Light Rail (Hong Kong)

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Not to be confused with Hong Kong Tramways.
Light Rail
輕鐵
LRT 505 Siu Lun.JPG
MTR Light Rail
Overview
Type Light rail
System MTR
Locale Districts: Tuen Mun, Yuen Long
Stations 68
Operation
Opened 18 September 1988
Technical
Line length 36.2 km (22.5 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification 750 V DC
Route map
Legend
Yuen Long     
Tai Tong Road
Hong Lok Road
Fung Nin Road
Shui Pin Wai
Fare zone 5
Tin Heng
Tin Yat, Wetland Park
Tin Fu, Tin Sau
Chung Fu, Tin Yuet
Fare zone 5A
Chestwood
Fare zone 4
Tin Shui, Tin Wing
Ginza
Locwood, Tin Wu
Tin Tsz, Ping Shan
Tin Yiu, Tin Shui Wai     , Tong Fong Tsuen
Hang Mei Tsuen
Hung Shui Kiu
Fare zone 4
Chung Uk Tsuen
Fare zone 3
Nai Wai
Lam Tei
uÜWBur
uÜWBu+l
Siu Hong     
Kei Lun
Kin Sang, Ching Chung
Tin King
Leung King, Tuen Mun Hospital, Fung Tei
Fare zone 3
San Wai
Affluence, Prime View
Fare zone 2
Tai Hing (North), Tai Hing (South), Ngan Wai
Shek Pai Stop, Choy Yee Bridge, San Hui
uHHSTl
Shan King (North)
Ming Kum, Ho Tin, Hoh Fuk Tong
Shan King (South)
Kin On, Pui To
Tuen Mun     
Tsing Wun, Town Centre
Tsing Shan Tsuen, Yau Oi, On Ting
Fare zone 2
Lung Mun, Siu Lun
Fare zone 1
Tuen Mun Depot, Goodview Garden
Light Rail Depot, Tuen Mun Swimming Pool, Sam Shing
Butterfly, Siu Hei
Melody Garden, Tuen Mun Ferry Pier
This diagram:
Track layout diagram of original LRT network

The Light Rail, also known as the Light Rail Transit (LRT), is a light rail system in Hong Kong, serving the New Territories West, within Tuen Mun District and Yuen Long District. The system operates over 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge gauge track, using 750 V DC overhead power supply. It was once one of four systems comprising the KCR network in Hong Kong. It has a daily ridership of about 473,000 people.[1]

History

Planning and commencement

When Tuen Mun was developed in the 1970s, the Hong Kong government had set aside space for the laying of rail tracks. There was uncertainty however as to which company would be commissioned to build the train line. In 1982 Hong Kong Tramways showed interest in building the system and running double-decker trams on it, before abandoning the project after negotiations over land premiums for related property development failed.[2] The government sought another builder. The Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) was "heavily indebted" at the time, and so Secretary for Transport Alan Scott invited the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) to consider the project instead.[3][4] The KCRC announced they would build the system in 1984 to a budget of $1.5 billion, after investigating ways to improve commercial viability.[5] After some research, construction commenced in 14 July 1985.

By that time, Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) had developed its own network in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long, and there were about 10 routes serving within the district internally, most of them profitable. However, the government introduced the concept of the "Light Rail Service Area" in both districts, forcing the KMB to withdraw all internal bus services in favour of the Light Rail. It also forced the KMB to impose boarding and alighting restrictions for external routes. It was decided that services between town centres and settlements would be provided solely by the Light Rail, while feeder buses operated by the KCRC would connect remote sites to the network, replacing KMB's equivalent services where applicable.

The system was completed and fully operational in September 1988. The first section was opened to the public on 18 September 1988, with free rides Tuen Mun and Yuen Long; normal, all-day service began four days later, on 18 September.[6] The system consisted of two large and three small loops serving most of the public housing estates in northern Tuen Mun. Three branches: one to On Ting Estate in the southeast, one to the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier in the southwest and another northern branch all the way into the town of Yuen Long along Castle Peak Road. It was then known as Light Rail Transit or LRT and is also called as the North-west Railway according to the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance and Mass Transit Railway (North-west Railway) Bylaw.[7][8]

The system is divided into six fare zones, the only transit system in Hong Kong to employ such zoning. The feeder buses have fares independent of these zones, but provide discounts when passengers interchange between these buses and LRT. 70 single-deck LRVs were manufactured in Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia by Comeng, and shipped to Hong Kong for the seven LRT routes in the system. Three of the routes were to Yuen Long and the others were confined to Tuen Mun.

