MTR Corporation Australia

On the Right Track to Shape Urban Transport

MTR Corporation’s new CEO, Jeny Yeung, outlines her vision for nextgeneration train services that enhance metropolitan mobility. With a focus on innovation and customer service, the company brings proven operational expertise to support the delivery of railway projects that contribute to development in Australian cities

Writer: Rachel Carr | Project Manager: Eddie Clinton

Through its mission to ‘Keep Cities Moving’, MTR Corporation (MTR) connects communities, fosters economic growth, and supports sustainable development.

We revisit the company, where new CEO Jeny Yeung expresses her honour in being appointed to the role.

“It’s a significant responsibility and, as such, one of my priorities is delivering new railway projects in the cities we serve. In Hong Kong, we are in a major new growth phase with six new projects underway,” she states.

“These projects are crucial to the strategic development of communities; thus, effective delivery and financial management are of the utmost importance.”

With investment standing at over AUD$25 billion, MTR aims to deliver the projects between 2027 and 2034.

“In parallel, we are looking at ways we can continuously enhance our services in Hong Kong and beyond, harnessing innovation and technology to drive smarter, more efficient operations and provide better customer service,” Yeung sets out.

“We aim to continuously improve our reliability, safety, and productivity across all our networks, ensuring sustainability, resource efficiency, and social responsibility.”

Having been present in Australia since 2009, MTR now operates in Sydney and Melbourne through its majority-owned subsidiaries, Metro

Trains Sydney (MTS) and Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) respectively, and is committed to world-class service across the two cities.

Together with a strong team of 7,000 predominantly local staff, there have been progressive enhancements to train services and network expansion.

“I recently enjoyed visiting Australia, engaging with colleagues and key stakeholders, and experiencing new services, like the Sydney Metro M1 line and the Metro Tunnel in Melbourne,” says Yeung.

The country is an important market for MTR and MTR has worked there for 17 years. Yeung was eager to make it one of her first stops after becoming CEO.

“MTR is built on a commitment to reliable, safe and efficient railway service, which forms the foundation of the trust we have earned from passengers and partners around the world. Our partnership with Australia dates back to 2009; throughout the years, we have combined local partnerships with ideas from MTR’s global network to create better journeys for the population we serve.

“We are excited to continue to take

the partnership forward, particularly in refranchising, new metro lines, and station precinct development, where we do not just provide reliable, safe, efficient and quality trips, but also enhance the communities,” she declares.

Recently, the company issued a landmark AUD$2 billion green bond –historically, the largest of its kind.

“This success demonstrates the strength of our international story

– global investors are confident in MTR’s sustainability agenda because they see the quality of our networks,” Yeung emphasises.

EXPANDING GLOBAL REACH

Developing international and Mainland China businesses is one of three strategic pillars of MTR’s corporate strategy.

WHAT

ARE THE KEY FEATURES AND EXPECTED BENEFITS OF THE SYDNEY METRO M1 LINE NORTHWEST AND BANKSTOWN LINE PROJECTS?

JENY YEUNG, CEO: “The Sydney Metro M1 line demonstrates the advantages of a modern, fully automated metro for a fastgrowing city, offering frequent, air-conditioned trains, platform screen doors, level boarding, and high-quality interchanges that dramatically reduce travel times from the northwest into the CBD and key centres.

“Meanwhile, the Bankstown Line conversion will create a single 66-km spine across Sydney, transforming an old bottleneck into a high-capacity, driverless corridor with trains about every four minutes during peak times, improving reliability for communities from Tallawong to Bankstown.

“We anticipate upgraded interchanges, new retail and dining outlets, and station precincts, as well as more homes and workplaces near high-frequency transport, supporting local businesses and revitalising the area.

“For me, the benefit is twofold – a faster, more reliable driverless metro and a platform for urban renewal, private investment, and a catalyst for long-term job growth in connected precincts. We are honored and proud to be involved in these wonderful developments.”

In recent decades, the company has leveraged its Hong Kong expertise in major cities across Mainland China, Australia, the UK, and Sweden through public-private partnerships (PPPs), build-operate-transfer (BOT) concessions, and operations and maintenance (O&M) concessions.

“In cities like London, Stockholm, and Melbourne, we have improved existing networks, enhancing punctuality, reliability, and customer satisfaction, which shapes our mindset in Australia, where we are planning long-term network transformation rather than just shortterm contract compliance,” Yeung discusses.

