Hong Kong MTR Subway [Archive] - Page 2

hkskyline

October 21st, 2004, 12:00 AM

No penalties for MTRC over service delays
Michael Ng, HK Standard

The government has no plan as yet to impose penalties on the MTR Corporation (MTRC) following a spate of disruptions in recent weeks, Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao said.

In a Legislative Council question-and-answer session on Wednesday, Democrat lawmaker Andrew Cheng said the MTRC's performance had dropped to a "very unacceptable'' level with the total for train service suspensions reaching 1,160 minutes in the past three months.

"I think the government must consider introducing a new service evaluation mechanism, rather than only relying on the 99.5 per cent train service accuracy rate as their sole standard to evaluate MTRC's performance,'' he said. "The present mechanism can not reflect the facts [of their train service] as we need to assess their fault rate.''

Pro-government lawmaker Lau Kong-wah, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) said Liao should apply powers she has, under the Mass Transit Railway Ordinance, and advise Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and the Executive Council to impose penalties on the MTRC for poor performance.

Liao conceded that 1,160 minutes of suspensions was a significant figure and reflected "abnormal conditions''. However, she gave no direct response on whether the government planned to penalise the operator.

She said it was better to focus on safety and to order the operator to conduct immediate measures to satisfy service standards.

"That's why we immediately suggested that the MTRC invite overseas experts to thoroughly investigate the matter,'' she said. "I believe that even if we impose our maximum penalty and cancel their franchise rights, such a passive method would not be the means that citizens want us to take.''

DAB lawmaker Tam Yiu-chung suggested the government hire more professionals for the Railway Inspectorate and Transport Department, to ensure better monitoring of the rail system. But his call was rejected by Liao.

"I believe the MTRC and Kowloon-Canton Railway have employed the largest group of rail professionals among their counterparts in Asia, so it would be unrealistic for us to expand our department into the same size to carry out monitoring,'' she said.

In the past five years, the MTRC has spent HK$2 billion on maintenance and upgrades, including replacing its automated train control system, refitting trains, installing platform screen doors and other station improvements.

21 October 2004 / 01:41 AM

Poryaa

October 21st, 2004, 01:14 AM

colorful cars!

ignoramus

October 21st, 2004, 11:25 AM

That KCR train car with only 1 door visible. Is that a first class car? Why is there only 1 door visible?

aznichiro115

October 22nd, 2004, 04:03 AM

First class has 4 doors 2 on each side but they only use on of the doors on the platform side because the capacity in the first class car is way less the the normal ones

ignoramus

October 22nd, 2004, 07:20 PM

hkskyline

October 22nd, 2004, 07:30 PM

If there is smoke coming out of the train, say from the bottom, then the tunnel will be full of smoke and opening the windows will be much worse. It is highly unlikely that a fire can start inside the train, since the materials used to build the features are usually fire-resistant. The chairs are made of metal, for example. Fires from faulty brakes or an electrical malfunction are more likely.

ignoramus

October 22nd, 2004, 07:35 PM

Oh okay. Then why are windows installed? Thanks.

superchan7

October 22nd, 2004, 07:53 PM

hkskyline

October 23rd, 2004, 07:08 PM

Kowloon Station is on the Tung Chung and Airport Express lines. Located next to Sorrento and Harbourside, development on top of and around this station will include the new Union Square skyscraper.

From a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://www2.hkedcity.net/sch_files/a/lmc/lmc-011228/public_html/kowloonstation_5.png

http://www2.hkedcity.net/sch_files/a/lmc/lmc-011228/public_html/kowloonstation.png

http://www2.hkedcity.net/sch_files/a/lmc/lmc-011228/public_html/kowloonstation_3.png

http://www2.hkedcity.net/sch_files/a/lmc/lmc-011228/public_html/kowloonstation_2.png

http://www2.hkedcity.net/sch_files/a/lmc/lmc-011228/public_html/kowloonstation_1.png

hkskyline

October 23rd, 2004, 10:33 PM

MTR's Consultancy Services

Introduction
Apart from building and operating railways in Hong Kong, MTR has actively developed consultancy businesses in many cities around the world by making use of its expertise in the planning, construction, operation, maintenance and up-grading of railways plus property development and non-fare revenue activities. During 2002, MTR has undertaken consultancy services in a number of locations, including China, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, India and United Kingdom, etc.

Shanghai Projects
In 2002, MTR established a joint venture company Shanghai Hong Kong Metro Construction Management Co. Ltd. (SHKMCM) to undertake project management of railway construction projects in Shanghai.

MTR was appointed as an Owner’s Advisor for the construction of the Yang Pu Line 8(M8). The M8 project comprises 24 underground stations with a total route length of 23 km. Total project cost is RMB14.5 billion. MTR is providing advisory services to the project owner, Shentong Holdings.

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/extensions/images/lar244z.jpg

SHKMCM has been appointed as Owner’s Representative to project manage, on behalf of the owner, the design and construction of Shen Song Line 9(R4). The R4 project is a 31 km metro line comprising 12 stations. It is split into 12 civil/building and 23 E&M contracts. The total project cost is RMB10 billion and is expected to be completed by the end of 2005.

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/extensions/images/lar245z.jpg

hkskyline

October 24th, 2004, 12:01 AM

From : http://hkrpm.hk.st/

http://210.0.140.74/hkrpm/hkrpm/wallpapers/25th_01.jpg

http://210.0.140.74/hkrpm/hkrpm/wallpapers/K_mod.jpg

http://210.0.140.74/hkrpm/hkrpm/wallpapers/tcl_ael.jpg

ignoramus

October 24th, 2004, 12:45 AM

Probably for ventilation in case the train's electric systems break down.

Oh, and anyone know why the PSD retrofit project uses Kaba doors, but all brand-new stations (and North Point's new platform) use some other kind of door?

The Kaba doors look much better...

Can you post some pics of how different the doors look like?

There could be a variety of reasons as to why PSDs in newer and older Stations differ.

For one, it could be due to the difference in the design of the platforms. Since the platforms in the older Stations from the start were not designed to be installed with PSDs in the first place, the authorities had to install whatever PSD they could install on these older platform which perhaps posed some limitations as to what types of PSDs can be installed. But since the newer Stations were designed with PSDs right from the start, there is no point installed the same made to order PSDs as in the older Stations, they could just use a totally different PSD.

Somewhat similar would be the tactile floorguide system being retrofitted in Singapore's MRT. They are basically the same but with some differences. The ones in the much newer North East Line are grey and made of granite whereas the ones on the older lines are silver and made of metal. They differ because the ones on the older lines are retrofitted ones, meaning that just screwed and inserted these metal floor guides/studs into the floor and the task is done. Whereas the newer line was designed with tactile floor guides from the start, the granite tiles that cover the floor have been designed to incorporate these tactile features as part of their design.

Get the idea?

xeror

October 24th, 2004, 05:43 AM

There could be a variety of reasons as to why PSDs in newer and older Stations differ.

For one, it could be due to the difference in the design of the platforms. Since the platforms in the older Stations from the start were not designed to be installed with PSDs in the first place, the authorities had to install whatever PSD they could install on these older platform which perhaps posed some limitations as to what types of PSDs can be installed. But since the newer Stations were designed with PSDs right from the start, there is no point installed the same made to order PSDs as in the older Stations, they could just use a totally different PSD.

I want to add some more explanation why the PSDs are different. As the installation of PSDs in existing stations must not affect the normal train operation, the PSDs must be able to be operated even the PSDs are partially installed on the platform. The PSD design for the existing stations is seperated into upper and lower parts whereas that for new stations is installed as a whole. Therefore, the PSD design for new station cannot be applied to the existing station. The reason why MTR Coporation does not use the PSDs in new stations with design same as those in existing stations, even though they can be installed on new platforms as well, is the design for new station is simplier, faster to install, cheaper. So there is no need to have the same designs for new and existing stations.

P.S. The PSD design for existing stations is designed by Hong Kong engineers, which is also the first PSD design that can be applied on operating platforms in the world.

superchan7

October 24th, 2004, 06:29 AM

Maybe Kaba (Swiss company) designed their doors for Hong Kong's unique retrofit project. The retrofit doors all have "KABA" printed at the bottom of the glass panels.

MTR Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line, Island Line (Jordan Station, Tsuen Wan Line pictured). Retrofit using doors produced by Kaba.
http://ieng9.ucsd.edu/~ccheuk/hkmtr-psdretrofit

MTR Tseung Kwan O Line (2002), North Point new platform (interchange with TKO line), Tung Chung Line, Airport Express Line, KCR West Rail, KCR East Rail's East Tsim Sha Tsui Station. Hong Kong Station of MTR Tung Chung Line pictured. All these stations come built with PSDs included; who made the doors?
http://ieng9.ucsd.edu/~ccheuk/hkmtr-psdnew.jpg

As shown in the pictures, the retrofitted doors look more like a single larger plane of glass and a small strip of aluminium at the bottom. The doors that come with new stations have a much larger brushed-metal section and look more like two separate pieces assembled together.

Personally, I prefer the retrofit doors' appearance.

superchan7

October 26th, 2004, 12:26 AM

...Any ideas from the Hong Kong experts here? :hm:

One additional note: I will admit that the new station are far superior in their design, facilities, and aesthetic elements compared to even the newly renovated stations. The disparity between the PSDs still bugs me, though.

ignoramus

October 26th, 2004, 02:55 AM

The disparity in train models bug me too. And thats just the start, don't forget the differences in ticket machines, fare gates etc etc. As long as something is different, it bugs me...haha... Wonder if anyone else there is as bugged by these things as me too... I dont mind the architecture being different, but I wished everything that was metal to at least be the same...or else everything lacks a sense of uniformity.

superchan7

October 26th, 2004, 02:59 AM

The grayer trains are newer (~2002-2003) and are from a ROTEM/Mitsubishi joint effort. They are much quieter and have plug doors (one of the factors in the noise reduction), and the motors sound much newer. They have been said to generate reliability problems, though, although I don't think this occurs on a significantly regular basis.

The new trains usually run only on the Kwun Tong Line (green), although they have been spotted numerous times running other lines (except Tung Chung line, with its proprietary CAF/Alstom trains that run much faster).

ignoramus

October 26th, 2004, 03:06 AM

Why do plug doors sound quieter? Why should they? I saw a video of the new greyer trains with the plug doors, very nice, like a spaceship! Why the sudden decision to go with plug doors, thats the norm for all future trains?

But I still prefer the Tung Chung Line and AEL trains better. Alstom designs SUPER SLEEK TRAINS!

