Light Rail (MTR)
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Light Rail |
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 A Light Rail train on route 751 to Yau Oi |
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The MTR Light Rail, previously known as KCR Light Rail or Light Rail Transit (LRT), used to be one of the four systems of the KCR network in Hong Kong. It serves the northwestern New Territories, within and between Tuen Mun District and Yuen Long District.
It runs on 1435mm track gauge (standard gauge), with direct current 750V.
The railway line was operated by Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) prior to the MTR-KCR merger and has since been taken over by MTR Corporation on 2 December 2007 after the merger completed.
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[edit] History
[edit] Planning and commencement
When Tuen Mun was developed in the 1970s, the government had set aside space for laying rail tracks There was uncertainty as to which company would be commissioned to built the train line, and in 1982 Hong Kong Tramways showed interest in building the system and running double-decker trams on it. Finally, the company was forced to abandon the project. Later that year, the KCRC decided to build the system. After some research, construction commenced in 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 were 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 on 18 September 1988. It consisted of two big 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.
The system was divided into five fare zones, making it the only public transportation system in Hong Kong with such zoning. The feeder buses have fares independent of these zones, but provide discounts when passengers interchange between these buses and Light Rail. 70 single-deck tram units were manufactured in Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia by Comeng, and shipped to Hong Kong for the seven tram routes in the system. Three of the routes were to Yuen Long and the others were confined to Tuen Mun.
[edit] 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 station 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 local people. A short spur line is also built from the extension to another terminus at Sam Shing Estate, located near Castle Peak Bay. 3 Light Rail routes were diverted (route 505 was extended to Sam Shing), and 1 feeder bus route (route 559) cancelled 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 the early 1990s. With the increase of internal commuter traffic demand, the Light Rail built a spur line north of Hung Shui Kiu station that opened in 1993, with four stations serving the initial housing areas of the town. The area was further developed in the next few years, and the spur line was extended by two stations: Chestwood and "Tin Shui Wai" in 1995 (Tin Shui Wai was renamed as Tin Wing after the opening of West Rail). 2 Light Rail routes were established, one to Tuen Mun (route 720) and one to Yuen Long(721).
[edit] The age of West Rail
The system remained essentially unchanged until the completion of the West Rail Line in December of 2003. Many changes were made, mainly around the new railway stations. The KCRC designed most railway stations in the Light Rail area to interchange with the new West Rail line. The idea was to encourage passengers to use the West Rail 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 system, meaning that passengers would pay no more (and in some cases less) to travel on the West Rail instead of the Light Rail for the main part of their journey. Although this most recent extension is the largest ever, no new trams were purchased. And although rearrangements were made, some infrequent and unreliable services resulted, causing passengers to blame the lack of trams and poor arrangement of new services. The KCRC has since modified the inside of some trams to allow more standing room for passengers during peak hours. They have also several route alterations to arrange them better.
[edit] Rolling Stock
The rolling stock of Light Rail consists of three different types of LRVs that are divided into three phases. All LRVs are 20.2m. long and have 3 sliding doors fitted the left side (when facing the running direction from inside). This means that island platforms cannot be utilized at all in the LRT system.
Phase one LRVs were built by Comeng and put in service in 1988. They are numbered 1001-1070 and accommodate 43 sitting passengers and 161 standees. Phase two LRVs were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries 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 three LRVs were built by A. Goninan and entered service in 1997. They are numbered 1091-1110 and accommodate 26 seating and 212 standees. Phase one LRVs have two wheelchair positions while both Phase two and Phase three LRVs have three positions.
Traction systems for both Phase one and two LRVs consist of GTO thyristor chopper and DC traction motors, supplied by AEG, while drives for the Phase three LRVs consist of IGBT VVVF Inverters and AC traction motors provided by Mitsubishi. The maximum speed for all LRVs is 80km/h, although the rarely reach that speed because of the many grade crossings between stations and the close proximity between stations in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, and Tin Tsui Wai.
Physically, from the outside, it is difficult differentiate between the different types of LRVs. There are, however, distinct features that one can use to tell them apart; Phase three LRVs still retain their original electronic displays (green) while all other LRVs have had theirs replaced by new displays (orange).
