Mainland of China and International Businesses
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MAINLAND OF CHINA AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES Mainland Australia China Business Business Europe Business 11Railway 2,183km 1.38 billion Services in Operating Route Length Total Patronage 4 Countries Outside of Hong Kong Outside of Hong Kong 66 MTR Corporation Annual Report 2020 67 AIM Representing one of the three core pillars under • Operators must also continuously enhance their our Corporate Strategy, our Mainland of China and services and facilities in order to meet rising customer International Businesses enable us to grow and connect satisfaction standards communities in markets beyond Hong Kong as we strive to become a leading multinational provider of railway STRATEGIES services, delivering world-class operations in geographies • Continue delivering operational excellence to fulfil and as diverse as the Mainland of China, Europe and Australia. renew existing contracts and win new ones, capturing both construction and O&M opportunities CHALLENGES Overview • Expand business in the Mainland of China by • COVID-19 has led to reduced patronage and services continuing to explore transit-oriented development due to stay-at-home policies and lockdown protocols (“TOD”) opportunities and further participate in the • Competition is increasing in the Mainland and development of the Greater Bay Area international passenger rail markets as more rail • Explore “Rail Plus Property” development opportunities operators look outside their home markets in Europe and Australia • Railway operators must adjust to different operating • Further diversify revenue streams via asset and investment models to participate in the Mainland replacement, maintenance and public-private of China and overseas markets partnership (“PPP”) infrastructure development opportunities in selective markets Business Review and Analysis OUTLOOK COVID-19 will continue affecting our Mainland of China and International Business for some time as the world struggles to get the pandemic under control and re-establish business and travel as usual. Therefore, we can expect passenger demand and revenue to fluctuate to varying degrees in 2021 depending on the business models of different business contracts. In the meantime, we must keep adapting our operations in different markets to continue delivering world-class railway services for our overseas customers. Hangzhou Metro Line 1 Phase 3 (Airport Extension), the full Hangzhou Metro Line 5, Middle Section of Corporate Governance Beijing Metro Line 16 and Shenzhen Metro Line 4 North Extension all opened at various points througout 2020. These lines and their related businesses should all begin making financial contributions moving forward. Over the coming months and years, we will strive to expand our presence in the Mainland of China market and continue taking an active role in the development of the Greater Bay Area. We will also be seeking new opportunities across Europe and Australia. This will be done via three primary approaches: delivering operational excellence, exploring more TOD opportunities in the Mainland and overseas markets, and raising our railway value chain capabilities. Financials and Other Information 66 MTR Corporation Annual Report 2020 67 BUSINESS REVIEW MAINLAND OF CHINA AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES Over the years, we have exported our considerable Mainland of China, Macao, Europe and Australia. These expertise and experience in the construction, operation businesses carried a total of approximately 1.38 billion and maintenance of world-class railway networks to a passengers and an average of approximately 4.4 million variety of markets outside Hong Kong, including the passengers per weekday in 2020. RAILWAY BUSINESSES IN THE MAINLAND OF CHINA Beijing Shenzhen In Beijing, our associate operates Beijing Metro Line 4 Shenzhen Metro Line 4 and North Extension (“BJL4”), the Daxing Line, the first three phases of Beijing Shenzhen Metro Line 4 (“SZL4”), operated by our Metro Line 14 (“BJL14”) and the Northern Section and wholly owned subsidiary, saw a decline in patronage Middle Section of Beijing Metro Line 16 (“BJL16”). The in 2020 due to COVID-19. Patronage decreased by 35% average on-time performance of these four lines in 2020 to approximately 156 million passengers and average was 99.9%. weekday patronage dropped to approximately 446,000. Beijing Metro Line 4 and the Daxing Line The line once again recorded exceptional on-time performance of 99.9%. The COVID-19 outbreak impacted patronage for BJL4 and the Daxing Line during the year. Combined ridership There has been no increase in fares at SZL4 since we for the two lines in 2020 was approximately 239 million began operating the line in 2010. In July 2020, the passenger trips while average weekday patronage was Shenzhen Municipal Government publicised a fare 742,000, representing year-on-year decreases of 47.5% adjustment framework for the Shenzhen Metro network and 45%, respectively. The Daxing Line operations and that will take effect on 1 January 2021 for a period of maintenance (“O&M”) contract has been