MTM and MTS are excelling, with MTM exceeding 92 percent on-time performance and MTS achieving over 99 percent on-time performance and nearly 99 percent customer satisfaction.

These benchmarks shape MTR’s Australian targets, where on-time performance was comparatively only 86.5 percent at the time MTM took up the operations of the Melbourne network.

Furthermore, the company’s global presence allows for knowledge sharing across teams, strengthening the talents’ capabilities.

“We are proud to have built and operated one of the world’s most reliable urban railways in Hong Kong for over four decades, now carrying over 5.5 million passenger trips per day with a consistent on-time performance of around 99.9 percent. “This record has underpinned the city’s growth and boosted

“We aim to improve reliability, safety, and productivity across all our networks, focusing on sustainability, resource efficiency, and social responsibility”

– JENY YEUNG, CEO, MTR CORPORATION

MTR’s credibility for international expansion,” notes Yeung.

Another significant achievement is MTR’s Rail plus Property model, which has provided over 100,000 residential units and two million square metres of commercial space near stations, fostering integrated communities whilst financing new rail lines sustainably.

“We are proud to have carried the MTR DNA abroad, expanding

our portfolio to nearly 1,000 kilometres (km) of rail operations and showcasing our expertise in contributing to the growth of other cities,” she prides.

MTR’s transformation into a smart mobility company is highlighted by awards for AI-enabled customer solutions, such as the MTR Care App and its artificial intelligence (AI) station assistant, as well as international recognition for crowd

management innovations at Kai Tak Sports Park, a brand-new mega event compound that houses, amongst other venues, a main stadium with a capacity of 50,000 spectators in Hong Kong.

Additionally, the Sydney Metro M1 line, Australia’s first fully automated metro, represents another milestone that demonstrates the company’s long-term performance and ongoing ability to evolve.

Over a century of critical infrastructure, and still building

BAI Communications’ Chief Commercial Officer

Elyssa Rollinson on missioncritical connectivity, the Titan ICT acquisition, and why vendor-neutrality matters more than ever.

Who is BAI Communications, and where do you operate?

BAI Communications has been part of Australia’s critical infrastructure for over a century. We design, build, operate, and own networks for broadcasters, government,

emergency services, transport operators, and mining and resources enterprises - we provide a communications backbone for anything mission-critical. Most Australians interact with our infrastructure daily without knowing it. We deliver television and radio services to 99% of the population across more than 745 transmission sites, and we operate the NSW Telco Authority’s Public Safety Network, one of the world’s largest public safety radio networks. We also design and deliver private wireless networks and ICT engineering services for some of the country’s most operationally demanding environments.

What does BAI Communications bring to connectivity in mining and the resources sector?

Titan ICT – which will be brought under the BAI Communications brand from 1 May – brings specialist experience in communications for

mining and resources operations, including heavy-haul rail networks that are central to the Pilbara mining supply chain. These are demanding environments for wireless communications: long distances, unforgiving conditions, and the safety requirements are stringent. The acquisition of Titan ICT strengthens our private 5G capability. We can now offer clients an end-to-end service, from spectrum licensing and network design through to deployment and ongoing managed support, backed by people with deep operational experience in these environments. Our financial strength means that we can also deploy capital and own infrastructure to deliver shared or dedicated networks for our customers.

What does BAI Communications offer rail operators that sets it apart?

In rail, communications failure is

Australia’s first 5G MCX rail network

Private 5G for Australia’s most remote terrain 99% of Australians 100+ years of broadcast

not an operational inconvenience, it is a safety event. Train control, workforce safety, passenger systems, and CCTV all depend on networks that simply cannot go down. We bring delivery experience in that context, not just technical capability on paper. Our engineers have worked across rollingstock wireless, wayside networks, mission-critical pushto-talk, and IT/OT convergence in real rail environments. We are also vendor-neutral. When we make a recommendation, it is based on what is operationally right for the client, not what we have a commercial incentive to sell.

How does your international rail MCX experience translate to Australia?

Several members of our rail team built their careers delivering large-scale missioncritical communications projects internationally for BAI

Communications (the Northern Hemisphere organisation is now Boldyn Networks). The experience our people have gained in establishing communications in the New York, Toronto, and London subway systems is invaluable. Our ongoing relationship with Boldyn Networks means we stay close to how 5G MCX is being implemented in networks like Deutsche Bahn, amongst the most advanced rail 5G programmes in world. This is a genuinely useful live reference point when designing something like Sydney Metro West.