Extensions

The system's first extension came for the southern and eastern parts of Tuen Mun. The eastern extension branches off the main line south of Siu Hong Stop and crosses the river that runs through Tuen Mun immediately with a flyover. The line then runs along Castle Peak Road to a road north of the town centre, where it climbs to another flyover and rejoins the main route. The northern end of this extension is still the only non-triangular junction in the entire system.

The southern extension mainly consists of a route linking On Ting and Ferry Pier, on the newly reclaimed land near the river mouth of Tuen Mun River, known as "Mouse Island" by locals. A short spur was also built from the extension to another terminus at Sam Shing Estate, located near Castle Peak Bay. Three LRT routes were diverted (route 505 was extended to Sam Shing) and one feeder bus route (route 559) discontinued as a result of these changes.

Tin Shui Wai was originally an area with numerous fish ponds, but was developed as a residential town in 1991-1994. With the increase of internal commuter traffic demand, an LRT spur was built north of Hung Shui Kiu Stop that opened in 1993, with four stops serving the initial housing areas of the town. The area was further developed in the next few years and the line was extended by two stops: Chestwood and Tin Shui Wai Terminus in 1995 (Tin Shui Wai Terminus was renamed Tin Wing after the opening of West Rail Line). Two LRT routes were established, route 720 to Yau Oi and route 721 to Yuen Long.

West Rail Line

The system remained essentially unchanged until the completion of the West Rail Line in December 2003. Many changes were made, mainly around the new railway stations. The KCRC designed most railway stations in the LRT area to interchange with the new West Rail line. The idea was to encourage passengers to use the West Rail Line instead of the Light Rail for longer journeys to free up LRT vehicles for passengers making shorter journeys. For this purpose, an interchange discount system was launched with the introduction of the West Rail Line system, meaning that passengers would pay no more (and in some cases less) to travel on West Rail Line instead of the LRT for the main part of their journey. Although this most recent extension is the largest ever, no new vehicles were purchased. And although rearrangements were made, some infrequent and unreliable services resulted, causing passengers to blame the lack of vehicles and poor arrangement of new services.[9] The KCRC has since modified the inside of some vehicles to allow more standing room for passengers during peak hours. They have also several route alterations to arrange them better.

Rolling stock

The system's vehicles consist of four different types of LRVs. All LRVs are 20.2 metres long and have 3 sliding doors fitted on the left side (when facing the running direction from inside). This means that island platforms (except the triangular platform at Siu Hong Stop) cannot be used at all in the LRT system.

Phase I LRVs were built by Comeng and put in service in 1988. They are numbered 1001–1070 and accommodate 43 sitting passengers and 161 standees. The driver's cab interior and exterior design was conceived for KCRC by Design Triangle in 1986. Phase II LRVs were built by Kawasaki and entered service in 1992. They are numbered 1071-1090/1201-1210 and accommodate 26 sitting and 185 standees. Cars 1071–1090 are cab cars while 1201–1210 are cabless trailers. Phase III LRVs were built by A. Goninan, now United Group Ltd. and entered service in 1997. They are numbered 1091–1110 and accommodate 26 seating and 212 standees. Phase I LRVs have two wheelchair positions while both Phase II and Phase III LRVs have three positions. The newest Phase IV LRV's were manufactured by United Group Ltd. and CSR and entered service in December 2009. They are numbered 1111–1132.

Traction systems for both Phase I and II LRVs consist of GTO thyristor chopper and DC traction motors, supplied by AEG, while drives for the Phase three and four LRVs consist of IGBT VVVF inverters and AC traction motors provided by Mitsubishi. The maximum speed for all LRVs is 80 km/h, although they rarely reach that speed because of the many grade crossings between stops and the close proximity between stops in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai.

