AsiaWorld-Expo.

From Hong Kong, passengers can travel with ease to Guangdong province, Beijing and Shanghai in the mainland of China using the MTR's intercity railway services.

Unlike many other modes of public transport, the operational reliability of MTR trains is unaffected by traffic conditions, so passengers could always get to their destinations on time, barring severe weather conditions. What's more, MTR trains run about 19 hours a day, 7 days a week, from early morning (5:30 am - 6:00 am) to 1:00 am the next morning.

To ensure maximum safety and reliability, trains are operated with automatic signal control and protection systems which regulate the distance between trains, determine the optimal rates of acceleration and braking, as well as the coasting speeds on different sections of a line.

The planning of the service timetable is based on passenger demand, taking into account the morning and evening peak hours on normal working days. For instance, during the morning peak hours, 8-car trains with a capacity for 2,500 passengers will run at 2.1 minute intervals, carrying 70,000 passengers per hour per direction on the Tsuen Wan Line. As another example, the East Rail Line during the morning peak hours will operate 12-car trains, each with a capacity for 3,750 passengers, run at 3.5 minute intervals, carrying approximately 64,000 passengers per hour per direction between Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau and East Tsimshatsui.