Light Rail (MTR)

The Light Rail, also known as the Light Rail Transit (LRT), is a light rail system in Hong Kong, serving the northwestern New Territories, 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 483,000 people.[1]

Light Rail 輕鐵
MTR Light Rail
Overview
Locale	Districts: Tuen Mun, Yuen Long
Stations	68
Service
Type	Light rail
System	MTR
History
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 West Rail line to Hung Hom Yuen Long      Tai Tong Road Hong Lok Road      Long Ping Fung Nin Road Tin Heng Shui Pin Wai Tin Yat Wetland Park Tin Fu Tin Sau Chung Fu Tin Yuet Fare zone 5A Fare zone 4 Fare zone 5 Fare zone 4 Chestwood Ping Shan Tin Shui Tin Wing Ginza Locwood Tin Wu Tin Tsz Tong Fong Tsuen Tin Yiu Tin Shui Wai      Hang Mei Tsuen Hung Shui Kiu Yuen Long District Tuen Mun District Fare zone 4 Fare zone 3 Chung Uk Tsuen Nai Wai Lam Tei Tuen Mun River Siu Hong      Kei Lun Fung Tei Kin Sang Tuen Mun Hospital Tin King Ching Chung Leung King Fare zone 3 Fare zone 2 San Wai Tai Hing (North) Fare zone 3 Fare zone 2 Tai Hing (South) Affluence Prime View Shek Pai Ngan Wai Choy Yee Bridge San Hui Shan King (North) Ming Kum Hoh Fuk Tong Shan King (South) Ho Tin      Kin On Pui To Tsing Wun Tuen Mun      Town Centre Tsing Shan Tsuen Yau Oi On Ting Fare zone 2 Fare zone 1 Fare zone 2 Fare zone 1 Lung Mun Siu Lun Goodview Garden Tuen Mun Depot Sam Shing Light Rail Depot Tuen Mun Swimming Pool Butterfly Tuen Mun River Melody Garden Siu Hei Tuen Mun Ferry Pier Fare zones are only relevant for single journey Light Rail tickets. Octopus card fares are loosely based on distance between stops. The West Rail Line uses a separate fare system.

Light Rail
Traditional Chinese	輕鐵
Simplified Chinese	轻铁
Cantonese Yale	Hīngtit
Literal meaning	Light rail
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Qīngtiě Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Hīngtit Jyutping Hing1tit3 IPA [héːŋ.tʰīːt̚]

Geographically accurate map of the Light Rail network

Track layout diagram of the network in 1996

History

Planning and commencement

When Tuen Mun was developed in the 1970s, the Hong Kong government set aside space for the laying of rail tracks. There was uncertainty however as to which company would be chosen to build the railway. 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 on 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 14 September 1988, with free rides between 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, to be 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 new town in the early 1990s. 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 (now 751) to Yau Oi and route 721 (now 761P) to Yuen Long.

West Rail

The system remained essentially unchanged until the completion of the West Rail (now 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, thereby freeing 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 also made several route alterations to arrange them better.

In addition to the reconfiguration of light rail tracks around the new West Rail stations, the system was extended to reach northern Tin Shui Wai to serve ongoing development there.[10]

Rolling stock

The system's vehicles consist of four different types of LRVs. All LRVs are uni-directional with driving cab on one side only, 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 and the termini have to feature loops for LRVs to reverse in direction.

Phase I LRVs were built by Comeng between 1987-1989 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 UGL Rail 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 cars will not be refurbished instead MTR has ordered 40 Phase V cars. 30 Cars are to replace existing Phase II and trailer cars, 10 will be for expansion. Phase V cars are manufactured by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen. The first car was delivered in late 2018 and will enter service in 2019.[11] The Phase 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 a refurbished MTR Light Rail vehicle