From the outside it is difficult to differentiate between the first three types of LRVs. There are, however, distinct features that one can use to tell them apart; Phase III LRVs still retain their original green electronic displays while all other LRVs have new orange electronic displays. Phase I cars also have a wide window at the rear that can be opened in case of an emergency, while Phase II cars have a door at the back. The interior of the phase three cars has a greenish look and the doors are also green. The Phase IV LRVs have a completely different appearance in contrast to the older phase. It has a white exterior livery with olive green and purple line on the side. The shape of the front of the LRV is more streamlined than the older phases. The door opening and closing mechanism was similar to the ones from the K-class cars used in the Tseung Kwan O line and Tung Chung line. The Phase IV has 3 surveillance cameras in each vehicle. Seat belts and wheelchair positions were also available in the Phase IV. On older-generation LRVs there is a poach seat but the Phase IVs do not maintain this feature. The Phase IV LRV has orange electronic display. The refurbished Phase I LRVs have rounded rectangular windows while Phase IV LRVs have square ones.

The Phase II and III cars are expected to be rebuilt and repainted with a scheme similar to the Phase IV cars.

  • Comeng Phase I Light Rail vehicle 1042

  • Comeng Phase I Light Rail Vehicle 1016 (Refurbished)

  • Kawasaki Phase II LRV cab car 1090 and trailer 1205

  • A. Goninan Phase III LRV car 1102

  • A. Goninan (UGL)/CSR Phase IV Light Rail vehicle 1111

  • Interior of an unrefurbished MTR Light Rail vehicle

  • Interior of an refurbished MTR Light Rail vehicle

Stops and routes

List of Light Rail stations
Fare zone Name Routes District Connections Opened Code
1 Lung Mun[030] 610, 615, 615P Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route 506 18 September 1988 030
Light Rail Depot[020] 610, 615, 615P Tuen Mun 020
Butterfly 610, 615, 615P Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route 506, K52 015
Melody Garden 610, 615, 615P Tuen Mun 010
Tuen Mun Ferry Pier 507, 610, 614, 614P, 615, 615P Tuen Mun 001
Siu Hei 507, 614, 614P Tuen Mun 17 November 1991 240
Tuen Mun Swimming Pool 507, 614, 614P Tuen Mun 250
Goodview Garden 507, 614, 614P Tuen Mun 260
Siu Lun 505, 507, 614, 614P Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route 506 265
Sam Shing 505 Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route 506, K51, K52, K53 2 February 1992 920
2 Tsing Shan Tsuen 610, 615, 615P Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route 506 18 September 1988 040
Tsing Wun[050] 610, 615, 615P Tuen Mun 050
Ming Kum 505 (to Sam Shing), 610, 615, 615P Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route K58 200
Shek Pai 505, 610, 615, 615P Tuen Mun 170
Ngan Wai 507, 610 Tuen Mun 230
Tai Hing (South) 507, 610 Tuen Mun 220
Tai Hing (North) 507, 610 Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route K58 212
Affluence[080] 610, 751 Tuen Mun 080
Choy Yee Bridge 507, 751 Tuen Mun 075
Ho Tin 507, 751 Tuen Mun West Rail Line Tuen Mun Station 070
Tuen Mun[295] 505, 507, 751 Tuen Mun West Rail Line Tuen Mun Station,
MTR Bus Route 506, K51, K52, K53, K58		 23 September 1988 295
Yau Oi 751 Tuen Mun 18 September 1988 275
On Ting 505, 507, 614, 614P, 751 (to Tin Yat) Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route 506 270
Town Centre 505, 507, 614, 614P, 751 Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route 506, K51, K52, K53, K58 280
Kin On 505 Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route 506, K58 060
Shan King (South) 505 (to Siu Hong) Tuen Mun 24 September 1988 190
Shan King (North) 505 (to Siu Hong) Tuen Mun 180
Pui To 614, 614P Tuen Mun 2 February 1992 300
Hoh Fuk Tong 614, 614P Tuen Mun 310
San Hui 614, 614P Tuen Mun 320
Prime View 614, 614P Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route K51 330
3 Kei Lun 505 (to Siu Hong), 615P Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route K58 18 September 1988 110
Ching Chung 505, 615, 615P Tuen Mun 24 September 1988 120
Kin Sang 505, 615, 615P Tuen Mun 130
Tin King 505, 507, 615, 615P Tuen Mun 140
Leung King 505, 507, 615, 615P Tuen Mun 150
San Wai 505, 507, 615, 615P Tuen Mun 160
Tuen Mun Hospital 610, 751 Tuen Mun 18 September 1988 090
Fung Tei 614, 614P Tuen Mun MTR Bus Route K51 2 February 1992 340
Siu Hong 505, 610, 614, 614P, 615, 615P, 751 Tuen Mun West Rail Line Siu Hong Station,
MTR Bus Route K51, K58		 18 September 1988 100
Lam Tei 610, 614, 615, 751 Tuen Mun 350
Nai Wai 610, 614, 615, 751 Tuen Mun 360
Chung Uk Tsuen 610, 614, 615, 751 Tuen Mun 370
4 Hung Shui Kiu 610, 614, 615, 751 Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K75, K75P 18 September 1988 380
Ping Shan 610, 614, 615, 761P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K65 400
Tong Fong Tsuen 610, 614, 615, 761P Yuen Long 390
Hang Mei Tsuen 751, 761P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K65 10 January 1993 425
Tin Yiu 705, 706, 761P Yuen Long West Rail Line Tin Shui Wai Station,
MTR Bus Route K75, K75P		 445
Locwood 705, 706, 761P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K75P 448
Tin Shui 705, 706, 761P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K74, K75P 460
Tin Shui Wai 705, 706, 751, 751P Yuen Long West Rail Line Tin Shui Wai Station,
MTR Bus Route K65, K75, K76		 7 December 2003 430
Tin Wu 705, 706, 751, 751P Yuen Long 450
Tin Tsz 705, 706, 751, 751P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K73, K74 435
Ginza 705, 706, 751, 751P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K73 455
Tin Wing[500] 705, 706, 751, 751P Yuen Long 26 March 1995 500
Chestwood 751, 751P Yuen Long 490
5A Chung Fu 705, 706, 751, 751P, 761P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K76 7 December 2003 468
Tin Fu 705, 706, 751, 751P, 761P Yuen Long 480
Tin Yat 705, 706, 751, 751P, 761P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K73, K76 550
Tin Heng 705, 706 Yuen Long 540
Wetland Park 705, 706 Yuen Long 530
Tin Sau 705, 706 Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K73 520
Tin Yuet 705, 706 Yuen Long 510
5 Shui Pin Wai 610, 614, 615, 761P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K65 18 September 1988 560
Fung Nin Road[570] 610, 614, 615, 761P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K65, K66, K68, K73, K74 570
Hong Lok Road 610, 614, 615, 761P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K65, K74 580
Tai Tong Road 610, 614, 615, 761P Yuen Long MTR Bus Route K65, K66, K74 590
Yuen Long 610, 614, 615, 761P Yuen Long West Rail Line Yuen Long Station,
MTR Bus Route K65, K74		 600