[edit] Stations
The stations of this line are:
| Name | Routes | Connections | Opened |
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| Light Rail | |||
| Tuen Mun District Central Loop Starting from the north, zone 3 |
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| Siu Hong 兆康 | 505, 610, 614, 614P, 615, 615P, 751 | West Rail Line | 18 September 1988 |
| Kei Lun 麒麟 | 505, 615P | ||
| Tsing Chung 青松 | 505, 615, 615P | 24 September 1988 | |
| Kin Sang 建生 | 505, 615, 615P | ||
| Tin King 田景 | 505, 507, 615, 615P | ||
| Leung King 良景 | 505, 507, 615, 615P | ||
| San Wai 新圍 | 505, 507, 615, 615P | ||
| Shek Pai 石排 | 505, 610, 615, 615P | 18 September 1988 | |
| Ming Kum 鳴琴 | 505, 610, 615, 615P | ||
| Kin On 建安 | 505 | ||
| Ho Tin 河田 | 507, 751 | ||
| Choy Yee Bridge 蔡意橋 | 507, 751 | ||
| Affluence 澤豐 | 610, 751 | ||
| Tuen Mun Hospital 屯門醫院 | 610, 751 | ||
| Tai Hing Linkage Starts between Choy Yee Bridge and Affluence |
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| Ngan Wai 銀圍 | 507, 610 | 18 September 1988 | |
| Tai Hing South 大興南 | 507, 610 | ||
| Tai Hing North 大興北 | 507, 610 | ||
| Shan King Branch Branches off the central loop north of Ming Kum |
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| Shan King North 山景北 | 505 | 24 September 1988 | |
| Shan King South 山景南 | 505 | ||
| Pier Branch Branches off the central loop west of Kin On, zone 2 |
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| Tsing Wun 青雲 | 610, 615. 615P | 18 September 1988 | |
| Tsing Shan Tsuen 青山村 | 610, 615, 615P | ||
| Lung Mun 龍門 | 610, 615, 615P | ||
| LRT Depot 輕鐵車廠 | 610, 615, 615P | ||
| Butterfly 蝴蝶 | 610, 615, 615P | ||
| Melody Garden 美樂 | 610, 615, 615P | ||
| Ferry Pier 屯門碼頭 | 507, 610, 614, 614P, 615, 615P | Ferries to Tung Chung and Airport | |
| Town Centre Branch Branches off the central loop east of Kin On |
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| Tuen Mun 屯門 Formerly San Fat |
505, 507, 751 | West Rail Line | 23 September 1988 |
| Town Centre 市中心 | 505, 507, 614, 614P, 751 | ||
| On Ting 安定 | 505, 507, 614, 614P, 751 | ||
| Yau Oi Loop Branches off the Town Centre branch north of On Ting |
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| Yau Oi 友愛 | 751 | 23 September 1988 | |
| San Hui Branch Branches off south of Siu Hong |
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| Fung Tei 鳳地 | 614, 614P | 2 February 1992 | |
| Prime View 景峰 | 614, 614P | ||
| San Hui 新墟 | 614, 614P | ||
| Ho Fuk Tong 何福堂 | 614, 614P | ||
| Pui To 杯渡 | 614, 614P | ||
| Southern Extensions Continuing from On Ting, south of the junction with Yau Oi Loop |
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| Siu Lun 兆麟 | 505, 507, 614, 614P | 1 February 1992 | |
| Goodview Garden 豐景園 | 507, 614, 614P | ||
| Tuen Mun Swimming Pool 屯門泳池 | 507, 614, 614P | ||
| Siu Hei 兆禧 | 507, 614, 614P | ||
| Sam Shing Branch Branching off south of Siu Lun |
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| Sam Shing 三聖總站 | 505 | 2 February 1992 | |
| Yuen Long Branch Starting from the terminus in Yuen Long, zone 5 |
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| Yuen Long 元朗總站 | 610, 614, 615, 761P | West Rail Line | 18 September 1988 |
| Tai Tong Road 大棠道 | 610, 614, 615, 761P | ||
| Hong Lok Road 康樂路 | 610, 614, 615, 761P | ||
| Fung Nin Road 豐年路 | 610, 614, 615, 761P | ||
| Shui Pin Wai 水邊圍 | 610, 614, 615, 761P | ||
| Ping Shan 屏山 | 610, 614, 615, 761P | ||
| Tong Fong 塘坊村 | 610, 614, 615, 761P | ||
| Hung Shui Kiu 洪水橋 | 610, 614, 615, 751 | ||
| Chung Uk Tsuen 鍾屋村 | 610, 614, 615, 751 | ||
| Nai Wai 泥圍 | 610, 614, 615, 751 | ||
| Lam Tei 藍地 | 610, 614, 615, 751 | ||
| Tin Shui Wai Branch Original Branch |
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| Tin Shui 天瑞 | 705, 706, 761P | 10 January 1993 | |
| Locwood 樂湖 | 705, 706, 761P | ||
| Tin Yiu 天耀 | 705, 706, 761P | ||
| Hang Mei Tsuen 坑尾村 | 751, 761P | ||
| First Extension | |||