Stops and routes

Stops

Fare zone	Name	Routes	District	Connections	Opened	Code
1	Lung Mun[lower-alpha 1]	610, 615, 615P	Tuen Mun	MTR Bus Route 506	18 September 1988	030
	Light Rail Depot[lower-alpha 2]					020
	Butterfly			MTR Bus Route 506, K52		015
	Melody Garden					010
	Tuen Mun Ferry Pier	507, 610, 614, 614P, 615, 615P				001
	Siu Hei	507, 614, 614P			17 November 1991	240
	Tuen Mun Swimming Pool					250
	Goodview Garden					260
	Siu Lun	505, 507, 614, 614P		MTR Bus Route 506		265
	Sam Shing	505		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[lower-alpha 3]					050
	Ming Kum	505 (to Sam Shing), 610, 615, 615P		MTR Bus Route K58		200
	Shek Pai	505, 610, 615, 615P				170
	Ngan Wai	507, 610				230
	Tai Hing (South)					220
	Tai Hing (North)			MTR Bus Route K58		212
	Affluence[lower-alpha 4]	610, 751				080
	Choy Yee Bridge	507, 751				075
	Ho Tin			West Rail line Tuen Mun station		070
	Tuen Mun^[295]	505, 507, 751		West Rail line Tuen Mun station, MTR Bus Route 506, K51, K52, K53, K58	23 September 1988	295
	Yau Oi	751			18 September 1988	275
	On Ting	505, 507, 614, 614P, 751 (to Tin Yat)		MTR Bus Route 506		270
	Town Centre	505, 507, 614, 614P, 751		MTR Bus Route 506, K51, K52, K53, K58		280
	Kin On	505		MTR Bus Route 506, K58		060
	Shan King (South)	505 (to Siu Hong)			24 September 1988	190
	Shan King (North)					180
	Pui To	614, 614P			2 February 1992	300
	Hoh Fuk Tong					310
	San Hui					320
	Prime View			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			24 September 1988	120
	Kin Sang					130
	Tin King	505, 507, 615, 615P				140
	Leung King					150
	San Wai					160
	Tuen Mun Hospital	610, 751			18 September 1988	090
	Fung Tei	614, 614P		MTR Bus Route K51	2 February 1992	340
	Siu Hong	505, 610, 614, 614P, 615, 615P, 751		West Rail line Siu Hong station, MTR Bus Route K51, K58	18 September 1988	100
	Lam Tei	610, 614, 615, 751				350
	Nai Wai					360
	Chung Uk Tsuen					370
4	Hung Shui Kiu		Yuen Long	MTR Bus Route K75, K75P	18 September 1988	380
	Ping Shan	610, 614, 615, 761P		MTR Bus Route K65		400
	Tong Fong Tsuen					390
	Hang Mei Tsuen	751, 761P		MTR Bus Route K65	10 January 1993	425
	Tin Yiu	705, 706, 761P		West Rail line Tin Shui Wai station, MTR Bus Route K75, K75P		445
	Locwood			MTR Bus Route K75P		448
	Tin Shui			MTR Bus Route K74, K75P		460
	Tin Shui Wai	705, 706, 751, 751P		West Rail line Tin Shui Wai station, MTR Bus Route K65, K75, K76	7 December 2003	430
	Tin Wu					450
	Tin Tsz			MTR Bus Route K73, K74		435
	Ginza			MTR Bus Route K73		455
	Tin Wing[lower-alpha 5]				26 March 1995	500
	Chestwood	751, 751P				490
5A	Chung Fu	705, 706, 751, 751P, 761P	Yuen Long	MTR Bus Route K76	7 December 2003	468
	Tin Fu					480
	Tin Yat			MTR Bus Route K73, K76		550
	Tin Heng	705, 706				540
	Wetland Park					530
	Tin Sau			MTR Bus Route K73		520
	Tin Yuet					510
5	Shui Pin Wai	610, 614, 615, 761P	Yuen Long	MTR Bus Route K65	18 September 1988	560
	Fung Nin Road[lower-alpha 6]			MTR Bus Route K65, K66, K68, K73, K74		570
	Hong Lok Road			MTR Bus Route K65, K74		580
	Tai Tong Road			MTR Bus Route K65, K66, K74		590
	Yuen Long			West Rail line Yuen Long station, MTR Bus Route K65, K74		600

Notes

1. Formerly San Shek Wan Stop
2. Formerly Pak Kok Stop
3. Formerly Technical Institute Stop
4. Formerly Ho King Stop
5. Formerly Tin Shui Wai Terminus
6. 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

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 about 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. 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

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 entry and exit processors at the entrances to and exits from platforms. Passengers may enter the system after scanning their Octopus card at an orange 'Entry Processor' reader. At this point, the maximum fare is deducted from the card. On completion of a journey, the card previously read by an 'Entry Processor' must be scanned at a dark-green 'Exit Processor', where the maximum fare less the fare incurred is refunded. Failure to do so within the time limit would cause the fare difference to be forfeited. If a person exits the same platform with the same card within 5 minutes, the fare deducted will be fully refunded.