I hate the Light Rail trains though, even the new ones, they look like Lego trains.

playboy

October 26th, 2004, 05:40 AM

superchan7

October 26th, 2004, 06:18 AM

TCL and AEL trains were built by CAF of Spain, and I remember some other company (I think it was Alstom) involved in the design. In my opinion, they still look the best out of the three MTR train types because of their plug doors and stylish front ends.
Plug doors should sound much quieter because they don't protrude from the train body. Therefore, wind has no chance of getting in (the old Metro Cammell trains have plenty of wind leak into the compartment), and the overall surface is much smoother in terms of aerodynamics. In terms of quietness, I'm talking about interior noise, just to clarify things.

I think it makes perfect logical sense.

EDIT: Oh yeah, it's Adtranz, not Alstom. lol

bs_lover_boy

October 26th, 2004, 10:59 AM

Trains of MTR:
-Modernized Stock [1979-1999(Refurbish)-Now](M trains)~Metro Cammell England (Alstom)
-Korean Stock [2003-Now](K trains)~Rotem/Mitsubishi Joint Venture
-LAR Stock [1988-Now](AEL and TCL trains)~Adtranz/CAF Joint Venture

zergcerebrates

October 26th, 2004, 10:24 PM

I was watching this TVB news video clip and the authorities were like telling passengers not to open the windows just because you see smoke.

Why?

And why do the trains come with windows that can be opened? I thought most new subway systems/lines have done away with windows that can be opened since the train car is now all air conditioned?

Thanks.

The train ventilation system should be strong enough to suck or filter most smoke out temporarily. The windows are probaby for emergency purposes, you don't want passengers suffocate or die of heat exhaustion during summers heat when electricity fails, although it almost never happens.

zergcerebrates

October 26th, 2004, 10:27 PM

I also like the retrofitted glass doors more, I wonder who made the decision to install those glass panels that contain that ugly aluminum panel. Perhaps those Kaba ones are more expensive? I think most Asian platform glass panels are similar to the smaller glass panels with the aluminum bottom like some HK stations. I think Kaba is quite unique considering its huge size, I haven't seen any other metro system using it so far.

ignoramus

October 26th, 2004, 10:36 PM

The older Platform Screen Doors in Singapore, as well as those in Taipei, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo all have those metal strips both at the bottom and the middle of the doors.

Singapore's newer Platform Screen Doors as well as those in Guangzhou I think, which from the looks of it probably came from the same PSD company, are full glass panels.

It makes sense that the full glass panels that may be more expensive, after all, the glass in those panels have to be made to be strong cause without any additional support to hold the glass together in one big piece if the glass is not strong it will shatter easily. Thats what I think...

superchan7

October 26th, 2004, 11:47 PM

Maybe the non-retrofit doors were designed from scratch by local engineers, and the two-part nature of assembly made it cheaper or easier to install and maintain.

In any case, they're not terrible-looking, and it is a great privilege for a metro system to have PSDs implemented on the entire network. Hong Kong's new and renovated station environments are truly first-rate, comparable with the best and newest of Tokyo and Singapore's lines.

China's metro systems need to work on some form of innovation. Their stations are either blatant copies (albeit LEGAL copies with purchased designs and consulting) or boring derivatives.

ignoramus

October 26th, 2004, 11:55 PM

vincent

October 27th, 2004, 12:34 AM

i think both screen doors look futuristic.

hkskyline

October 27th, 2004, 01:36 AM

Guangzhou's subway stations are modeled after the Hong Kong system, including the signage and even the brush-stroke Chinese calligraphy for the station names.

ignoramus

October 27th, 2004, 02:39 AM

Even the in train announcements are exactly the same as those in HK, except that Mandarin comes ahead of Cantonese for obvious reasons.

But Hong Kong's sounds much much nicer.

superchan7

October 27th, 2004, 03:21 AM

HK MTR PSD retrofit more than half done.

I too have yet to be wowed by pictures of a metro station in China. Recent projects such as the Chongqing monorail are not bad. Guangzhou's Line 1 was a copy of Hong Kong's old stations, and its Line 2 has station calligraphy and signage identical to HK's, except in simplified Chinese. The PSDs on Line 2 (very glassy), as well as the platform interior trim between the opening doors and the station ceiling, are unique (blue). Walls and ceiling trim patterns are similar to those of HKMTR.

Shanghai's new trains are pretty good-looking, but the station designs tend to be extremely bland and appear to be very basic in function.

EDIT: The retrofit started in 2002, and I'm guessing they're about 1/2 to 2/3 done. So the rest of the timetable can be pretty much guessed. Remember, these aren't just screen door installations; they're almost total platform-level renovations. The ventilation and climate control for each station gets a major overhaul, the ceiling gets fancy-looking aluminium trim and the entire station gets new lighting.

ignoramus

October 27th, 2004, 03:42 AM

HK MTR PSD retrofit more than half done.

I too have yet to be wowed by pictures of a metro station in China. Recent projects such as the Chongqing monorail are not bad. Guangzhou's Line 1 was a copy of Hong Kong's old stations, and its Line 2 has station calligraphy and signage identical to HK's, except in simplified Chinese. The PSDs on Line 2 (very glassy), as well as the platform interior trim between the opening doors and the station ceiling, are unique (blue). Walls and ceiling trim patterns are similar to those of HKMTR.

Shanghai's new trains are pretty good-looking, but the station designs tend to be extremely bland and appear to be very basic in function.

How long more?

I dont quite like the trains used in China's subways, they are too square. And in the case of Guangzhou's older trainsets, the yellow colour looks dirty and hideous.

Guangzhou's PSDs are I think the same as those in Singapore. The arrows on the doors speak for themselves.

The Chongqing Monorail looks like a copy of Tokyo's Monorail, and if thats not enough, its a bad copy too cause the Stations and trains are as boring as those in Tokyo.

Shanghai's new trains are made by Alstom, they look very very nice.

No Chinese Station I have seen so far has a very shocking design, all are boring. They should spend some of their skyscraper design juices on subway station designs instead.

superchan7

October 27th, 2004, 03:46 AM

Regarding Chongqing monorail: better a train from Japan than a copy based on a train from Japan! =P

ailiton

October 28th, 2004, 06:55 AM

New next-stop-announcement for Tsim Sha Tsui:

Next station: Tsim Sha Tsui. Interchange station for KCR East Rail. (http://www.ushb.net/broadcast/MTR2004/TWL-TST-UP.rm)

hkskyline

October 30th, 2004, 06:52 AM

Between Kowloon Bay and Ngau Tau Kok Stations. (noted the middle three tracks are the southern entrance to the Kowloon Bay Depot) Photo by Billy Wong - July 1999

Hong Kong Railway Society
http://www.hkrs.org.hk/members/bltwong/kob_2.jpg

zergcerebrates

October 30th, 2004, 08:35 AM

ignoramus

October 30th, 2004, 09:14 AM

Why?

The Singapore Hong Kong Metro relationship is kinda a two way thing. Both are good in certain areas so they find themselves learning from one another.

huaiwei

October 30th, 2004, 09:21 AM

I always thought that Singapore compares its metro with HK not the other way around.
Err......seriously no. To add on to what ignore said, Singapore's urban planners hardly, if ever, mention HK's transport system when citing example cities they are trying to gear us towards. Rather, we often here them talking about Tokyo and Paris' rail comprehensiveness, and Zurich's excellent inter-modal linkages as the standard they hope to archieve here?

When they introduce new rail systems like the driverless trains and such, they look to Europe or Japan directly too, and not really to regional cities.

ignoramus

October 30th, 2004, 09:26 AM

Err......seriously no. To add on to what ignore said, Singapore's urban planners hardly, if ever, mention HK's transport system when citing example cities they are trying to gear us towards. Rather, we often here them talking about Tokyo and Paris' rail comprehensiveness, and Zurich's excellent inter-modal linkages as the standard they hope to archieve here?

When they introduce new rail systems like the driverless trains and such, they look to Europe or Japan directly too, and not really to regional cities.

What I meant was that visitors to both Hong Kong and Singapore find themselves comparing the two different metros. I have heard things from HK MTR's trains running super fast as compared to Singapore's to how Singapore's stations and trains are cleaner and safer with the PSDs. Visitors to both cities compare these two different metros cause they are actually quite similar.

Planners plan for the future so obviously they wouldnt look to HK's MTR for how comprehensive a rail system should be as after all, both metros are relative to their european counterparts still in their middle ages...

huaiwei

October 30th, 2004, 09:39 AM

What I meant was that visitors to both Hong Kong and Singapore find themselves comparing the two different metros. I have heard things from HK MTR's trains running super fast as compared to Singapore's to how Singapore's stations and trains are cleaner and safer with the PSDs. Visitors to both cities compare these two different metros cause they are actually quite similar.

Planners plan for the future so obviously they wouldnt look to HK's MTR for how comprehensive a rail system should be as after all, both metros are relative to their european counterparts still in their middle ages...
Whoops....since like I didnt have enough sleep. :D

Well then, it is simply not true that Singapore's planners are basing their transport model on HK's no matter how "similar" laymen may think it is. It has to be reminded, that the geographical configuration of the two cities are hardly similar, as I mentioned before, and transport networks have to take that into account.

The only aspect of urban transportation which we do appear to look to HK is the contactless card system's application in non-transport uses, although even that is not explicitly mentioned? You any idea where the EZlink card tech was adopted from?

zergcerebrates

October 30th, 2004, 09:51 AM

I thought Singapore already has a system like the Octopus.

ignoramus

October 30th, 2004, 10:02 AM

Singapore's Transport Planners do not look to Hong Kong for transport related issues. We did attempt to try out mini buses though, but that never did happen cause mini buses are just not suited for Singapore. Singapore might have trams though in the future, in Singapore's ''One North'' Biomedical Hub. They won't apply this to public transportation uses as it competes with road traffic, but once again such trains are not based on Hong Kong's KCR Light Rail or Trams. They seem to be more based on European Systems. Singapore didn't adopt Hong Kong's way of powering trains using overhead pantographs too. So technically and in terms of planning for the future, Singapore does not look to Hong Kong and as with what huaiwei said, looks to Europe and Japan, pioneers in driverless technology and comprehensive urban transport networks.

Tourists on the other hand, like to compare the Singapore MRT System to Hong Kong's MTR System (Not many heard of KCR though) cause they are both one of the earliest subways to be built in this region (Excluding South Korea and Japan) and the two cities are in quite close proximity to one another and they both have that distinctive red line on the train cars.

Singapore's ''ezlink'' Contactless Smart Card System was from ERG Systems of Australia and was adopted by Singapore in 2002. Hong Kong's ''Octopus'' Contactless Smart Card System was from Sony and was adopted by Hong Kong in 1997. Thus, the systems are quite different in that they were made by different companies and are based on different levels of technology.

huaiwei

October 30th, 2004, 10:33 AM

:applause: Yeap..finally some facts there. :D

Btw, it was interesting to note that the underground NEL do have pantographs, which I only came to realise months after the service started when I stared down at the tracks and saw no third rail, and then looked up! ;)

hkskyline

October 30th, 2004, 05:05 PM

I hardly hear any buzz about Hong Kong's public transit systems comparing with Singapore or even other regional cities. I hear a lot more about Hong Kong transit companies expanding into the mainland, running services and providing consultancy work.