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Notes
  • 030 Formerly San Shek Wan Stop
  • 020 Formerly Pak Kok Stop
  • 080 Formerly Ho King Stop
  • 295 Formerly San Fat Stop
  • 050 Formerly Technical Institute Stop
  • 500 Formerly Tin Shui Wai Terminus
  • 570 Formerly Town Hall Stop
Current service pattern

There are currently 12 routes serving the Light Rail system:

  • Before 23 August 2010, 761P operated special services between Yuen Long and Tin Wing (via Wetland Park) at 30-minute intervals from 10:00 to 15:00 daily.
  • After the opening of West Rail Line, the demand for Light Rail services between Siu Hong and Yuen Long decreased. Therefore, half of 614 and 615 services were changed to short-distance services operating between Siu Hong and Ferry Pier, numbered 614P and 615P respectively.
  • Line 751P is the short-distance service of 751 in Tin Shui Wai, only in service during morning and afternoon peak time and suspends service during public holidays and school holidays

Fares

File:Hong Kong Light Railway Network Map (MTR).png
Network map

The Light Rail is the only public transport system in Hong Kong to have fare zones and the only one with an honour system, in which there are no ticket gates. These fare zones apply only to passengers purchasing single-ride tickets from ticketing machines at LRT stops. Since the introduction of Octopus cards, however, passengers have a choice of ticketing options. All fares indicated below are for adults, while children and the elderly usually pay the concessionary fare, which is half the adult fare.

