MTR – Hong Kong

MTR, or Mass Transit Railway, is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. The MTR first began service in 1979 and officially merged with the Kowloon Canton Railway (KCR) on 2 December 2007, still bearing the same name in English. The network includes 211.6 km of rail with 150 stations, including 82 railway stations and 68 light rail stops. The MTR system is currently being operated by MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL).

Due to its efficiency and affordability, the MTR system is a common mode of public transport in Hong Kong, with over 4 million trips made in an average weekday. The integration of the Octopus smart card fare-payment technology into the MTR system in September 1997 has further enhanced the ease of commuting on the MTR.

In 1967, construction of the MTR was prompted by a government-commissioned study. The Hong Kong Government had previously commissioned a study in the 1960s to find solutions to the growing traffic problem caused by the expansion of the city’s economy. Construction started soon after the release of the study, and the first line was opened in 1979. The MTR was immediately popular with residents of Hong Kong; as a result, subsequent lines have been built to cover more territory. There are continual debates regarding how and where to expand the MTR network.

History

Initial proposal

During the 1960s, the government of Hong Kong saw a need to accommodate increasing road traffic as Hong Kong’s economy continued to grow strongly. British transportation consultants Freeman, Fox, Wilbur Smith & Associates were appointed to study the transportation system of Hong Kong. The study was based on the projection of the population of Hong Kong for 1986, estimated at 6,868,000. On 1967-09-01, the consultants submitted to the government the Hong Kong Mass Transport Study, which recommended the construction of a 40-mile (64 km) rail rapid-transit system in Hong Kong. The study suggested that four rail lines be developed in six stages, with a completion date set between December 1973 and December 1984. Detailed positions of lines and stations were presented in the study. These four lines were Kwun Tong Line (from Western Market to Ma Yau Tong), Tsuen Wan Line (from Admiralty to Tsuen Wan), Island Line (from Kennedy to Chai Wan Central), and Shatin Line (Tsim Sha Tsui to Wo Liu Hang).

The study was submitted to the Legislative Council on 1968-02-14. The consultants received new data of 1966 by-census in 1968-03-06. A short supplementary report was submitted on 1968-03-22 and amended in June 1968. The by-census indicated that the projected 1986 population was reduced to 5,647,000, a reduction from a previous estimate by more than 1 million. The dramatic reduction in projection affected town planning. The population distribution was largely different from the original study. The 1986 populations of Castle Peak New Town, Sha Tin New Town, and, to a lesser extent, Tsuen Wan New Town, were not as high as expected, and the plan of a new town in Tseung Kwan O was abandoned. In this updated scenario, the consultants diminished the scale of the recommended system. The supplementary report stated that the originally suggested four tracks between Admiralty station and Mong Kok station should be reduced to two, and only the Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, and Kwun Tong Line should be constructed in the system. The other lines would be placed in the list of extensions. This report led to the final study in 1970.

In 1970, a system with four lines was laid out and planned as part of the British consultants’ new report, Hong Kong Mass Transit: Further Studies. The four lines were to be the Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line, and East Kowloon Line. However, the lines that were eventually constructed were somewhat different compared to the lines that were originally proposed by the Hong Kong Mass Transport Study.

In 1972, the Hong Kong government authorised construction of the Initial System, a 20-kilometre system that roughly translates to the Kwun Tong Line of today. Negotiations with four major construction consortia started in 1973. The government’s intention was to tender the entire project, based on the British design, as a single tender at a fixed price. A consortium from Japan signed an agreement to construct the system in early 1974, but in December of the same year, it pulled out of the agreement for reasons stemming from fears of the Arab oil crisis.

Modified Initial System (1979 to 1980)

Several weeks later, in early 1975, a government agency known as the Mass Transport Provisional Authority was established to take charge of the project. It announced that the Initial System would be reduced to 15.6–kilometres, and renamed it the Modified Initial System. Plans for a single contract were abandoned in favour of 25 engineering contracts and 10 electrical and mechanical contracts. In addition, the government-owned Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) was established to replace the Mass Transport Provisional Authority.

Construction of the Modified Initial System (now part of Kwun Tong Line and Tsuen Wan Line) commenced in November 1975. The northern section was completed on 1979-09-30 and opened on 1979-10-01; on this route, trains ran from Shek Kip Mei to Kwun Tong. The route from Tsim Sha Tsui to Shek Kip Mei was opened in December of the same year. The early stations were designed under the supervision of the Chief Architect of MTR, Roland Paoletti.