From Monday, there's no more taking MTR for a ride; $10 surcharge imposed to plug loophole that allowed dodging of fares

Cheung Chi-fai and Martin Wong
30 October 2004
South China Morning Post

The MTR Corporation was slammed yesterday after it said it would impose a $10 penalty surcharge on passengers who enter and exit its system from the same station more than 20 minutes after passing through the turnstile.

The MTRC said it wanted to plug a loophole that allowed fare abuse. But Legislative Council panel chairman Lau Kong-wah said he did not see any evidence of widespread abuse and urged the rail operator to postpone the measure.

And non-aligned legislator Albert Chan Wai-yip said the corporation, which has the autonomy to change its fares and by-laws, was like a "super-kingdom that can do whatever it likes".

At present, passengers who enter and leave by the same station pay only the minimum fare of $3.80. From Monday they will pay a flat $10 - including the minimum fare - if they take more than 20 minutes.

Passengers who remain on the system for 90 minutes or more will continue to pay the maximum $26 fare no matter where they enter or exit.

The corporation did not say who the measure was aimed at, but it will particularly hit courier firms, which can deliver a parcel from one end of the network to the other by handing it over the barrier to a colleague and pay just the minimum fare. Long joyrides on the system also will no longer be possible.

At an average two minutes between stations, the 20-minute deadline will allow a journey of only four or five stations there and back - Central to Causeway Bay or Tsim Sha Tsui to Mongkok.

MTRC spokeswoman Catherine Sing said the surcharge was aimed at protecting the interests of all passengers by ensuring everyone who used the MTR train service paid the appropriate fare.

She said some passengers had complained that it was unfair that some passengers paid the minimum fee but travelled a long way within the network. "We are only striving to protect the passengers who genuinely pay the required fare for the journey travelled," Ms Sing said.

Head of operations Wilfred Lau Cheuk-man said they did not want passengers who paid the proper fare to subsidise those who might be taking advantage of the system's design.

The change was announced, just three days before it takes effect, in a press statement and notices posted at stations.

A spokesman for the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau said the MTRC had fare autonomy. "It has the right to change its fares according to the business environment," he said.

Legislator Mr Chan said the surcharge would not make a significant difference to the MTR's revenue but would put extra pressure on passengers. He said the government should strengthen its control over the railway.

Mr Lau said he believed couriers would be most affected. "Their livelihoods will be seriously affected," he said.

The MTRC said it was willing to listen to public opinion.

ignoramus

October 30th, 2004, 06:15 PM

huaiwei

October 30th, 2004, 06:32 PM

Anyone knows how does the third rail look like? I cant differentiate it from the normal rails.
Er....have you seen the NEL tracks before? If you compare the two, it should be very obvious.

ignoramus

October 30th, 2004, 06:34 PM

ignoramus

October 30th, 2004, 06:36 PM

Er....have you seen the NEL tracks before? If you compare the two, it should be very obvious.

Its just basically two rails right...except on above ground stretches as with anywhere else its 4 strips of rail.

hkskyline

October 30th, 2004, 09:05 PM

MTR has been doing a lot of consulting work outside China as well. The company has been trying to bid for some projects in England and has worked on projects for Manila, Seoul, Bangkok, and scores of othercities. It is working with the Dutch to implement smart cards there as well.

More information on consultancy projects in the past 5 years :
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/consultant/consultant1.html

More information from the latest interim report :
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/investors/interim2004/F106.pdf

hkskyline

October 31st, 2004, 07:54 PM

Rail delays signal a mystery
Colum Murphy, Hong Kong Standard
November 1, 2004

Hong Kong's rail companies have been plagued by an unprecedented number of service failures. Since July there have been more than 80 incidents, divided almost evenly between the two companies.

The main cause of the incidents is signalling-related problems.

Both MTRC and KCRC have gone to great lengths to defend their maintenance and safety practices, saying their billion-dollar maintenance budgets and staffing levels are more than adequate to ensure proper upkeep. They also dismiss the suggestion that preparations for the proposed merger could have distracted management teams from core activities.

If this is so, what then explains the sharp increase in incidents, in particular those caused by signalling hardware failures?

Rail experts stress that none of the recent incidents constituted a threat to public safety. But even they can't pinpoint a reason, leaving them to suggest that it might just be a string of bad luck.

However, with two distinct rail entities being affected simultaneously, it seems unlikely that the reason is chance alone.

Yet some answers will need to be found, not only to allay passenger fears, but also to bolster the credibility of both companies at a time when Sarah Liao, Secretary for the Department of Environment, Transport and Works, and her team are reviewing their merger proposal.

Signalling aims to prevent collisions and derailments while allowing trains to travel at appropriate speeds. Signalling information, which can be visual, audible or both, should also be failsafe, meaning that if components fail there should be a backup to ensure full function.

Since July, the MTR has experienced 45 incidents, or almost three a week, with the majority of them resulting in delays to passengers of eight minutes or more. Signalling-related problems, including hardware failure, accounted for one third. Meanwhile, rolling-stock related factors such as doors or wheels not functioning properly accounted for 30 per cent of cases, power supply 13 per cent, computing and control problems 7 per cent. The remaining incidents were disruptions arising from passenger negligence.

A similar trend has emerged for KCRC, which experienced more than 40 incidents in the same period, with signalling-related problems accounting for more than 60 per cent.

Mark Ho, associate professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University's department of electrical engineering, said it was not surprising that signalling emerged as the main suspect.

"One has to understand that it's one of the most delicate systems in railways. If anything goes wrong, it only fails on the safe side," he explained.

Ho said it was this kind of critical redundancy, or "over-cautiousness", that accounted for the extremely low accident rate and number of casualties on Hong Kong's railways.

Because of their tendency to directly impact on the provision of service, signalling failures tend to be the most conspicuous type of incident - though by no means the only type. "I am sure they've similar fault rates in other areas, but nobody knows because they don't [rise to] the surface."

Despite this, Ho remained confident that Hong Kong's trains were among the safest in the world and saw little cause for public concern. "There are a lot of features in there to double safeguard, even triple safeguard, safety. Every component has its life cycle."

According to Catherine Sing, spokeswoman for MTRC, two companies, Siemens and Alstom, provided all of the signalling equipment installed both alongside the track and on board trains. Sing stressed that after taking delivery, the MTRC was fully responsible for maintenance of the system.

Karen Kwong, spokeswoman for Siemens Hong Kong said: "The current train incidents are not related to Siemens signalling or any other Siemens systems."

Siemens arrived at this conclusion following internal discussions, she said.

Alstom was not immediately available for comment.

Jeff Leung, spokesman for KCRC, said Alcatel Canada was the supplier of signalling equipment on the KCRC Westrail, which has been plagued by technical glitches since its opening last December.

MTRC and KCRC insist that the recent spate of incidents is not caused by reduction in spending on maintenance, nor to increased outsourcing.

Yet Chan Sing-wo, chairman of MTR railway staff union, is not fully convinced.

"[The contractors] have less manpower. Because there's less manpower, it could be that the [maintenance] check is not sufficient," Chan said.

To get to the root of the problem MTRC has appointed Lloyd's Register Rail, to conduct an "independent and comprehensive review of its service performance, the condition of its service critical assets and its asset management practices". Michael Hamlyn, president of Lloyd's Register Rail Asia, said he could not comment on the details of the study until his firm completed its analysis and review, which is expected next January.

hkskyline

November 3rd, 2004, 04:54 AM

October 31, 2004
Helicopters, mules aid cable car construction

Getting 12,000 tons of materials up into Lantau North Country Park to construct one of the world's largest cable car systems is certainly a big challenge with no easy solution, especially when temporary haul roads and ropeways cannot be used to environmental preservation.

The Tung Chung Cable Car will marry modern and traditional methods, transporting materials and equipment by helicopter and mule.

Helicopters are used to move people and equipment into remote areas. The helicopters fly seven to eight hours a day lifting materials and equipment either from Tung Chung or Ngong Ping to the five remote tower locations and an angle station in the park. They lift big heavy items like piling rigs, air compressors, scaffolding and concrete.

While helicopters are fast and efficient, they are also susceptible to weather conditions. When the visibility is poor, or the wind speed and direction not favourable, then the aircraft can be grounded.

http://news.gov.hk/tc/category/infrastructureandlogistics/041029/features/html/041029p008jpg.jpg

http://news.gov.hk/tc/category/infrastructureandlogistics/041029/features/html/041029p018jpg.jpg

http://news.gov.hk/tc/category/infrastructureandlogistics/041029/features/html/041029p007jpg.jpg

Perfect mix: The construction of the Tung Chung Cable Car marries modern and traditional methods of transporting materials and equipment by using helicopters and mules.

Mules rule

Mules, while slow and unable to carry huge loads, work effectively in almost any weather. They carry fuel, water, sand and aggregate, cement or grout, and small tools and equipment. They also bring out of the park excavated materials and general rubbish.

Over 14 months, the helicopters are scheduled to move around 10,000 tons of materials, plants and equipment, with an additional 2,000 tons by mule.

Helicopter Project Manager Grant Hislop told news.gov.hk that his responsibilities first and foremost are to ensure the helicopters can run safely in this construction environment.

While it is obvious that when visibility is poor the helicopters cannot operate, it is not so obvious to the construction staff how wind affects the helicopter's performance. Winds in the area can often be some of the strongest in Hong Kong.

Wind flows around the terrain the same way water in a river flows around rocks and boulders. In flying, pilots call the strong winds associated with mountains "mechanical turbulence".

Placing loads with care, precision

Mr Hislop said: "Most of the towers on the cable car route are located on the steep slopes of the valley and this requires the helicopters to work often in the areas where we will experience the greatest mechanical turbulence.

"The nature of helicopter lifting work requires the pilots to place heavy loads up to 1,000kgs into place with precision, keeping in mind that there are men working on the ground whose safety is dependent upon the pilot placing the loads with care and precision.

"Prior to working with the helicopter all of the construction workers on the project will attend a training day at our Heliservices base. This training emphasises how to work around the helicopter safely and how to properly rig the numerous different types of loads that will be lifted."

Mr Hislop has spent the majority of his career flying helicopters in Canada. The work there was much diversified and included exploration, fire fighting, search and rescue, television and motion picture aerial filming, and aerial construction.

Exciting, fantastic experience

He is very pleased to be part of this exciting project.

