The Hengqin Line of the Macau Light Rail Transit (MLRT), which has been under construction for nearly three years, was officially opened on Monday, marking a new point-to-point connection to the Hengqin Port in the Cotai area.
The Hengqin Line, the construction of which began in March 2021, is about 2.2 kilometers long. It is the third open line of the MLRT system and the second link between the Macau SAR and Hengqin on land. The line runs from Lotus Station in Cotai to Hengqin Port Station.
The opening of the Hengqin Line is expected to greatly improve the efficiency of travel from Hengqin to Macau, as before the opening of the line, access to Hengqin Port from Macau could only be achieved by public transport, unless Macau drivers had applied for a driving permit to go to Hengqin.
At present, there are three lines in the Macau LRT system, including the Taipa Line, which was officially launched on 10 December 2019, the Seac Pai Van Line, which was launched in September, and now the Hengqin Line.
According to MLRT Company, the average daily ridership of the MLRT in November was approximately 16,900 passengers, an increase of 1,700 passengers month-on-month.
The mainland government has recently been improving the travel policy between Hengqin and Macau and only last Friday it was announced that mainland residents of Hengqin or persons holding Hengqin residence permits are eligible to apply for “multiple-entry visas” to Macau.