Line extensions in 1980s

The government approved construction of the Tsuen Wan Line in 1977, then known as Tsuen Wan Extension, and works commenced in November 1978. The project added a 10.5-kilometre section to the MTR system, from Prince Edward to Tsuen Wan. The line started service on 1982-05-10 with a total cost of construction (not adjusted for inflation) at HK$4.1 billion.

When service of this line started, the section of the Kwun Tong Line from Chater to Argyle, the present-day Mong Kok station, was transferred to the Tsuen Wan Line. Thus, Waterloo became the terminus of the Kwun Tong Line, and both Argyle and Prince Edward stations became interchange stations. This change was made because system planners expected the traffic of the Tsuen Wan Line to exceed that of the Kwun Tong Line. This forecast proved to be accurate, necessitating a bypass from the northwestern New Territories to Hong Kong Island. The Tung Chung Line was therefore launched in 1998 with an interchange station at Lai King for that purpose.

Airport connection

The decision was made in October 1989 to construct a new international airport at Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island to replace the overcrowded Kai Tak International Airport. The government invited the MTRC to build a train line, then known as the Lantau Airport Railway, to the airport. Construction started in November 1994, after the Chinese and British governments settled their financial and land disagreements.

The new line was included in the financing plans of the new Hong Kong International Airport as the airport was not considered viable without direct public transport links. Construction costs were also shared by the MTRC which was granted many large-scale developments in the construction plans for the new stations. The Airport Express line is the second most popular means of transport to the Hong Kong International Airport after buses. In 2006, 23% of the commuters took the Airport Express to and from the airport.

Line extensions in 2000s

• Tseung Kwan O Line

The Quarry Bay Congestion Relief Works involved extending the Hong Kong Island end of the Kwun Tong Line from Quarry Bay to North Point via a 4.2–kilometre tunnel. The project was initiated due to overcrowding at Quarry Bay and persistent passenger complaints about the 5-minute walk from the Island Line platforms to the Kwun Tong Line platform. Construction began in September 1997 and was completed in September 2001 at a cost of HK$3.0 billion.

• West Rail Line

While the construction of the Tung Chung Line was still underway, the plan to build a railway corridor serving the northwestern New Territories was conceived. Space had been reserved for the addition of an interchange station and two extra tracks (to allow non-stop service for the Airport Express) between Olympic and Lai King. Originally known as the Airport Railway Phase 2, the contracts of the West Rail Interface Works were awarded shortly after construction works of the West Rail commenced.

• Interchange Works

Two major works were undertaken to facilitate interchange between MTR and KCR East Rail. The modification of Kowloon Tong station started in June 2001. A new pedestrian link to East Rail Kowloon Tong station southern concourse and a new entrance were completed in June 2003 to cope with the increase in interchange passenger flow. Modification to Tsim Sha Tsui Station involved upgrading station facilities and concourse layout to facilitate access from the East Tsim Sha Tsui East Rail station via its pedestrian links.

• Disneyland Extension

The Disneyland Resort Line, previously known as Penny’s Bay Rail Link, provides service to the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort which was opened on 2005-09-12. Service to Sunny Bay station on the Tung Chung Line started service in 2005. The new line and Disneyland Resort station opened for service on August 1st of that year. It is a 3.5–kilometre single-track railway that runs between Sunny Bay station and Disneyland Resort station; The Disneyland Resort station itself is designed to blend in with the Hong Kong Disneyland to create a resort ambience.

• Further Expansion of the Airport Express

The new AsiaWorld-Expo station is an extension of the Airport Express serving the new international exhibition centre, known as the AsiaWorld-Expo at Hong Kong International Airport. The station opened on 2005-12-20 along with the exhibition centre. To cope with the projected increase in patronage, Airport Express trains have been expanded to utilise eight carriages from the previous seven. Additional trains will also be deployed on the Tung Chung line during major exhibitions and events.

• Privatisation and merger

MTRCL has always been reliant on developing properties next to railway stations for its profits to complement its already profitable rail lines. Many recently built stations are incorporated into large housing estates or shopping complexes. Examples can be seen at Tsing Yi station, which is built next to the Maritime Square shopping centre, and directly underneath the Tierra Verde housing estate. After the merger, the MTR network included three more lines, East Rail Line, West Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line, together with the Light Rail network.

