The Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system has carried over 200,000 passengers since the launch of its service on December 10, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosário said on Friday after a reception at Macau Tower in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
The reception was hosted by the new government.
However, the LRT was suspended from 1 p.m. on Wednesday to Friday “as one of the special security measures by the local government and the service will be resumed today”, Rosário said.
The “special security measures” are understood to have been implemented by the local government in connection with President Xi Jinping’s three-day working visit to Macau which ended on Friday afternoon.
According to the Macau Post Daily, meanwhile, Rosário also told the reporters that Shin Low Kam Hong, who is currently the deputy director of the bureau, will be appointed as the acting director of the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT). He did not elaborate on the reason for the appointment.
Macau’s first-ever railway was inaugurated by former chief executive Fernando Chui Sai On on December 10. The first LRT train departed from the Taipa Ferry Terminal station – the eastern terminus of the Taipa section – at 3:33 p.m. on that day.
The 9.3-kilometre-long Taipa section has 11 stations. Passengers can take free LRT rides until December 31. The Taipa section includes Cotai.
According to a statement by the operator, officially named “Macao Light Rapid Transit Corporation Limited” in English, on December 13, during the first three days, there were 15,600 passengers, 26,400 passengers and 26,800 LRT passengers respectively.