"What better office could you ask for? Almost everyday I fly to the top of Lantau Island and have a bird's eye view of the aircraft landing and taking off from Chek Lap Kok and on the clear days can see all the way to Macau. The project staff that I work with daily from Maeda Corporation, the main contractor of the project, are incredibly professional and their enthusiasm for the project makes working there a pleasure," Mr Hislop said.

"Lifting work with helicopters is one of my favourite aspects of my job. The rewards are very tangible. Upon the completion of the project you are able to look back at the physical structure and feel the pride associated with being an important part of the construction process. This pride is even greater when you are working on a project such as the Tung Chung Cable Car.

"This fantastic route up to the Big Buddha will give Hong Kong people and visitors from around the world, a bird's eye view of the natural beauty of this wonderful place."

Developed by the MTR Corporation, the 5.7km-long Tung Chung Cable Car project will be a unique and brand new tourism experience for local and overseas visitors. Upon opening in early 2006, the 20-minute journey will give visitors great views along the way before arriving at Ngong Ping.

hkskyline

November 4th, 2004, 12:31 AM

20 MTR stations retrofitted with platform screen doors
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Government Press Release

Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 3):

Question:

It has been reported that the number of accidents involving passengers falling onto the rail track has reduced markedly since the retrofitting of screen doors at MTR stations by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:

(a) the number of accidents involving MTR passengers falling onto the rail track and the casualties involved in the past year;

(b) the respective numbers and names of the stations where screen doors have been and have not yet been retrofitted;

(c) whether MTRCL has formulated a detailed retrofitting plan for the stations where screen doors have not yet been retrofitted; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(d) whether the reasons stated in (c) include technical problems; if so, whether the authorities have assessed if such technical problems are real; if assessment has been made, of the results, as well as the measures in place to ensure that MTRCL can retrofit screen doors at all stations?

Reply:

Madam President,

The number of accidents involving MTR passengers falling onto the rail track and the casualties involved in the past year are summarized below:

2004 (Up to 30 September 2004)

Causes Death Injury Unhurt
Trespassing onto Track 0 0 7
Suicide 3 0 0
Attempted Suicide 0 2 1
Falling from Platform 0 7 4
Accidentally Total 3 9 12 24

For the station platforms along the Airport Express Line, Tseung Kwan O Line and Tung Chung Line, platform screen doors had been installed during the construction stage. As regards the other railway lines, MTRCL launched the "MTR Platform Screen Door Retrofit Programme" in 1999 with a view to providing passengers with a more comfortable travelling environment and reducing energy consumption. The project covers 30 underground stations on the Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan and Island Lines and is expected to complete by 2006.

At present, platform screen doors have been retrofitted at the following 20 stations:

Island Line
1. Sheung Wan
2. Central
3. Admiralty
4. Wan Chai
5. Causeway Bay
6. North Point

Tsuen Wan Line
7. Tsim Sha Tsui
8. Jordan
9. Yau Ma Tei
10. Mong Kok
11. Prince Edward
12. Sham Shui Po
13. Cheung Sha Wan
14. Lai Chi Kok
15. Mei Foo
16. Tai Wo Hau

Kwun Tong Line
17. Shek Kip Mei
18. Kowloon Tong
19. Lok Fu
20. Wong Tai Sin

Platform screen doors will be retrofitted at the following 10 stations by 2006 :
1. Tin Hau
2. Tai Koo
3. Sai Wan Ho
4. Diamond Hill
5. Lam Tin
6. Fortress Hill
7. Quarry Bay
8. Shau Kei Wan
9. Choi Hung
10. Lai King

For the remaining eight at-grade/overhead stations (Tseun Wan, Kwai Hing, Kwai Fong, Ngau Tau Kok, Kowloon Bay, Kwun Tong, Heng Fa Chuen and Chai Wan), retrofitting of platform screen doors involves major alterations to the stations and tunnel ventilation, air-conditioning and smoke extract systems. Since such at-grade/overhead stations are not designed with air-conditioning and ventilation systems, retrofitting works are subject to technical constraints.

MTR Corporation Limited is fully engaged in retrofitting platform screen doors at all underground stations. Upon their completion, the Corporation will consider retrofitting platform screen doors at the remaining stations.

hkskyline

November 4th, 2004, 07:39 AM

Copyright 2004 South China Morning Post Ltd.
November 3, 2004

Thousands affected by MTR glitches
Benjamin Wong

The MTR suffered three mechanical problems yesterday, with two occurring during rush hour last night and affecting thousands of passengers.

A company spokeswoman said last night: "Though train services have achieved 99.9 per cent punctuality, as we're running 3,000 trains a day there could still be one or two such problems daily."

She apologised to the public on behalf of the company.

The two rush-hour incidents last night struck within minutes of each other. The first occurred at 6.40pm at the Kwun Tong line's Lam Tin station, forcing trains towards Yau Ma Tei to slow down.

Five minutes later, on the Tsuen Wan line towards Central, about 1,000 passengers were forced to get off a train at Jordan because its doors failed to shut properly.

Earlier, the doors of the Airport Express failed to close as it was about to leave the Kowloon station about 7.30am.

superchan7

November 5th, 2004, 08:55 AM

Wow, Hong Kong's railways have been getting their share of glitches.

hkskyline

November 5th, 2004, 08:28 PM

There's a media frenzy right now over the MTR and the KCR. Some of the glitches only last for a few minutes, but they seem to be reported to be as severe as the longer service disruptions. Notice the November 3rd SCMP article called the glitches mechanical problems but they're actually quite minor - doors not closing properly, trains slowing down, etc.

hkskyline

November 8th, 2004, 08:54 AM

It's Goodbye Kitty amid an escalating crime wave
Andy Cheng
7 November 2004
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong's love affair with Hello Kitty has turned criminal - light-fingered fans have stolen stickers of the ubiquitous cat from MTR stations.

Since October 22, people have made off with all 250 Hello Kitty stickers adorning advertising panels beside escalators throughout the subway network.

The hexagonal stickers were all stripped from advertising posters for 7-Eleven convenience stores. 7-Eleven officials said they had not called police about the thefts, but declined to say why.

An MTR spokesman said the decision to report the thefts to police rested with 7-Eleven.

The thieves were no doubt drawn to the stickers' three-dimensional nature. They change appearance when viewed from different angles, like a hologram.

7-Eleven's MTR advertising campaign, which began on October 22, is promoting a Hello Kitty magnet to be given away with every $20 spent by customers at any of its outlets.

The promotion marks Hello Kitty's 30th birthday, which was on Monday.

The chain purchased an advertising package from the MTR Corporation involving about 250 wall panels.

"Within the first week, all of these [stickers] had been ripped off by collectors, which was a huge surprise to us," a 7-Eleven spokeswoman told the Sunday Morning Post.

"These actions, though, confirm just how popular Hello Kitty is in Hong Kong," she added.

An MTRC spokesman said the agreement with 7-Eleven did not compel it to pay compensation for any damage to the panels. He said there had been no similar thefts recently involving other images. He reminded the public that the maximum penalty for vandalising railway premises was a $5,000 fine.

7-Eleven has printed replacement posters - minus the stickers and three-dimensional effects.

hkskyline

November 8th, 2004, 09:08 AM

Special Tickets & Items

MTR will issue a series of three limited-edition "Doraemon" MTR Souvenir Ticket Sets in three consecutive weeks starting November 21, 2004. Priced at $80, each ticket set includes a souvenir ticket, a ticket holder, and a Doraemon premium, namely Doraemon Recording Music Box for the first set, Doraemon Phone Delight for the second, and Doraemon Recording Alarm Clock for the third. The ticket sets will be available for sale at Customer Service Centres at all MTR stations (except Airport Express) while stock lasts.

Each ticket is valid for two rides to any destination on the MTR (except Airport Express) until February 1, 8 and 15, 2005 respectively. Each person is limited to two sets per purchase.

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/whatsnew/dora2004/fullset_e.gif

Crystal Trains

Made of good quality Austrian crystal with over 30% of Pbo, the crystal train sparkles like a colourful rainbow in a world of fantasy.

http://store.mtr.com.hk/item_pic/image_PUS/1/0/0/pus_pt04A.jpg

http://store.mtr.com.hk/item_pic/image_PUS/1/0/0/pus_pt01.jpg

Stationery Set in Ticket Machine Design
http://store.mtr.com.hk/item_pic/image/1/0/0/pus_mtr011on.jpg

hkskyline

November 9th, 2004, 10:04 PM

November 9, 2004
Sarah Liao orders rail checks
Government Press Release

Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao has ordered the MTR Corporation to check all its rail tracks after a crack was found on a section between Shek Kip Mei and Prince Edward stations today.

She said the Government is concerned about the MTR's recent spate of service disruptions, and said it is unacceptable that repeated failures should occur.

Whenever there is an incident, the company is urged by the Government to do its best to make an improvement to avoid similar incidents.

Sheung Wan Station
Source : http://www.mbwhk.com/

http://www.mbwhk.com/raildata/SW1.jpg

http://www.mbwhk.com/raildata/SW4.jpg

http://www.mbwhk.com/raildata/SW3.jpg

http://www.mbwhk.com/raildata/SW6.jpg

http://www.mbwhk.com/raildata/SW5.jpg

ignoramus

November 10th, 2004, 02:17 AM

Why is the platform fenced up? That is a platform right?

Is the station even opened? It looks dead empty.

ailiton

November 10th, 2004, 02:23 AM

Those platforms (in the second picture) were built and reserved for the East Kowloon Line. No tracks were laid there. The platform in the forth picture is currently in use and it is partially fenced up because the length of the platform is longer than that of a train. I believe those fences have already been removed because PSDs have been installed in that station.

superchan7

November 10th, 2004, 08:52 AM

I found Sheung Wan's empty platform really cool. It had this air of mystery to it, as to what lies beyond those brick walls.........??

I wonder when it'll ever be used.

ailiton

November 10th, 2004, 09:05 AM

I found Sheung Wan's empty platform really cool. It had this air of mystery to it, as to what lies beyond those brick walls.........??

I wonder when it'll ever be used.

probably never.

HA HA HA.

zergcerebrates

November 10th, 2004, 09:59 AM

I found Sheung Wan's empty platform really cool. It had this air of mystery to it, as to what lies beyond those brick walls.........??

I wonder when it'll ever be used.

Sheung Wan's platform gives me the creeps.

superchan7

November 10th, 2004, 10:08 AM

For amateurish rail fans like me, it seems interesting. But for the public, it's probably better to seal it off with a more permanent wall if it's not going to be used. It'd probably be pretty creepy later at night when you should be in places other than an unused metro platform.

ignoramus

November 10th, 2004, 03:09 PM

probably never.

HA HA HA.

Is Sheung Wan a future Interchange Station or a Terminal/End Of The Line Station?