Infrastructure

Traffic control centres

There are a total of four traffic control centres in MTR, responsible for traffic and trains control on different lines:

• Tsing Yi Operations Control Centre (for Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line, Tseung Kwan O Line, Tung Chung Line and the Airport Express)
• Fo Tan Operations Control Centre (for East Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line)
• West Rail Line Operations Control Centre (for West Rail Line)
• Light Rail Operations Control Centre (for Light Rail)

Depots

Depots are located at:

• Ho Tung Lau (for East Rail Line)
• Kowloon Bay (for Kwun Tong Line)
• Tsuen Wan (for Tsuen Wan Line)
• Heng Fa Chuen (for Island Line)
• Siu Ho Wan (for Tung Chung Line, Airport Express, and Disneyland Resort Line)
• Tseung Kwan O South (for Tseung Kwan O Line)
• Pat Heung (for West Rail Line)
• Tai Wai Maintenance Centre (for Ma On Shan Line)
• Tuen Mun (for Light Rail)

Feeder Bus

At East Rail Line (and several West Rail Line) Tai Po Market and East Tsim Sha Tsui stations, MTR has (recently by KCR) 5 routes; K12, K14, K16, K17, K18. The buses normally terminate at housing estates or major landmarks such as Jusco and Tai Po Central. These feeder bus routes are run under the MTR name but are operated by Kowloon Motor Bus.

Station facilities, amenities and services

As compared to other metro systems in the world such as those found in Eastern Europe, architecture of MTR stations is less artistic, instead focusing on structural practicability. With the high level of daily passenger traffic, facilities of the MTR stations are built with durability and accessibility in mind. After extensive retrofitting, the MTR system has become, in general, disabled-friendly the trains have dedicated wheelchair space, the stations have special floor tiles to guide the blind safely on the platforms, and there are extra wide entry and exit gates for wheelchairs as well.

• Mobile network accessibility

A full GSM (GSM-900 and GSM-1800), CDMA and TDMA mobile phone network is in place through out the MTR system of stations and tunnels allowing passengers to stay connected underground. Currently, full 3G network coverage in all stations and tunnels for the MTR system has been provided by 3 Hong Kong, SmarTone-Vodafone and PCCW Mobile. Passengers with subscription services will be able to make video calls and access high speed video content on their mobile phones regardless whether the train is above ground or under ground.

• Public toilet installment concern

Unlike many other metro systems around the world, “main line” MTR stations do not have toilet facilities opened for public, although their installation has been contemplated. Only on request may passengers use MTR staff toilets. MTRCL reiterated that it would not consider retrofitting existing underground toilets. Only stations on the Airport Express and Disneyland Resort Line, and former KCR stations have access to toilet facilities. MTRCL has received criticism from Hong Kong Legislative Council Members for not willing to install toilet facilities in main line stations during Legco Rail Merger Bill discussions.

• In-station stores and free reading materials

Until recently, MTR stations only had branches of the Hang Seng Bank and Maxim’s Cakes stores, owned by Jardine Matheson, and a handful of other shops. Since the privatisation of MTRC, however, numerous shops have been added to certain stations, turning them into miniature shopping centres. Services available at most stations include ATMs and 7-Eleven or Circle K convenience stores. Free magazines and newspapers are distributed across MTR stations.

• Complimentary services on Airport Express

The Airport Express also offer value-added services to travellers on the line. Airport check-in facilities are available at Kowloon Station and Hong Kong Station. A free Airport Express shuttle bus service transports travellers from stations to their respective hotels as well. Flight passengers can even have in-town check-in at the station, which offers a more convenient and time-saving routine.

Future Expansions

Several future projects on the MTR have been put forward by MTRCL to the Hong Kong Government, some already under construction. The network was significantly expanded after the merger of MTRCL with the government-owned KCRC. A non-binding Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 2006-04-11 to grant MTRCL operation of the existing KCR network with a service concession of 50 years. The new Sha Tin to Central Link that was originally awarded to KCRC would also be operated by MTRCL.