Single-ride tickets

There are six fare zones – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 5A – for passengers purchasing single-ride tickets in Light Rail stops. A trip between two zones costs HK$4.5, HK$5.5 for three zones and journeys further than three zones costs HK$6.5. Zone 5A was introduced solely for the latest extension in Tin Shui Wai, and both zones 5 and 5A are only connected to Zone 4. Therefore, travelling between zones 5 and 5A is considered as travelling through three zones.

Octopus cards

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Octopus card fares are calculated based on the minimum number of stops travelled (from origin to destination stops), rather than the number of fare zones travelled through. All stops have Octopus card entry and exit processors at the entrances to and exits from platforms. Passengers may enter the system after placing their Octopus card on the reader of an orange-coloured 'Entry Processor' reader. This action is known as validation. At this point, HK$5.80 is deducted from the Octopus card. On completion of a journey, the card previously read by an 'Entry Processor' must be placed on a dark-green coloured 'Exit Processor', where the HK$5.80 less the fare incurred is refunded. Failure to do so within the time limit would cause the fare difference to be forfeited. As a side note, if a person exits the same platform with the same Octopus card, the HK$5.80 previously deducted will be fully refunded.

Found on most platforms, there is also the 'Enquiry Processor', light-blue in colour. Like enquiry processors found in other places, passengers can check the balance on their card, along with the 10 most recent Octopus transactions. If a Personalised Octopus Cards is used, the number of Light Rail credits accumulated is also shown.

Passengers using Personalised Octopus Cards are able to participate in the Light Rail Bonus Scheme. A card on which fares totalling HK$30 (adults) or HK$15 (children/seniors) or more are paid over six consecutive days gets an automatic credit of HK$3 (adults) or HK$1.5 (children/seniors). Octopus cards with student identity stored on which fares totalling HK$12 are paid over four consecutive days get a rebate of HK$3.4.

Incidents

  • In July 1994 a light rail vehicle and a lorry collided, killing the LRV captain.[10]
  • On 11 September 1994, a coach carrying factory workers ran a red light and was crushed between two light rail trains at a junction near Fu Tei. The coach driver and a coach passenger were killed.[11] The two LRV captains were cleared of wrongdoing. The railway inspectorate also said the design of the junction was not to blame. The government said it would implement video recording at LRT junctions, improve road signage between Tuen Mun and Yuen Long, and better educate drivers.[12]
  • On 13 January 1995 a light rail train derailed as a result of intentional vandalism to the points at Tin King and Ming Kum roads. The KCRC did not receive any threats or warning beforehand.[13]
  • On 9 February 2010 a construction crane fell on an LRT train as it approached Leung King Stop. 18 were injured.[14]
  • On 17 May 2013, a United Goninan Phase IV light rail train, cars 1112 and 1117 on route 761P, derailed and crashed while navigating a tight curve at 40.9 kph, in excess of the posted speed limit of 15 kph. The train was turning from Kiu Hung Road to Castle Peak Road in Tin Shui Wai. At least 77 people were injured in the crash.[15] The LRV captain was convicted of negligence under the Mass Transit Railway Ordinance.[16]
  • On 19 August 2013, a 63-year-old man was killed at Locwood Stop while crossing the tracks at a crossing point; the train did not stop in time.[17]
  • On 21 November 2014, LRV 1093 on route 507 collided with an MTR double decker bus near Tuen Mun Ferry Terminus. The bus crashed because it ran a red light. The train derailed and 20 were injured.[18]

Gallery
Single-ride ticket machine 
Octopus card processors 
Ming Kum Stop 
Kin On Stop 
Light rail stop platform crossing 
Luggage size gauge 
On Ting Stop 
Town Centre Stop 
Chung Fu Stop (on viaduct) 
Tin Yuet Stop, Tin Yuet Estate is to the left 
Tin Sau Stop, Vianni Cove estate is in the background right 
Wetland Park Stop 

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Yeung 2008, p. 171.
  6. ↑ Runnacles, T.V. (January 1989). "Tramway Developments in Hong Kong / Part 6: The Tuen Mun—Yuen Long LRT system". Modern Tramway and Light Rail Transit, pp. 3–18. Ian Allan Ltd./Light Rail Transit Association.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ (8 December 2003)亞洲電視-輕鐵新支線第一個工作天, YouTube
  10. ↑ Yeung 2008, p. 225.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Bibliography
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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