'Flexible XRL ticketing eases East Rail Line burden'
Hong Kong's sole delegate to the nation's top legislative body on Sunday said she expects more passengers to take high-speed trains to nearby cities when flexible ticket rules take effect, easing the burden on the East Rail Line.  NPC Standing Committee Deputy Starry Lee said she had been told the MTR Corporation would announce details of the changes this month.  A government task force was set up earlier to study ways to allow passengers to switch between trains going to the same destination at different times.  Lee said she hoped the "metroisation" would go further, so passengers can travel without reserving a seat. "If there's metroisation of the high speed rail, I believe those living in Kowloon will consider taking express rail services to the mainland. We are calling for standing tickets between Hong Kong and Shenzhen," she told reporters after attending an event. Separately, four high-speed rail trains were cancelled and ten were delayed on Saturday due to a signalling glitch near the West Kowloon Station. Lee said there was a similar signalling glitch in May and that the MTR's arrangement could be improved, in terms of notifying passengers in advance and providing shuttle bus services. She urged the railway company to strengthen communication and maintenance with the mainland side.