Provisions are made to upgrade the existing infrastructure of the MTR. New subway links to the stations are also being made for better access, and an extension for the Tseung Kwan O Line to create a branch line to Lohas Park Station has been gazetted. A further proposal to extend the existing Kwun Tong Line to Whampoa Garden, together in a tie-up with the Sha Tin to Central Link expansion have been made in April 2006. In March 2008, the MTR Corporation welcomes the Government’s decision for the Corporation to proceed with further planning and design for the Kwun Tong Line Extension and the Shatin to Central Link. The construction of the Kwun Tong Line Extension and the section from Shatin to Hung Hom is expected to complete in 2015, the section from Hung Hom to Central is expected to complete in 2019.

The West Island Line and South Island Line, first put forward to the government by MTRCL on 2003-01-21, only received approval on 2005-06-30 after its heavily-modified fourth proposal. This consisted of West Island Line extending the Island Line to Kennedy Town, South Island Line (East section) from Admiralty to Ap Lei Chau and South Island Line (West section) that connects the previous two lines. The construction of West Island Line and the South Island Line (East section) is expected to complete in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

Two lines are being built or proposed to connect the West Rail Line and the East Rail Line. The 4.5 km Kowloon Southern Link will soon connect the West Rail Line Nam Cheong Station with the East Rail Line East Tsim Sha Tsui Station with an intermediate stop at West Kowloon Station. The Northern Link will be a new line which connects West Rail Line with the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line of East Rail Line.

Rolling Stock

Six variations of Electric Multiple Unit rolling stock operate on the MTR network. All operate on 1432 mm rail gauge (near standard gauge) or 1435 mm (standard gauge). Except for the rolling stock of the Airport Express, all trains are designed with features to cope with high density passenger traffic on frequently used services. Examples are the seating arrangements, additional ventilation fans and 5 doors on each side per car. The MTR uses the longest (~23 m), widest and highest capacity rolling stocks (~350 passengers/car) of any metro system in the world, with all trains (excluding those on the Disneyland Resort Line, Ma On Shan Line, West Rail Line and East Rail Line) consisting of 8 cars.

MTR trains emitted 412,514 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2006, but 23% of total traction energy was saved through regenerative braking, a feature used on mainly newer trains. In addition, three EMU models (of East Rail/West Rail, Ma On Shan Rail and Tung Chung/Airport Express Lines) have a slightly bullet train head in the front to avoid drag. Therefore, it uses less energy to speed up. Trains with the bullet train head have mostly have a greater acceleration speed compared with other MTR EMUs. For example, the K-Stock has an acceleration rate of 4.72 km/h/s (1.3 m/s2) while an older EMU, the M-Stock only has an acceleration rate of 3.6 km/h/s (1.0 m/s2).

Fares and Tickets

After the rail merger, there are three different fare classes on the MTR: Adult, Students and Concessionary. Only children below the age of 12, senior citizens 65 years or older are eligible for the concessionary rate on all lines. Full-time Hong Kong students between the ages of 12 and 25 qualify for the concessionary rate on the Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line, Island Line, Tseung Kwan O Line, Tung Chung Line and Disneyland Resort Line. Lines that were operated by KCRC before the merger are not included in the concessionary fare scheme for students. Children below the age of 3 travel free (unless they exceed the height range).

Similar to some other metro systems in the world, the fare payable by a passenger depends on the approximate distance travelled. However, taking any particular station as the origin, the other stations fall into fare “zones” depending on the distance from the origin. The fare to all stations in a “zone” is the same and increases with distance, especially if the journey involves a harbour crossing. Adult fares range from HK$3.00 to $47.50. Concessionary fares are usually half the adult fare, and range from HK$2.20 to $23.80. Student fares are the same as child and elderly fare on the urban lines, but are the same as the Adult fares on the ex-KCR lines, and range from HK$2.20 to $39.40. Fares for the Airport Express Line are significantly higher. Services to border stations (Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau) are also more expensive than ordinary fares.

MTR does not provide concessionary fares for the disabled. Legislators such as Social welfare constituency legislator Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung and those from Hong Kong Association for Democracy & People’s Livelihood have for years demanded that such concessions be put in place. Single journey tickets and octopus card reloads can be purchased at vending machines while tourist passes, octopus cards and other special tickets must be purchased at the ticket counter. Credit cards are only accepted to purchase Airport Express tickets.