extended to 29 five years. This framework is expected to enable the December 2022. establishment of a fare-setting mechanism and the procedures for fare adjustment. However, if a suitable Beijing Metro Line 14 fare increase and adjustment mechanism are not The first three phases of BJL14 recorded combined implemented soon, the long-term financial viability of this passenger trips of approximately 148 million and average line will be impacted. weekday patronage of over 479,000 in 2020, representing The Company signed the O&M agreement for the SZL4 decreases of 40.8% and 39.2%, respectively, compared to North Extension in 2020, and the extension formally 2019. The full opening of BJL14 is scheduled for late 2021 opened on 28 October 2020. at the earliest. Beijing Metro Line 16 Hangzhou The Northern Section of BJL16 recorded approximately 25 Hangzhou Metro Line 1 and Xiasha Extension million passenger trips and average weekday patronage Our associate operates Hangzhou Metro Line 1 (“HZL1”) of more than 81,000 in 2020. The Middle Section of and the HZL1 Xiasha Extension. In 2020, patronage on BJL16 opened on 31 December 2020, with the full line these lines decreased by 27.4% to about 215 million scheduled to open in late 2022 at the earliest. year on year and average weekday patronage dropped to about 612,000. On-time train performance remained Beijing Metro Line 17 at 99.9%. The HZL1 Phase 3 (Airport Extension) formally The opening of the first phase of Beijing Metro Line 17 is opened at the end of December 2020. targeted for the end of 2021. Our associate will lease the rolling stock over a 20-year period, with lease payments to Hangzhou Metro Line 5 be made in instalments after the opening of each phase. The full line of Hangzhou Metro Line 5 commenced operation in April 2020. Total patronage was about 108 million in 2020 and average weekday patronage was about 332,000. 68 MTR Corporation Annual Report 2020 69 Overview Business Review and Analysis PROPERTY BUSINESSES IN THE MAINLAND OF CHINA Shenzhen Beijing The Tiara residential development at Shenzhen Metro The occupancy rate for Ginza Mall in Beijing decreased Longhua Line Depot Site Lot 1 has a total developable during the year to 84%. The Company extended rental GFA of approximately 206,167 square metres with a retail relief to eligible tenants to help them withstand the centre of about 10,000 square metres by GFA. More than impact of business disruption caused by the pandemic. 98% of residential units have been sold and handed over Corporate Governance to buyers. Tianjin In Tianjin, project completion for the Beiyunhe Station COVID-19 negatively impacted the occupancy rate and shopping centre development has been delayed to patronage of TIA Mall in 2020. The Company granted 2024 as additional works are required for railway safety rental concessions to eligible tenants to help them assurance during basement construction. withstand the impact of business disruption caused by the pandemic. Property Management Businesses As at 31 December 2020, the Company managed a total of approximately 406,000 square metres of self-developed and other third-party properties in the Mainland of China. Financials and Other Information 68 MTR Corporation Annual Report 2020 69 BUSINESS REVIEW MAINLAND OF CHINA AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES MACAO MTR operates and maintains Macao’s first rapid transit management and technical support to other light rail system, the Macao Light Rapid Transit Taipa Line, which lines and extensions in the city. opened in December 2019. We also provide project EUROPE RAILWAY BUSINESSES United Kingdom Sweden TfL Rail/Elizabeth Line MTR is the largest rail operator in Sweden by passenger volume. It operates three rail businesses via wholly In London, our wholly owned subsidiary operates the owned subsidiaries: Stockholm Metro (Stockholms Crossrail operating concession under the TfL Rail brand. tunnelbana); MTRX (formerly known as MTR Express), an Services include Liverpool Street Station to Shenfield, intercity service between Stockholm and Gothenburg; Paddington Station to Heathrow Airport and Paddington and the Stockholm commuter rail service (“Stockholms Station to Reading, the latter of which is a 57-km route pendeltåg”), which serves the greater Stockholm area. that was included into the service at the end of 2019. MTR continues to support the phased opening of TfL Rail, Stockholm Metro (Stockholms tunnelbana) which will be renamed Elizabeth Line upon the opening During the pandemic, Stockholm Metro continued to run of the Central Operating Section. We recently introduced a full service with strong operational performance. the new class 345 Full Length Unit to operate to Heathrow Airport. MTRX Although ridership has fallen, TfL Rail services have MTRX – which underwent a successful rebranding earlier managed to minimise the risks presented by COVID-19. in 2020 and was recently ranked third in the Swedish Our financial interest is reasonably protected as this Innovation Index – has been operating a reduced service concession has no fare revenue risks. since March 2020 due to travel restrictions and decreased demand brought by the COVID-19 outbreak.