Article: Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway system poised for bigger growth

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Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway system poised for bigger growth

Thursday January 27, 2011
Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway system poised for bigger growth
Stories and photos by CHRISTINA LOW

BREAKING down was probably something no one never wanted to see or hear for the much loved Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway (MTR) because finding an alternative transport to work or school will be a headache.

Student Rebacca Wong, 15, said if the MTR broke down, it would be a chaotic situation for everyone.

"I will have to wake up earlier and plan my route to school," said Rebecca.

The student whose school is just 500 metres away from the Tsuen Wan MTR station said she prayed that uneventful day would not happen.

About 4.5 million commuters who travel on the MTR every weekday would cry in horror as well if they were asked the same question.

During my four-day trip with a group of journalists and officials from the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana) for a study tour on the country's MTR train service, I saw just how important the railway was even for a tourist like me.

The MTR is not just another means of transportation, to them it is the only way for them to get around because many grew up with the urban metro system which began in 1980 when the first cross harbour rail link connecting Hong Kong and Kowloon was introduced.

Two years later, the Tsuen Wan line opened followed by the Island Line in 1986, while the Kwan Tong Line was extended to Hong Kong island after the completion of the Eastern Harbour Crossing in 1989 making it the second rail link across the harbour.

Things can only get better in 2007, when the MTR Corporation Limited merged with the government-owned railway operator Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation.

The merger saw nine railway lines coming together serving the New Territories, Kowloon and Hong Kong with an additional Light Rail Network dedicated to local communities in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long.

Today, the massive railway system comprised the East Rail Line, Kwan Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line, Tseung Kwan O Line, Tung Chung Line, West Rail Line, Ma On Shan Line and the Disneyland Resort Line.

Names of each line may be long and difficult to pronounce for tourists, hence different colours were incorporated to each line ranging from blue, red, green, purple to sky blue, orange, pink, maroon and brown.

Airport Express

Going to the airport was made easy in 1998 with the introduction of the Hong Kong transit where commuters heading to the airport are able to check-in and board the Airport Express for a minimal fee.

The trip which begins from the Hong Kong MTR station goes through two other stations; Kowloon and Tsing Yi upon reaching the Hong Kong International Airport, 24 minutes later.

According to MTR head of operations-support (west region) Ivan Lai, the express which runs at a speed of 135kph caters to 26,000 passengers daily with two in-town check-in counters at the Hong Kong and Kowloon MTR stations.

"It is the most convenient way to take our passengers to the airport with checking-in counters right in the heart of the city," said Lai.

Travelling cashless

Just like the Touch and Go card we have in Malaysia, everybody in Hong Kong has the Octopus card.

Available in three types; for adults, senior citizens and children where ticket fares for each category varies.

The card can be topped up at any MTR station and be used to board the trains as well as making a purchase at listed convenience stores.

Nothing to difficult to understand; to board a train all one needs to do is flash the card on an Octopus reader at the entry gate and the balance value of the card appears on in screen in front.

To encourage more commuters to adopt the cashless lifestyle, MTR offers a discounted rate for those travelling with the Octopus card.

For instance, the fare for adults from Tsim Sha Tsui to Mongkok costs HK$5 for the conventional single journey ticket while it is just HK$4.50 for adults using the Octopus Card.

For children and the senior citizens, they get a further discount at HK$2.40 each when they travel on the same journey.

At present, Lai said more than 10 million Octopus cards were in circulation out of the seven million population in Hong Kong.

"Besides long-stay tourists, the locals in Hong Kong find the card a necessity and some of them owned more than one," said Lai, adding that MTR occasionally rewards card members with bonus points when they add value into their card.

Environment

Over the years, MTR had continuously upgraded their services to match the demands of passengers. One noticeable feature, was the glass panels which Lai said was important for all its underground stations.

"It keeps children away from the railway tracks and helps us in conserving energy and keeping the station clean and quiet at all times," he said.

Temperature at the stations are monitored by the Environmental System Controllers and it changes according to the weather condition of the day.

Most times it is kept at 29 degrees at the concourse area and 27 degrees at the platform.

Maintenance and Safety

Delays are never well tolerated by commuters, said MTR operations control manager Ronnie Tong who took us around the Tsing Yi Operations Control Centre.

The centre oversees four of its main lines and has staff working round the clock monitoring the trains and its stations.

With an efficiency level of 99% in train punctuality, Tong said delays and disruption of services were often not taken lightly.

"So far we only suffer minor delays, nothing more than five minutes.

"Usually, it is due to the action of passengers which cannot be predicted, such as a mother who accidentally leaves her child behind just seconds before the train door closes," he explained.

If there was a major delay, information and suggestions on alternative transportation has to be disseminated to the public in advance.

"Our commuters said they must be informed before hand, either through centralised public announcements at stations or broadcast through the media.

"They do not want to know of delays only when they reach the platform and be told of it," said Tong.

For safety, MTR conducts regular, impromptu fire and smoke exercise.

"These exercises allows us to know how our passengers will react and find their way out of the train with the assistance the emergency lights in it.

"It is important for us to know what we should change and prepare ourselves for any kind of disaster," said Tong.

International and Property-Related Business

The MTR Corporation has also found an effective way to offset the cost of its expanding infrastructure by taking on development projects at residential and commercial areas, property leasing and management, advertising, telecommunication services and international consultancy.

A number of stations such as the Kowloon, Hong Kong and Tsing Yi are not just a popular stop but have malls built in them to benefit those travelling on the line. Smaller stations have a variety of shops, from fast food outlets to bookstores.

According to MTR head of international business David Yam, such non-fare revenue contributes about 20% of its yearly income.

Yam added that besides expanding in Hong Kong, MTR had also paved its way into China with the building and operations of Beijing Metro Line 4, Shenzhen Metro Line 4 as well as operating the London Overground System, Melbourne's Train System in Australia and the Stockholm Metro in Sweden.

With 84 stations so far and trains running about 7,700 trips a day, the MTR line may look like a well completed one, but Yam said they still had a long way to go.

Five new projects now under way is the West Island Line, South Island Line, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, Shatin-Central Link and the Kwan Tung Line extension which are all due to completed between 2014 and 2015.

Certainly by the looks of it, MTR Corporation is not only embracing a new era in railway services but adhering closely to its tagline 'A Journey of Moving People' which it has been improving and keeping up to its name.