If it is a Terminal Station, isn't it common around the world to have both platforms at a Terminal Station left open so that in the event that a train has yet to depart from one platform, the arriving train can still pull into the other platform and use that instead?

If it was intended to be a future Interchange Station, what line was intended to use that other platform? And why won't that platform be used now even though it was intended to be the platform for another future line?

Freaky, reminds me of the abandoned platforms in NYC's subway system which were originally built to serve passengers but due to changes in original plans, were never used in the end.

hkskyline

November 10th, 2004, 05:08 PM

Passengers disembark from one platform at Sheung Wan and the train heads off into the tunnel to turn around, so they don't actually park at the station and wait to leave. It works quite differently from other subway systems.

ailiton

November 10th, 2004, 10:45 PM

Is Sheung Wan a future Interchange Station or a Terminal/End Of The Line Station?

If it is a Terminal Station, isn't it common around the world to have both platforms at a Terminal Station left open so that in the event that a train has yet to depart from one platform, the arriving train can still pull into the other platform and use that instead?

If it was intended to be a future Interchange Station, what line was intended to use that other platform? And why won't that platform be used now even though it was intended to be the platform for another future line?

Freaky, reminds me of the abandoned platforms in NYC's subway system which were originally built to serve passengers but due to changes in original plans, were never used in the end.

The "abandoned" platforms were supposed to be a part of Rumsey station of the East Kowloon Line, which has been redesigned and is now known as the Shatin-Central Link. The redesigned line will no longer terminate (or pass thru) Sheung Wan so the platforms will probably be abandoned forever.

hkskyline

November 11th, 2004, 07:31 PM

The Standard
November 10, 2004

FURY AT NEW MTR CHAOS
Colum Murphy and Cally Cheng

Action has been demanded from the government following yet another fault on the MTR that delayed thousands of Hong Kong commuters at the height of the Tuesday morning rush hour.

One lawmaker urged the government to slap the MTR Corp with a written warning, and another called for the introduction of a points system that would penalise rail providers for poor service.

The latest incident took place at 7am when the signalling system detected a fault on the Kwun Tong Line between Shek Kip Mei and Prince Edward stations.

Inspections revealed a crack on a section of rail, which required trains to run at a reduced speed over the affected stretch of line, and resulted in five minutes of additional commuting time for 25,000 passengers. Normal services resumed at 10am with passengers complaining that they should have been notified about delays before boarding trains so that they could make alternative travel arrangements.

Following the incident, Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao said it is unacceptable for train disruptions to occur every day, and the bureau called on the MTRC to provide an explanation by today. On Monday, services at Sheung Wan station were delayed for about 10 minutes because of a signalling problem.

The latest delay brings the total number of incidents on the MTR system to 50 since July. Taken in combination with the Kowloon-Canton Railway service, there were more than 90 delay-causing incidents over the past four months.

Legislative Council transport panel chairman Lau Kong-wah said, in light of the troubles, the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau should step up its condemnation of the rail company's poor performance. (Secretary) Liao can issue a warning letter to the MTRC,'' Lau said.

If a warning letter is not issued today (Tuesday) then the public will be very disappointed at the government's monitoring system.'' A bureau spokeswoman said: The railway inspectorate has asked the MTRC to submit an initial report by tomorrow and another technical investigation report to identify the root cause of the rail cracks, with recommendations for improvement, in two weeks.'' In addition, the government said it has written to the MTRC urging it to enhance track inspection and maintenance works.

Legco transport panel member Andrew Cheng said the chief executive and the Executive Council had the authority to penalise the MTRC for negligence under sections 14 and 16 of the Mass Transit Railway Ordinance. However, the definition of what constitutes negligence is vague, he said. In Legco next Wednesday, Cheng will propose the introduction of a points system, similar to the one used to monitor the infringement of traffic rules, which should make it easier to penalise rail companies for frequent delays. He said penalties could be in the form of fines or orders to remove defective rolling stock or equipment from service.

Cheng said the Liberal Party and the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong have not shown support for his idea, saying existing provisions are sufficient.

If they are enough, there wouldn't be operational failures like (those experienced) in the past three months.'' Lau said a deterioration in maintenance standards and the increased use of outsourcing were the underlying causes of the recent spate of incidents. MTR railway union chairman Chan Sing-wo said earlier he feared maintenance checks might not be sufficient because outsourcing companies used by the company had less manpower. MTRC spokeswoman Catherine Sing disagreed. The affected section (involved in Tuesday's incident) has nothing to do with outsourcing.'' In the past, the company has insisted that its technical problems are not due to reduced spending or outsourcing.

Sing reiterated the company's commitment to safety on Tuesday, saying it had appointed an independent expert, Lloyd's Register Rail, to conduct a comprehensive review of its operations. Mark Ho, associate professor of Hong Kong Polytechnic University's department of engineering, said he did not believe the cracked line would have derailed a train.

There are a lot of features in there to double safeguard, even triple safeguard, safety,'' he said.

However, Lau said the two rail companies should face reality''. Issues are compounded, he said, by the proposed merger of the MTRC and Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp.

When the two join together will it become a giant with even bigger problems?'' he said, adding if the companies do not improve it will effect public confidence in the merger.

hkskyline

November 12th, 2004, 07:56 AM

Pledge to regulate public transit fares
Teddy Ng
9 November 2004
The Standard

The government will formulate an adjustable fare mechanism system for public transit within four years, the city's transport chief said on Monday.

Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao was responding to a complaint raised by a listener to RTHK's Talkabout programme. The listener said public transport fares were expensive and asked whether Liao would keep her promise to formulate a mechanism that would allow for fares to go down as well as up.

Liao said the bureau hoped to discuss the mechanism with lawmakers and have it in place before the end of the current Legislative Council term, which ends in 2008.

She said the government would consult bus franchisees next year, then the railway operators after a report on the merger of the MTRC and KCRC.

Liao said fares were No 3 on her list of public transport priorities.

Her first concern was safety, especially in the wake of recent accidents involving red minibuses allegedly ignoring red traffic lights.

She reiterated that the penalty for running red lights should be increased from three points endorsed on offenders' licences to between five and eight points.

The proposal to increase the penalty has been opposed by minibus drivers.

But Liao said deducting more points was necessary as red minibuses caused more traffic accidents and deaths than other modes of public transport.

Of 200 traffic accidents deaths last year, 11 were caused by red minibuses.

"This is 5 per cent of the total. I think it is serious and we need tougher penalties," she said.

Liao said her second priority was to rectify recent railway reliability problems that have caused numerous service delays.

Services at the Sheung Wan MTR station were delayed for about 10 minutes on Monday because of a signal problem that forced passengers to change trains.

Liao said the government would ask the MTRC to explain the causes of the problem.

She said that while minor problems might be acceptable, service providers should not take them for granted.

hkskyline

November 12th, 2004, 08:26 PM

Source : http://www.pbase.com/dlmorel/hkgrp03&page=2

http://www.pbase.com/dlmorel/image/28776380.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/dlmorel/image/28776381.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/dlmorel/image/28776384.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/dlmorel/image/28776386.jpg

hkskyline

November 13th, 2004, 05:23 AM

Lam Tin Station
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/lamtin01.jpg

hkskyline

November 13th, 2004, 06:29 AM

Source : http://www.pbase.com/jonathanwg/mtr

http://www.pbase.com/jonathanwg/image/25807717.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/jonathanwg/image/28483237.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/jonathanwg/image/28483238.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/jonathanwg/image/28483239.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/jonathanwg/image/28483240.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/jonathanwg/image/26634598.jpg

ignoramus

November 13th, 2004, 06:36 AM

hkskyline

November 13th, 2004, 07:01 AM

There are no uniform security guards working on Hong Kong's MTR network. However, station managers can easily call the police for medical emergencies and other incidents. There are attendants that help prevent people from crowding into trains during rush hour. They wear the typical bright yellow vests.

hkskyline

November 13th, 2004, 07:24 AM

http://www.pbase.com/davinci/image/9842899.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/davinci/image/9842995.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/fredarmitage/image/35457306.jpg

ignoramus

November 13th, 2004, 08:13 AM

Cool. More pics? haha

hkskyline

November 13th, 2004, 08:21 AM

Source : http://www.pbase.com/nicthe/

http://www.pbase.com/nicthe/image/36082578.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/nicthe/image/35684969.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/nicthe/image/35407322.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/nicthe/image/35278013.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/nicthe/image/35278012.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/nicthe/image/34754606.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/nicthe/image/34653461.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/nicthe/image/34653460.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/nicthe/image/34653459.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/nicthe/image/34631741.jpg

huaiwei

November 13th, 2004, 08:22 AM

Cool. More pics? haha
Oh yeah we sure want to see more pictures yeah. Haha

superchan7

November 13th, 2004, 11:39 PM

i love it when hkskyline posts train pics. *drool*

hkskyline

November 14th, 2004, 06:54 PM

http://www.pbase.com/jongky/image/30100429.jpg

ignoramus

November 15th, 2004, 05:41 AM

This thread could do better with some active discussions going on though.

But nice pictures, as always.

superchan7

November 15th, 2004, 08:36 PM

bs_lover_boy

November 16th, 2004, 02:21 AM

Well, when the Refurbished stock adds commercials, it looks pretty nice.

ignoramus

November 16th, 2004, 07:20 AM

The old stock needs some restyling, maybe a new paint scheme. The front end isn't enough. They look okay pulling into stations, but outside they don't really add to the environment, especially in the more run-down areas such as eastern Kowloon.

Ya white train bodies don't look nice nowadays. If they are dirty it is very obvious. And too plain car bodies are not nice too. Tung Chung's Blue trains are cool, as with the Airport Express's.

hkskyline

November 17th, 2004, 09:11 PM

KCR and MTR breakdowns spell more passenger misery
Paris Lord, Hong Kong Standard
18 November 2004

Passengers on Hong Kong's two railways suffered more delays after another spate of breakdowns on Wednesday but both rail firms defended their services as being among the best in the world.

Officials from the MTR Corp (MTRC) and Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp (KCRC) said they spend billions of dollars annually on repairs and maintenance and, because safety remains their priority, delays are necessary when they remove trains for inspection.

Several hundred passengers were ordered off a train at Choi Hung MTR station at 8.53am due to faulty doors and told to wait for another.

Their train was removed for inspection at the Kowloon Bay depot.

Meanwhile, passengers were evacuated from a KCR train at Fo Tan station after smoke was reported in a carriage.

The firm said the smoke may have been caused by jammed brakes. Examinations are being carried out at the Fo Tan depot.

The latest incidents bring to at least 95 the number of delays on both networks over the past four months - 51 for the MTR and 44 for the KCR - and came on the day an MTRC task force recommended 20 new initiatives to improve services. The MTRC said the first 10 months of the year had been one of its best times, with services improving by 18 per cent compared with the same period in 2003.