Tell us about your partnership with MTR Corporation.

We have a long-standing relationship with MTR Corporation, one of the world’s most respected metro rail operators. We’re delighted to continue working with them outside their Hong Kong operations, partnering on the Sydney Metro West project,

which connects Sydney CBD to Parramatta through 24km of tunnel and eight new underground stations. BAI Communications’ role in the project involves designing, building, and operating the communications network for Australia’s first metro rail network built on a 5G MCX platform. It draws on everything BAI does: private and public wireless network design, public safety connectivity, and systems integration, all coming together to enable safety-critical communications. It is also a project that benefits directly from the international MCX experience our team carries. For Australian rail, it sets a new benchmark. For BAI Communications, it is the clearest demonstration of what we are capable of delivering.

See what we’re building.

ENHANCING THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE

MTR’s next-generation metro trains will offer a more intuitive and comfortable environment, with open interiors, improved lighting, clearer dynamic route maps, and real-time information, for safer, easier journeys.

They will also feature advanced on-board systems and remote condition monitoring to detect issues early, enhance maintenance planning and ensure reliable service for passengers.

“We’re building on MTR’s extensive and proven experience in operating and renewing fleets on one of the world’s busiest railway networks in Hong Kong. This highly demanding discipline, coupled with a strong customer focus that is integral to MTR, will be applied to the Sydney Metro M1 line and the future Sydney Metro West line,” Yeung informs.

“Passengers on the Sydney Metro M1 line already enjoy features like open gangways, clear real-time

“Our global experience and focus on customer needs, operational excellence, quality assurance, and safety-first principles have been integral to our projects, and it continues to drive our work in Australia”

– JENY YEUNG, CEO, MTR CORPORATION

information, and level boarding on a fully automated metro. MTR will continue to provide inputs in refining train interiors, information systems, and maintenance for reliability and modernity.”

In developing Sydney Metro West, we will draw from our experience in train introductions in Hong Kong, with clear focuses on live network testing, staff training, and early customer engagement to ensure a smooth integration and an

enhanced experience.

“In Hong Kong, we’re rolling out a new generation of digital tools to enhance the railway experience for customers, whilst improving system efficiency.

“Additionally, we’re using AI to predict ridership and manage crowds at major events in Kai Tak Sports Park, which holds over 50,000 people. Our crowd-diversion system analyses billions of data points to optimise train frequencies and station

tanzhen@crrchk.com www.crrcgc.cc

A solution provider for rail transit systems.

Powered by world leading CRRC rolling stock, we deliver integrated systems and services that enhance safety, efficiency, and operational reliability.

We support operators throughout the full lifecycle of their networks, from system design and engineering to implementation, optimization, and long term maintenance. By combining industry expertise with innovative digital tools, we help clients modernize infrastructure, improve passenger experience, and achieve sustainable performance.

Our commitment is to provide tailored, high quality solutions that meet the evolving needs of urban and regional rail environments.

operations with nearly 90 percent accuracy, providing visual alerts to staff and ensuring smooth travel for passengers,” details Yeung.

MTR now offers real-time next train arrival information across the network and is expanding live crowding indicators, helping customers choose when and where to board, whilst optimising train deployment and improving on-time performance.

INNOVATING URBAN RAIL

Operating Melbourne’s large and complex urban rail network, MTM transports hundreds of thousands of people daily across 17 lines and over 200 stations, into the heart of the central business district (CBD).

“We safely and reliably run the heavy rail system in Melbourne whilst modernising it in stages – integrating new tunnels, timetables, and technology – all on a live network that the city depends on.

“We are orchestrating a highly intricate, mixed-traffic network and are committed to delivering a predictable, high-quality service for passengers,” explains Yeung.

Sydney Metro, the first fully

automated metro in Australia, emphasises turn-up-and-go convenience, state-of-the-art signalling, and the deployment of platform screen doors to enhance safety and efficiency.

The sustained growth in patronage, together with high customer satisfaction, provides clear evidence of passengers’ strong endorsement of the reliable, clean, and safe service delivered by MTS.

Both showcase professionalism in managing a high-demand suburban network.