Safety

Various campaigns and activities are taken to help ensure that the MTR is a safe system to travel on. Poster campaigns displaying information on topics such as escalator safety are a common sight in all MTR stations, and announcements are made regularly as safety reminders to travelling passengers. Bylaws were also introduced to deter potentially dangerous actions on the MTR, such as the ban on flammable goods on the MTR and rushing into trains when the doors are closing. Penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment have been imposed for such offences. Metallic balloons are also banned due to previous incidents on KCR and on MTR’s Island Line where a metallic balloon interfered with the operation of the overhead power lines. Also, smoking, eating and drinking in subway trains and platforms are prohibited.

Police officers patrol the trains and stations, and police posts are available at some stations. The Hong Kong Police Force has a Railway District responsible for the MTR. Closed-circuit television cameras are installed in stations. Tung Chung Line, the Airport Express, and Tseung Kwan O Line except Quarry Bay Station had platform screen doors (PSDs), ordered from Swiss glass door manufacturer Kaba Gilgen AG, installed upon construction. Platform screen doors were also installed upon construction on West Rail Line and in East Tsim Sha Tsui Station. These doors prevent people from falling onto the rails, and MTRCL assumed that this implementation was primarily a safety campaign, without heavily promoting it directly. However, the primary motivation was to separate the stations from the tunnels, hence allowing substantial energy savings on station air-conditioning and tunnel ventilation. Automatic platform gates (APGs) have also been installed at the Sunny Bay and Disneyland Resort stations. Their heights are half of the PSDs and only prevent people from falling onto the rails.

In June 2000, MTRCL proceeded with its plans to retrofit 2,960 pairs of platform screen doors at all 30 underground stations on the Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, and Island Line in a six year programme. The programme made MTR the world’s first railway to undertake the retrofitting of PSDs on a passenger-carrying system already in operation. A prototype design was first introduced at Choi Hung station in the 3rd quarter of 2001. The whole installation scheme was completed in October 2005. (The original completion year was 2006.) MTRCL said that part of the cost had to be assumed by passengers. HK$0.10 per passenger trip was levied on Octopus card users to help fund the HK$2 billion retrofit programme.

MTR and the Community

Art promotion

With the objective “not only bring MTR passengers more time for life, but also more time for art”, the “Art in MTR” Initiative has been a success since its reception in 1998, where the Airport Express Artwork Programme was the pioneer project. Thereafter, live performances, art exhibitions, display of artwork by established and emerging artists, students and young children have been brought into the MTR stations. MTRCL have even made art part of the station architecture when building new stations or renovating existing ones. Artworks are exhibited in different forms on the network, including “arttube”, open art gallery, community art galleries, roving art, living art, and art in station architecture.

By incorporating elements of art into the railway network, the travelling environment for the passengers is not only enhanced, but also makes their journeys even more pleasant and enjoyable. Moreover, with MTR stations being an integral part of the neighbourhood, the programme also provides opportunities to promote Hong Kong’s community art, encourage art appreciation among the public and give residents a feeling of home at the stations.

MTR Hong Kong Race Walking

MTR and Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association have jointly hosted MTR HONG KONG Race Walking annually in spring since 2005. The race walking competition aims at promoting healthy living in Hong Kong. The race begins and ends on the ground above Central MTR Station, namely Chater Garden, Chater Road, Ice House Street and Des Voeux Road Central in Central.There is a fun walk apart from regular competition. Participants make up for fun in the fun walk. The event attracted over 800 participants in 2005 and 1,000 in 2006. Other than Hongkongers, the event also attracts athletes from various countries. The race raises fund for Better Health for a Better Hong Kong, a Hospital Authority project for working population.

Other Information

• Name: MTR
• Locale: Hong Kong
• Transit type: Rapid transit, Light rail, Regional rail
• Began operation: 30 September 1979; 2 December 2007 (Merger with KCRC)
• System length: Rapid transit: 175 km, Light rail: 36.2 km
• No. of lines: Rapid transit: 10, Light rail: 11
• No. of stations: Rapid transit: 82, Light rail: 68
• Daily ridership: Rapid transit: 3.65 million and Others: 0.47 million
• Track gauge: 1,432 mm (near standard gauge) &
• 1,435 mm (standard gauge)
• Operators: MTR Corporation

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