The 20 measures include the replacement of track signalling switches with tougher models, new door seals for all carriages, using the same equipment the power industry uses to test high voltage cables in carriages and improving public communication during delays.

"These improvement measures aim not only to address service delays causing inconvenience to our passengers, but also to minimise those cases that may give rise to passenger concern," MTRC deputy operations director Andrew McCusker said.

The firm had to surpass the expectations of its passengers and what is considered industry "best practice", he said.

The MTRC spends about HK$2 billion annually on repairs and maintenance, and the new measures will be covered by that budget, McCusker said.

The company expects the additional improvement measures to form part of a report by an independent panel from Lloyd's Register Rail, which will release its findings early next year.

The improvements would be carried out by existing staff, McCusker said.

MTR railway staff union chairman Chan Sing-wo said his 500 members were sceptical about the company's new plans and questioned how the extra checks could be performed without hiring more staff.

"This will put more pressure on staff," Chan said, adding that the union would be asking MTRC officials for answers when the parties meet on December 9.

For its part, the KCRC has spent about HK$1.6 billion on upgrades and maintenance across its network since 1994, and kept its average annual maintenance budget steady, a company spokeswoman said.

"We think [the Fo Tan delay] is an isolated incident," she said.

"We will of course have a thorough investigation and find out the cause."

The firm has just completed an interim safety audit and would finish the full audit by early next year, she added.

The MTRC is a member of a group of 10 of the world's largest mass railway operators that carry more than two million passengers a day.

The KCRC is a member of another group comprising 11 medium-sized railway systems that carry fewer than two million passengers daily.

On Wednesday night the Legislative Council defeated a motion that called on the government to apply remedial measures to enhance safety on the railways and the roads.

This followed a spate of train disruptions and serious traffic accidents in recent weeks.

joeazn

November 19th, 2004, 08:50 AM

Hi everyone,

I remember seeing somewhere on the internet either a java or flash animation of the MTR Infopanel. It was a pretty good animation and it showed the Infopanel cycling through a few screens, displaying the next station, and several screens in Chinese. (I know in real life, the screen also shows advertisements, but I don't think this animation did).

Unfortunately, I lost the URL. Has anyone seen this also, and if so, does anyone know where I can find this animation?

Thanks!

hkskyline

November 22nd, 2004, 06:18 PM

There are still some stations on the Island Line that don't have platform screen doors :

By "S3M64~DP2157" from a Hong Kong transport forum :

Tin Hau
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/tih_01.jpg

Quarry Bay
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/qub_01.jpg

Tai Koo
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/tak_01.jpg

Sai Wan Ho
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/swh_01.jpg

Sau Kei Wan
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/skw_01.jpg

superchan7

November 22nd, 2004, 11:29 PM

But work has already started on them...you can see the PSD upper rails on the quarry bay picture.

hkskyline

November 23rd, 2004, 06:33 AM

November 20, 2004
Government Press Release
Be rational on MTR mishaps: Sarah Liao

Commuters should adopt a rational and scientific approach when judging the recent spate of MTR service disruptions, Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao says.

Speaking on a radio talkshow today, Dr Liao said the Government has attached great importance to rail safety and has urged the company to investigate the incidents.

As the MTR is a complicated system, it is inevitable there will be mechanical failures, however, public safety should not be compromised, she said.

Noting the MTR Corporation has appointed a leading international rail expert to conduct a comprehensive review on its service performance, Dr Liao urged commuters to be patient. She said incidents on the system have fallen this year.

On road safety, Dr Liao said the recent spate of minibus accidents has drawn public concern on driver attitude. She said the Government is considering raising deduction points for red-light jumpers.

hkskyline

November 24th, 2004, 08:07 PM

Hong Kong subway operator joins bid for southeast rail franchise
Wed Nov 24, 9:39 AM ET

LONDON (AFP) - Hong Kong's subway system has joined a British rail operator to bid for a commuter and high-speed train franchise in southeast England, it was announced.

The MTR Corporation, majority owned by the Hong Kong government, will have a 29 percent stake in its partnership with Great North Eastern Railway, a subsidiary of Sea Containers Group that will hold the remaining shares, GNER said in a statement.

The partnership, called Great South Eastern Railway, will bid for the Integrated Kent Franchise -- comprising the commuter services now run by South Eastern Trains plus high-speed services on the new Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

South Eastern Trains took over services from London into Kent for more than a year after French rail operator Connex was stripped of the franchise amid complaints of poor service.

"MTR is a world-class operation with an unrivalled expertise in delivering a safe, efficient, reliable and high-quality railway in one of the most heavily populated parts of the globe," said GNER chief executive Christopher Garnett.

"We have been working with them for some months and are pleased to deepen our partnership with today's announcement," he said.

"The world leading skills of MTR in running densely timetabled services on heavily utilised routes will perfectly complement GNER's high speed experience."

Rail services were privatised in the 1990s, with GNER running express train services along the East Coast Line that links London with major cities in northeast England and Scotland.

hkskyline

November 25th, 2004, 06:43 PM

MTRC tries Britain again
Danny Chung, Hong Kong Standard
25 November 2004

MTR Corp (MTRC), Hong Kong's underground rail operator, has made its fourth attempt to expand into Britain by taking a 29 per cent stake in a joint venture to bid for a commuter and high-speed train franchise.

The MTRC will team up with Great North Eastern Railway (GNER), a unit of Sea Containers Group that will own the remainder of the Great South Eastern Railway venture.

The venture will bid for the seven-year Integrated Kent franchise for the commuter services now run by South Eastern Trains and high-speed services on the new Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Sea Containers expects the franchise to generate more than 375 million (HK$5.42 billion) a year.

MTRC public relations manager Catherine Sing said total investment had not been fixed yet and the timetable for bids was still subject to Britain's Strategic Railway Authority.

Sing said the venture is bidding for the operating franchise where the winning bidder will take on the staff employed by the rail network. "I believe the staff requirement from the MTR will be minimal," she said. "We will be mainly offering our management expertise as we are a heavily utilised commuter line in Hong Kong."

The franchise, which will begin in 2005, is to provide commuter services between London and Kent in southeastern England as well as parts of Sussex and southeast London.

The franchise's London stations include Victoria and Charing Cross, and smaller ones such as Blackfriars, Cannon Street, Waterloo East and London Bridge. It will connect to Kent towns such as Hastings, Ashford, Folkestone, Dover and Ramsgate.

For the high-speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the franchise will operate trains between the port of Folkestone and St Pancras station. "MTR is a world-class operation with an unrivalled expertise in delivering a safe, efficient, reliable and high-quality railway in one of the most heavily populated parts of the globe," GNER chief executive Christopher Garnett said.

"The world-leading skills of MTR in running densely timetabled services on heavily utilised routes will perfectly complement GNER's high-speed experience."

MTRC suffered a setback in July after the British government denied funding for a 250 million tram project in Portsmouth in southern England. MTRC was part of the Smart consortium, one of the two groups that tendered for the development of the 14 kilometre link. The railway operator also failed in its bid for tram schemes in Leeds and Manchester previously.

MTRC is also expanding in China. It signed an agreement with the Shenzhen government to build the city's first urban railway. It will also invest in a rail project in Beijing with Beijing Infrastructure Investment Company and Beijing Capital Group.

hkskyline

November 26th, 2004, 07:55 AM

The Guardian (London) - Final Edition
November 25, 2004
Chinese bid for UK rail franchises:
Hong Kong firm, with 99% punctuality record, wants to run British trains
Andrew Clark, Transport correspondent

A Chinese state-controlled rail operator has made a surprise entry into Britain's rail industry, with ambitious plans to bid for franchises covering mainline rail services throughout London and the home counties.

Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTR) has struck a deal with the inter-city firm GNER to table a joint bid for a new franchise covering all of Kent.

With a punctuality record of 99%, MTR claims to be the world's most reliable train company. It is listed on the Hong Kong stock market but 77% of its shares are held by Hong Kong's government.

MTR's operations director, Phil Gaffney, said if it were successful in Kent, it could bid for franchises covering Thameslink, Silverlink and South West Trains.

Mr Gaffney said MTR's plans would include parachuting Hong Kong executives into roles at British train operations. He said the firm would commit itself to a substantial improvement in performance.

"We've had to work very hard to get an international reputation," said Mr Gaffney. "There's no way we're going to have that reputation destroyed."

The so-called Integrated Kent rail franchise will comprise all services operated by South Eastern Trains, plus high-speed services on the channel tunnel rail link which opens in 2007. GNER and MTR face competition for the franchise from three other shortlisted bidders: FirstGroup, Denmark's DSB and a joint venture between Go-Ahead and France's Keolis.

GNER's chief executive, Christopher Garnett, said its expertise in long-distance services would complement MTR's knowledge of intensive commuter operations. He said: "Kent's commuters have suffered for too long."

South Eastern Trains has been operated by the government since the network's French operator, Connex, was sacked for poor financial controls by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) a year ago.

Unions say its performance has improved under public ownership. Some 117 MPs have signed an early day motion calling for the refranchising of the service to be halted. More than 3,500 members of the public have sent postcards to the transport secretary, Alistair Darling, calling for it to remain in government hands.

It emerged yesterday that the timetable for the potentially unpopular refranchising has slipped until the autumn - after a likely general election in the spring.

Keith Norman, acting general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef, said any private bids were unwelcome: "To hand the running of this vital public service back to the private sector will be seen as a victory for bankers and big business over the interests of passengers and the public."

The SRA said it would need to approve MTR's tie-up with GNER. But a spokesman said: "We always welcome possible new entrants to the UK market."

MTR could face a culture shock. In Hong Kong, there is little overcrowding because nearly everybody stands - there are 48 seats in carriages for 300 people. While South Eastern Trains spent £500,000 cleaning graffiti off its trains last year, MTR said vandalism in China was virtually unknown. Mr Gaffney said in Asian cultures, "people value property, in particular other people's property, too much to destroy it".

If it is successful, MTR will sit alongside other foreign players, the Netherlands' Ned Railways - which runs services in Merseyside and is soon to take on trains covering much of northern England - and the French firm Keolis, which is co-operator of Southern Trains.

Roger Ford, technical editor of Modern Railways magazine, said it was foolish to expect overseas operators to work magic: "MTR is a very good operation in Hong Kong. But they have a brand new system which was built by the Brits. They have brand new trains and a brand new track which has been steadily upgraded and improved. Compare that with Kent and what do they know?"

hkskyline

November 30th, 2004, 07:25 AM

Andrew to Install World's First UMTS Wireless Network in a Public Metro System, Bringing 3G to Hong Kong's MTR

http://www.andrew.com/pressroom/pressreleases/English/5048.aspx

ORLAND PARK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 2004--Andrew Corporation will install the world's first third generation (3G) wireless network of its kind for use in a public transportation system under a two-year contract to upgrade the Hong Kong mass transit railway's underground communications network.