| Tin Wing 天榮 | 705, 706, 751, 751P, 761P | 23 March 1995 | |
| Chestwood 翠湖 | 751, 751P | ||
| Tin Shui Wai Loop Starting between Tin Yiu and Hang Mei Tsuen, zone 4 |
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| Tin Shui Wai 天水圍 | 705, 706, 751 | West Rail Line | 6 December 2003 |
| Tin Tsz 天慈 | 705, 706, 751, 751P | ||
| Tin Wu 天湖 | 705, 706, 751, 751P | ||
| Ginza 銀座 | 705, 706, 751, 751P | ||
| Tin Wing 天榮 | 705, 706, 751, 751P, 761P | 23 March 1995 | |
| Tin Yuet 天悅 | 705, 706, 761P | 6 December 2003 | |
| Tin Sau 天秀 | 705, 706 | ||
| Wetland Park 濕地公園 | 705, 706 | ||
| Tin Heng 天恆 | 705, 706 | ||
| Tin Yat 天逸 | 705, 706, 751, 751P, 761P | ||
| Tin Fu 天富 | 705, 706, 751, 751P, 761P | ||
| Chung Fu 頌富 | 705, 706, 751, 751P, 761P | ||
[edit] Current service pattern
There are currently nine routes serving the Light Rail system:
- 505: Sam Shing to Siu Hong (via Leung King, Shan King, Kin On, and On Ting)
- 507: Tin King to Ferry Pier (via Tai Hing and On Ting)
- 610: Yuen Long to Ferry Pier (via Tai Hing and Tsing Shan Tsuen)
- 614: Yuen Long to Ferry Pier (via Fung Tei and On Ting)
- 615: Yuen Long to Ferry Pier (via Leung King, Ming Kum, and Tsing Shan Tsuen)
- 705: Around the Tin Shui Wai loop anticlockwise
- 706: Around the Tin Shui Wai loop clockwise
- 751: Tin Yat to Yau Oi (via Chestwood, Affluence, and Choy Yee Bridge)
- 761P*: Yuen Long to Tin Yat (via Tin Shui)
*761P operates 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, 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.
The following route runs only during peak hours:
- 751P: Tin Yat to Tin Shui Wai
[edit] Fares
The Light Rail is the only public transport system in Hong Kong to have fare zones. 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.
[edit] Single-Ride tickets
There are six fare zones — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 5A — for passengers purchasing single-ride tickets in tram stations. A trip between two zones costs HK$4, HK$4.70 for three zones, and journeys further than three zones costs HK$5.8. 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.
[edit] Octopus Cards
Octopus card fares are calculated based on the minimum number of stations travelled (from origin to destination stations), rather than the number of fare zones travelled through. All stations 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. When the passenger completes their journey, they place their card on a dark-green coloured 'Exit Processor'. At this time, the difference between the HK$5.80 intitially deducted, and the value of the fare travelled is refunded to the card. This design ensures that passengers re-validate their cards upon exit, otherwise they must pay the maximum fare of HK$5.80. A third type of processor exists at most platforms. Light-blue in colour, it is an 'Enquiry Processor', and allows passengers to check the balance on their card, along with the 10 most recent Octopus transactions, and, in the case of Personalised Octopus Cards, the number of Light Rail credits accumulated.
Passengers using Personalised Octopus Cards are able to participate in the Light Rail Bonus Scheme. Adults who spend HK$30 in 6 consecutive days, or children who spend HK$15 over the same period get an automatic credit of $HK3 and $HK1.5 respectively. Octopus card holders with student identity stored in the card can enjoy a rebate of $3.4 when he spend HK$12 in 4 consecutive days.
[edit] Safety concerns
LRT is fast, but the system shares space with other road users in some busy crossroads.
[edit] Picture gallery
 Ming Kum LR stop |
 Kin On LR stop |
 On Ting Station, below shopping arcade between On Ting Estate and Yau Oi Estate |
 Town Centre LR Stop |
 Tin Wing LR stop (orange canopies) |
 Chung Fu LR Stop (on viaduct) |
 Tin Yuet LR stop. Tin Yuet Estate is to the left |
 Tin Sau LR stop. Vianni Cove estate is in the background right |
 Wetland Park station |
[edit] External links
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