Staying competitive in the international rail market by prioritising

TIMELINE FOR MTR AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS

2009 – The start of the franchise for O&M for the Melbourne network operated by Metro Trains Melbourne began with a competitive bid. A new franchise was awarded through direct bidding in 2017 and extended until 2027.

2014 – The operations, trains, and systems PPP for the Sydney Metro Northwest Line was awarded to the Northwest Rapid Transit consortium (with MTR as the leading member) through competitive bidding. In 2019,

safety, reliability, and customer care is central to the MTR brand.

“We are investing heavily in digital technology, data, and automation, from predictive maintenance to real-time operations control, always ensuring the journey is easier, safer, and more seamless for our customers.

“Our AI assistant, ‘Tracy’, in Hong Kong helps passengers navigate trips more intuitively, and real-time

the NSW government extended the contract to include the O&M of both the Metro Northwest Line and the Sydney Metro City and Southwest.

2019 – Launch of Sydney Metro Northwest train service by MTS.

The City Section extension beneath Sydney Harbour and into the CBD was opened in 2024.

2026 – Award of Sydney Metro West TSMO contract to Metro West Consortium (MTR 70 percent, China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) subsidiary 30 percent) through competitive bidding. The

indicators inform them about train crowding. Our global presence fosters a continuous learning loop, allowing us to apply insights from one city to another,” Yeung points out.

MTR actively listens to feedback, using customer insights to shape everything from timetable design to wayfinding and accessibility, rather than treating them as after-the-fact metrics.

scope includes design, construction (new trains, signalling, rail systems), and 15 years of O&M from the target opening in 2032 until 2047.

OTHER RAIL-RELATED BUSINESS

–

Metro Trains Australia operates the Rail Industry Worker (RIW) Program, a national competency management programme and database for rail workers devised by the Australian Railway Association (ARA). It ensures all site rail workers meet the required safety and technical standards. MTA has overseen the system since 2019 and recently secured a five-year contract through 2031.

Ultimately, the company’s competitive edge lies in its combination of world-class engineering, operational discipline, and a human focus, allowing adaptation as the transport sector evolves.

“At home in Hong Kong, we are long-term city builders, whereas internationally, our vision is to embed our DNA of safety, reliability, and customer focus to both brownfield and greenfield projects.”

In markets like Melbourne and Sydney, MTR utilises its global playbook – from digital operations to customer experience – to assist governments in delivering stepchange improvements, whilst diversifying its earnings.

“This year, during my visit to Australia, I learned more about the growth and evolution of its cities, and how crucial public transport will be to keeping communities connected,” reveals Yeung.

For MTR, Australia represents both a responsibility to sustain the trust of passengers and government and opportunities in refranchising, new metro lines, and station precinct development.

“We aim to combine local partnerships with MTR’s global

expertise to enhance journeys and communities,” she tells us.

A VISION FOR DEVELOPMENT

MTR aims to achieve more milestones and make even greater contributions to Australia’s future railway development.

“We are proud to have collaborated with state authorities on the smooth launch of city-shaping railway services like the Metro Tunnel in Melbourne and Sydney Metro,” Yeung outlines.

“Our global experience and focus on customer needs, operational excellence, quality assurance, and safety-first principles have been integral to our projects, and it continues to drive our work in Australia.”

In Sydney, working with the New South Wales (NSW) government, MTR will open the Southwest Metro, extending the Sydney Metro M1 line from Sydenham to Bankstown later this year.

Additionally, the company has submitted a bid for the Sydney Metro Parramatta integrated station development and has recently been awarded the trains, systems, maintenance, and operations (TSMO) contract for Sydney Metro West.

This will connect Sydney’s CBD to Parramatta with a 24-km underground line featuring nextgeneration driverless trains and nine new stations, set to open in 2032.

Yeung’s priority will remain delivering a safe and reliable railway service whilst introducing digital advancements and a customercentric business, using AI and data to maximise efficiency, and provide passengers with real-time information and seamless journeys.

“Outside Hong Kong, we will deepen our market footprint in Australia, Europe, and Mainland China, focusing on leveraging our integrated rail and property capabilities and brownfield-upgrade experience, creating value for governments, communities, and shareholders.

“Sustainability and people underpin our plans – decarbonising operations, making our stations and trains more inclusive, and developing future MTR leaders to ensure long-term success,” Yeung concludes.

info@mtraustralia.com.au

mtraustralia.com.au