The distributed communications system that Andrew is installing into the MTR, Hong Kong's metro system, will enable passengers with mobile wireless devices to enjoy access to advanced multimedia and information services, such as gaming and real-time streaming video, in addition to traditional voice calling and text messaging services. This 3G ready network will be the first in a public transportation system based on the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard. The UMTS standard was developed to support 3G technology and is most commonly used in Europe and Asia.

"Andrew is proud of its role in helping the MTR become the first mass transit system to provide UMTS-based mobile communications services to its passengers," said Bob Hudzik, president, Wireless Innovations Group, Andrew Corporation. "MTR passengers can pass time by surfing the Internet or watching streaming video while business people can take part in video phone calls and receive high-volume emails. Passengers will benefit from Andrew's deep experience in working with transit systems around the world."

Andrew's 3G experts engineered the Hong Kong system to address the unique requirements of a 3G network's high frequency ranges. Andrew's design will counteract signal losses and provide better coverage throughout the Metro through use of high-performance tuned radiating cables, large diameter feeder cables, new and relocated antennas at critical signal sites, new amplifiers and reconfigured transmission paths. The Andrew system will encompass all underground stations and tunnels in five MTR lines and the Airport Express. Completion of the entire project including maintenance is expected in 2006.

The equipment Andrew will supply, install, test, and commission includes:
-- 3G-compliant radio frequency and optical amplifiers
-- Node M43 repeaters
-- EOCell(TM) RF-over-fiber system
-- RCT7-CPUS series tuned RADIAX(R) radiating cable
-- HELIAX(R) foam coaxial cable, connectors and accessories
-- 3G/2G crossband combiner
-- 3G combiners and
-- Splitters and couplers

The new 3G network continues Andrew's work with the MTR. In 1994, Andrew installed the 2LCX integrated radio network to provide GSM, CDMA, and TDMA services. Andrew also installed the paging facilities system in 1994 and has maintained both systems since then.

About Andrew Corporation

Andrew Corporation designs, manufactures, and delivers innovative and essential equipment and solutions for the global communications infrastructure market. The company serves operators and original equipment manufacturers from facilities in 33 countries. Andrew (www.andrew.com), headquartered in Orland Park, Illinois, is an S&P 500 company founded in 1937.

RADIAX and HELIAX are registered trademarks of Andrew Corporation.

hkskyline

December 1st, 2004, 09:23 PM

MTR woos builders for homes project
Rail operator offers to pay half the land premium to attract smaller developers
Denise Tsang, Peggy Sito and Ernest Kong
1 December 2004
South China Morning Post

The MTR Corp has offered an unprecedented sweetener to potential developers of the Tseung Kwan O Area 86 residential project in a move seen as a vote of confidence in the property market.

The urban rail service operator says it will pay half the land premium on the first part of the project to entice more bids from developers, especially smaller players which are normally constrained by limited capital resources and the massive nature of the company's building schemes.

The move would inevitably raise the MTR's risk profile but analysts pointed out that the project would not be completed until 2008, and during the intervening time housing demand was anticipated to exceed supply.

Over the next nine days, the rail company is inviting property developers to express interest in the project, which calls for the construction of 2,096 flats in five residential blocks over a site area of 14,266 square metres. The flats were scheduled for pre-sale at the end of 2006 at the latest with completion in 2008, an MTR source said.

The first phase, one of a maximum of 14, is at the future Tseung Kwan O South Station and will be part of the proposed Dreamcity residential and commercial community to be developed over the next 10 years.

"In the past, some small and medium-sized developers have complained that the MTR property projects were too big for them," a company source said. "Since the project size can't be reduced and we have seen smaller developers' keen interest in bidding for the land at Ho Man Tin lately, we decided to share half of the land premium to encourage smaller players to participate."

The MTR and the government, its controlling shareholder, were in the final stages of talks over the land premium, with a decision due in two to three weeks, the source said.

The MTR, which relies on profits from property development along new railway lines to finance heavy rail investments, has co-operated with bigger developers such as Cheung Kong (Holdings), Sino Land, Sun Hung Kai Properties and New World Development in projects along the Tseung Kwan O, Tung Chung and Airport Express rail lines.

Hang Lung Properties, one of the smaller developers, was keen to express an interest, according to executive director Terry Ng Sze-yuen.

UBS analyst Eric Wong said the MTR's decision to shoulder half the land premium showed its desire to share profits from future home sales.

"The MTR is positive about the outlook of the property market," Mr Wong said. "It has plenty of leeway to mitigate risk because the MTR can lock in profits at pre-sales as soon as 2006. Property prices have an upside because we are talking about a supply shortage in the next three years."

The MTR source said the firm had not decided if the sweetener would be extended when the rest of Area 86 came up for tender.

One analyst said the sweetener would indirectly help reduce the dominance of bigger developers as the "big developers have other opportunities such as the West Kowloon cultural hub".

hkskyline

December 2nd, 2004, 10:44 PM

MTRC malls face rent rises
Eli Lau, Hong Kong Standard
3 December 2004

Mass Transit Railway Corp (MTRC) said it expects to hit one-third of its shopping mall retail tenants with double-digit rent rises next year.

The subway operator's chief shopping centre manager Chan Ka-ming said the rebound of local consumer confidence since the fourth quarter last year had boosted traffic flows at the MTRC's four malls.

"We have reported a very stable growth of shopper flows throughout the year, particularly during holidays and weekends," he said.

About a third of retail leases are up for renewal next year. "Some new contracts may have as much as a 20 per cent increase," Chan said.

Another large mall operator, mid-sized developer Sino Land, has said it raised retail rents by up to 20 per cent in leases renewed during the past three months.

The biggest mall in the MTRC's portfolio is the 90,000 sq ft Telford Plaza, at Kowloon Bay Station. Daily average shopper flows were 190,000, compared to 170,000 per day at its newest mall, Maritime Square in Tsing Yi.

The MTRC also owns Paradise Mall in Heng Fa Chuen and Luk Yeung Galleria in Tsuen Wan.

Its new 3,500 square metre mall at Hang Hau Station, which may open as early as April, is already 90 per cent leased, Chan added.

hkskyline

December 5th, 2004, 05:10 AM

Next stop Beijing for MTR Corp
Rail operator signs agreement to take 49pc stake in 15.3b yuan metro project, part of infrastructure for the Olympics
Denise Tsang
04 December 2004
South China Morning Post

The MTR Corp is preparing to ride into Beijing by 2008 after signing an agreement to invest in a 15.3 billion yuan metro project in the capital.

The semi-privatised corporation signed a legally binding agreement yesterday, which will see it take up a 49 per cent interest in the project for 735 million yuan.

The MTR and its state-owned partners - Beijing Capital Group and Beijing Infrastructure Investment - will invest, build and operate the Beijing Metro Line 4, a core part of the transport infrastructure for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The project will be MTR's second direct investment outside Hong Kong after a six billion yuan rail project in Shenzhen.

"MTR's investment in Line 4 will form part of our growth strategy beyond Hong Kong," MTR chief executive Chow Chung-kwong said.

"The signing of the agreement in principle for Beijing Metro Line 4 marks an important milestone for the participation of MTR in metro development on the mainland."

With a total of 24 stations, the 29km Beijing Metro Line 4 will serve as the main north-south traffic artery in the capital running from Ma Jia Lu on Fourth Ring Road South to the northwest Haidian District and terminating at Long Bei Cun.

The agreement sets out the framework of a planned joint venture, in which the MTR and Beijing Capital each will hold a 49 per cent stake and Beijing Infrastructure the remaining 2 per cent, with the right to run the project for 30 years.

A key term of the agreement is that the Beijing municipal government will pay for 70 per cent, or about 10.7 billion yuan, of the project cost.

The remainder, about 4.6 billion yuan, will be borne by the joint venture, of which 66 per cent will come from bank loans and the rest from joint-venture shareholders.

Beijing Capital, the city's biggest landlord, will be responsible for land acquisition and civil works construction of the rail line, while the MTR will contribute operation and management expertise.

Some analysts have cast doubts on the profitability of the rail line, which they say would rely on revenue from train fares and commercial activities at the stations.

"On the surface, the deal sounds neutral given the government will bear 70 per cent of the total investment," one analyst at a European brokerage said. "But if the rail line charges the same level of fares as existing subway lines - and we're talking about a couple of yuan - I will worry about the prospective profitability."

An MTR spokeswoman said the project was still in its infancy and it was too early to talk about fares, which like toll-road fees and electricity tariffs were determined by the government.

Another analyst said the Beijing project would have been more appealing if there was a property development element.

In Hong Kong, the MTR uses profits from property development to fund heavy investment in rail lines.

Last year, the MTR's net profit stood at $4.45 billion, which included a $5.36 billion property development profit and a pretax loss of $980 million on its core rail operations.

The loss was heavier largely because of the Sars outbreak.

The MTR's property-and-rail model will be applied on the Shenzhen project, where the corporation will build and operate a 16.5km railway running from Shaoniangong to Longhua Town as well as develop and manage 26,000 flats, for 30 years.

hkskyline

December 6th, 2004, 09:37 AM

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/train/images/ticket_1day.gif

Press Release from the MTR on the Beijing project
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-04-092-E.pdf

hkskyline

December 11th, 2004, 03:36 PM

Big interest in Dream City
Raymond Wang, Hong Kong Standard
10 December 2004

In another sign of renewed confidence in the residential property market, 17 developers have submitted expressions of interest in phase one of the HK$4 billion Dream City project atop Tseung Kwan O MTR station.

Everyone from major developers to their small and medium-sized competitors has shown interest in the project, according to Mass Transit Railway Corp property director Thomas Ho.

Sun Hung Kai Properties, Sino Land, New World Development, Cheung Kong (Holdings) and Henderson Land Development are among the big names interested.

Nan Fung Development, Wheelock Properties, Chinese Estates Holdings, Kowloon Development and other unidentified mid-tier developers are also interested.

Sun Hung Kai Properties vice-chairman Thomas Kwok confirmed that his company had submitted letters of intent for Dream City. Submissions closed on Thursday.

The MTRC's Ho expects land premium negotiations with the government on the project to be concluded in a week. A public tender is expected in mid-December. In an effort to make the project more affordable for small and medium-sized developers, the subway operator has offered to pay half of the land premium, Ho said.

Surveyors estimated the land premium at above HK$2 billion, or more than HK$1,300 per square foot.

Centaline Surveyors senior manager Chris Chau said total investment for the project, including land premium and construction costs, would be about HK$4 billion, or HK$2,600 per square foot.

