Installing mass transit systems is a tricky proposition, as we are finding out in Hawaii. Larger international cities recognized this and turned to a single source that had revealed to the world how to plan, install and run a mass transit system at a profit — Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway Corp. (MTR).

I tried to get the city to look at the Hong Kong model, but was told things were under control.

But other countries took notice of the Hong Kong system. Today, MTR operates lines in Beijing, Shenzhen and Hangzhou, and also operates subway systems in Melbourne and Stockholm.

MTR was selected to run London’s Crossrail network, and in March won a $3.38 billion franchise with FirstGroup to run South Western Trains, one of Britain’s busiest rail networks.

MTR also is a member of a consortium that won a $3.7 billion contract in 2015 to construct and operate the Sydney Metro Northwest system in Australia.

And for the record, MTR declared net profits of $2.1 billion last year.

Patrick Myatt

Hawaii Kai

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