Light-blue 'Enquiry Processors' can also be found on most platforms. 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 card 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).

Passengers using Octopus cards that are registered with the MTR Club are automatically enrolled into the MTR Club Bonus Scheme. Members can earn Bonus Points by riding on the MTR, Airport Express, Light Rail and MTR Bus with their registered Octopus card during the promotion period. Members can then redeem these points for exclusive rewards. Passengers can visit the MTR website for the information of the gift during that particular promotion period. [12]

Incidents

• In July 1994 a light rail vehicle and a lorry collided, killing the LRV captain.[13]
• 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.[14] 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.[15]
• 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 had not received any threats or warning beforehand.[16]
• On 9 February 2010, a construction crane fell on an LRT train as it approached Leung King Stop. 18 were injured.[17]
• On 17 May 2013, a CSR Phase IV light rail train, cars 1112 and 1117 on route 761P, derailed and crashed while navigating a tight curve at 40.9 km/h, in excess of the posted speed limit of 15 km/h. The train was turning from Kiu Hung Road to Castle Peak Road south of Tin Shui Wai. At least 77 people were injured in the crash.[18] The LRV captain was convicted of negligence under the Mass Transit Railway Ordinance.[19]
• 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.[20]
• 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.[21]

Gallery

• 
  Old Single-ride ticket machine (retired)
• 
  Octopus card processors
• 
  Ming Kum Stop
• 
  Kin On Stop
• 
  Light rail stop platform crossing
• 
  Luggage size gauge
• 
  On Ting Stop (2000s)
• 
  Town Centre Stop (Platforms shown on the image is recently disused)
• 
  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

Notes

1. "Transport" (PDF). Hong Kong: The Facts. Hong Kong Government. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
2. Jim, Timothy (26 February 1983). "LRT operator must pay $280m premium". South China Morning Post.
3. Jim, Timothy (23 November 1983). "KCR offered LRT system". South China Morning Post.
4. Jim, Timothy (20 December 1983). "KCR to study Light Rail to NT". South China Morning Post.
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. "Cap 372 Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance". Hong Kong e-Legislation. Department of Justice. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
8. "LCQ15: Mass Transit Railway By-laws and Mass Transit Railway (North-west Railway) Bylaw". Legislative Council. 13 May 2015.
9. (8 December 2003)亞洲電視-輕鐵新支線第一個工作天, YouTube
10. "KCRC Light Rail Tin Shui Wai extensions to open on 7 December". Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation. 28 November 2003.
11. https://www.mtr.com.hk/archive/corporate/en/press_release/PR-16-067-E.pdf
12. "MTR > MTR Club Bonus Points Scheme". www.mtr.com.hk. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
13. Yeung 2008, p. 225.
14. Ball, Steve (27 September 1994). "Secret report on LRT crash calls for safety moves". South China Morning Post.
15. "LRT boosts safety after crash deaths". South China Morning Post. 2 October 1994. p. 2.
16. Szeto, Wanda (13 January 1995). "LRT train derailed by vandals". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
17. Lo, Clifford; Wan, Adrian; Wong, Martin (10 September 2010). "Building crane topples onto LRT train". South China Morning Post.
18. "Baby among 77 injured after train derails in Tin Shui Wai". South China Morning Post. 18 May 2013.
19. "Record of train service disruptions of 31 Minutes or above caused by equipment failure or human factor from 2011 to October 2015" (PDF). Legislative Council. 9 December 2015.
20. Lai Ying-kit (19 August 2013). "Man killed by light rail train in Tin Shui Wai". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
21. "Twenty hurt in Light Rail-Bus crash". The Standard. 21 November 2014. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2014.

Bibliography

• Yeung, Rikkie (2008). Moving Millions: The Commercial Success and Political Controversies of Hong Kong's Railways. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

External links

• Official website