The MTR Corporation said on Friday that trains to Lo Wu will run at frequencies comparable to pre-pandemic levels when the checkpoint reopens next week.

The railway firm's head of cross-boundary operations, Cheung Chi-keung, said this means there will be around 10 trains to Lo Wu every hour.

"Our train service will be maintained in a service pattern of two trains to Lo Wu and one train to Lok Ma Chau… there’re around 10 trains per hour going to the Lo Wu station… we believe we could cope with the demand," he said, adding that the company will adjust service frequencies accordingly.

Cheung said manpower will be increased from Monday along the East Rail Line, in particular at the Lo Wu and Sheung Shui stations to help passengers who’re crossing the border.

Separately, the president of the Hong Kong Travel Agent Owners Association, Freddy Yip, said cross-border coach operators are struggling to recruit drivers they’ve lost during the pandemic.

Yip urged the government to provide support so that the sector can retain some of its most experienced drivers.

"The young drivers can’t take up the job, because they need to know how to drive to 11 cities in the Greater Bay Area point-to-point," he said.

"The only way is for the government to allow overaged cross-border drivers to keep their license to continue their job."