``Developers would only have to spend HK$3 billion on the project as the MTRC has promised to shoulder half of the land premium,'' Chau said.

Prevailing prices for new apartments in Tseung Kwan O range from HK$3,000 to HK$4,000 psf, real estate agents said.

The Tseung Kwan O project, slated for completion in 2008, calls for the construction of 2,096 flats in five blocks on a 153,559 sq ft site. The potential gross floor area is 1.5 million sq ft.

Mid-tier developer Chinese Estates Holdings has outbid six developers, including Sino Land, Cheung Kong (Holdings), Sun Hung Kai, Henderson Land and Nan Fung Development, to win the joint development contract for the Reclamation Street project in Mong Kok, according to the government-sponsored Urban Renewal Authority.

The project site covers an area of about 5,760 sq ft and is expected to deliver a gross floor area of about 51,800 sq ft for residential and commercial purposes.

Surveyors estimated total investment for the Reclamation Street project at about HK$250 million.

hkskyline

December 12th, 2004, 08:24 PM

Rail merger 'would come at a price'
Think-tank expects the deal will allow MTR Corp to buy KCRC for half its value
Denise Tsang
09 December 2004
South China Morning Post

The government will have to write down at least half the KCRC's nearly $60 billion asset value and award it property development rights to make a merger with the MTR Corporation financially viable, a think-tank says.

The two arrangements are prerequisites given the commitment made to shareholders at the time of the MTRC's listing in 2000 that any new projects would only be considered so long as they earned at least 1 per cent more than the corporation's average cost of capital, says Civic Exchange in a report calling on the government to consider the public's interest as well as the financial terms of the merger.

The organisation believes lower fares are a possibility after the merger because it will increase efficiency but says the government should not create the impression the merger is being done to make travel cheaper.

Instead, its report urges the administration to take the opportunity to address issues such as the poor execution of its rail-led transport policy, a sustainable financing model for rail operations and a transport strategy balancing road and rail.

"We want to remind the government that the financial arrangement is not the only issue the merger is about and its rail-led transport policy has not been forgotten," said Civic Exchange chief executive Christine Loh Kung-wai. "We don't think the government has optimised the policy."

Ms Loh expects the administration to reveal the way forward for the merger plan next month or in February.

It has been reviewing a joint merger proposal the MTR Corporation and the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation submitted in September.

A government spokesman, while declining to specify a time frame for the merger, said yesterday that it needed "some time" to finalise negotiations with the rail firms.

Civic Exchange said the simplest and quickest way to bring about a merger, given the government's desire that the MTR Corporation remain a listed company, was to sell the KCRC to the MTR operator. To achieve the promised return on investment and make merger terms acceptable to the MTR Corporation's 400,000 minority shareholders, the government would have to write-off between $30 billion and $40 billion of the KCRC's asset value of nearly $60 billion.

The study found that if the KCRC's assets were valued at $26 billion, the MTR Corporation, which has a net asset value of $57 billion, would be able to maintain control of the expanded company. However, even if it only paid $26 billion for the KCRC, the MTR Corporation would not be able to earn the rate of return promised four years ago.

"Hence, the property rights will have to remain with the rail firms," the study said.

Property development rights, which generate sale proceeds to help fund rail construction, are controversial given the government's tight grip on land and housing supply.

coth

December 14th, 2004, 11:27 PM

Can anyone answer me for one question. How much cost one average line in HK?

ailiton

December 14th, 2004, 11:47 PM

Newest lines:

West Rail: 6.7 billion US (30.5km)
Ma On Shan Line: 1.3 billion US (11.4km)

coth

December 14th, 2004, 11:59 PM

oh. thank you.

hkskyline

December 21st, 2004, 12:19 AM

Residents rally for MTR line to Western
Winnie Yeung
20 December 2004
South China Morning Post

Some 200 residents of Western district held a rally yesterday to urge the government to approve the MTR Corp's proposal to build a West Island Line.

Chan Kwok-kwong, a spokesman for the organisers, said he felt helpless after campaigning for the extension for more than 20 years.

But he said the rail company's new proposal, which suggests building a line to Kennedy Town and Cyberport and a South Island line to Aberdeen, had given him and his colleagues a glimmer of hope.

"It looks quite good," he said. "And the MTR is quite aggressive this time as it sent its staff to meet us to promote the proposal."

He said it would be unfair for residents in the district not to have an MTR line.

"Because of traffic problems, sometimes it can take me 45 minutes to travel on a bus from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town," he said. "This is ridiculous because I could walk from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town in 45 minutes."

Other participants, chanting slogans, shared Mr Chan's view.

Jeffrey Leung Yu-tak, a Form One student who lives in Western and goes to school in Mongkok, said he was often nearly late for class because of traffic jams in Western.

"It takes only 10 minutes to go from Central to Mongkok by MTR," he said, "but going to Admiralty from Sai Ying Pun needs at least 20 minutes."

His brother, Philip Leung Yu-fat, who is in Primary Five, said he was envious of classmates who could travel on the MTR all the time.

"The traffic in Sai Ying Pun is so troublesome," he said.

Mr Chan said the only obstacle now was the government's unwillingness to finance the proposed lines. The MTR Corp has asked the government to bear half of the $15 billion construction costs.

Their calls were echoed by senior political figures.

DAB legislator Choy So-yuk said the MTR Corp had set the cost too high and urged the corporation to lower costs by using trains of fewer carriages.

Democratic Party legislator Yeung Sum said the government should give serious thought to approving the proposal and bearing the cost because "it has more money now".

xeror

December 21st, 2004, 03:01 AM

Trial of Automatic Train Door Closing Operation on MTR Island Line (http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-04-097a-E.pdf) (PDF File)
MTR Patronage Achieves Record High for a Regular Service Day (http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-04-098-E.pdf) (PDF File)

Skyscrapercitizen

December 21st, 2004, 03:33 AM

I Hope the west and south Islandlines will be constructed soon! Then almost all dense populated areas of HK have MTR/KCR connection, a very good situation for the residents and the environment! And also for Tourism!

hkskyline

January 1st, 2005, 05:11 AM

By ben2004 from a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/482518lmCFL.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/4825170m893.JPG

hkskyline

January 1st, 2005, 05:42 PM

Hang Hau Station by"☆S3BL397 EJ 4147★ from a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/alex_2004/Hang%20Hou/P1230383.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/alex_2004/Hang%20Hou/P1230385.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/alex_2004/Hang%20Hou/P1230386.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/alex_2004/Hang%20Hou/P1230388.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/alex_2004/Hang%20Hou/P1230390.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/alex_2004/Hang%20Hou/P1230392.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/alex_2004/Hang%20Hou/P1230393.jpg

aznichiro115

January 3rd, 2005, 04:23 PM

more pics im homesick!

hkskyline

January 7th, 2005, 04:27 AM

MTR & Hong Kong Polytechnic University To Offer 1st Railway-Specific Postgraduate Programme in Hong Kong
6 January 2005

Hong Kong's first part-time postgraduate degree programme in electrical engineering with specialization in railway systems will be launched in September 2005, offering local candidates a unique opportunity to advance their academic and professional qualifications.

Conducted jointly by the MTR and the Faculty of Engineering of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Master of Science / Postgraduate Diploma in Electrical Engineering (Railway Systems) programme features 8 core modules focusing on the electrical engineering aspects of railway operations :
- electrical traction engineering
- power electronics for utility applications
- railway power supply
- railway systems and simulation
- maintenance and reliability engineering
- signalling and train control system
- railway vehicles
- system assurance and risk management in railway

More in the press release :
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-05-004-E.pdf

hkskyline

January 9th, 2005, 12:01 AM

Performance Statistics

Amidst all the incidents on the MTR lately, here are some statistics as of October 2004 :

Train Service Delivery
(Train trips operated according to schedule)
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/whatsnew/performance/chart1.gif

Passenger Journeys on Time
(Passenger journeys arrive within 5 minutes of the normal schedule)
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/whatsnew/performance/chart2.gif

Average Monthly Incidents Causing Delays of more than 5 min.
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/whatsnew/performance/chart3.gif

hkskyline

January 11th, 2005, 12:42 AM

Screen doors reduce MTR fatalities
9 January 2005
South China Morning Post

The installation of screen doors on MTR platforms has sharply reduced the number of suicides, a conference heard yesterday.

The number of people who committed suicide by jumping onto railway tracks dropped from 10 in 1999 to two in 2003, according to Paul Yip Siu-fai, director of the University of Hong Kong's centre for suicide research. He was speaking at a HKU conference on suicide prevention. The MTR Corporation started installing screen doors in 2000, with more than 20 of 30 stations along the three major lines now fitted out. The remaining installations will be completed next year.

Three rail suicides were recorded between January and September last year, according to the MTR Corporation.

Dr Yip said the number of suicides ballooned to a record 1,238 in the city in 2003, an increase of about 50 per cent from 1997. Middle-aged and elderly people contributed most to the rise. Financial hardship had been associated with the rise in middle-aged suicides, he said. But he did not believe the improving economy would directly lower the rate.

The director also warned of a drastic rise in the number of elderly suicides - the number had increased by about 100 from 2002 to 2003. Dr Yip believed the rise was linked to the Sars outbreak, when elderly patients were reluctant to go to hospital for treatment.

Patsy Moy

hkskyline

January 11th, 2005, 03:23 PM

Diamond Hill
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/dih_03.jpg

hkskyline

January 12th, 2005, 11:38 PM

MTRC receives 11 bids for $5b Dream City project
Raymond Wang
13 January 2005

Underground train operator MTR Corp said its residential project _ Dream City, above the Tseung Kwan O station _ will cost HK$5 billion to build and the tender has received 11 bids from developers.

MTRC and the winning bidder will each pay half the land premium to the government and the railway operator expects to take at least a 60 percent share of profit from the sale of flats, MTRC property director Thomas Ho said on Wednesday.

Market sources said earlier that the land premium is about HK$2.32 billion. The winning bidder must also pay the MTRC an ``entry fee'' of HK$180 million. About half the bidders are big names such as Sun Hung Kai Properties,Henderson Land Development, Cheung Kong (Holdings), New World Development, a consortium comprising Sino Land and China Overseas Land and Investment, and Wheelock Properties.Tenders closed on Wednesday.

As the MTRC will shoulder half the land premium, the tender has also lured small to mid-sized builders, including Kowloon Development, K Wah InternationalHoldings, Chun Wo Holdings, and a consortium formed by Nan Fung Development and Wing Tai Asia.

Since the estimated premium representsHK$1,540 per square foot, surveyors said the sale price should exceedHK$4,000 psf on completion in three to four years, with expected profit margins up to 20 percent.

That will be in the upper range of prevailing prices for new apartments in Tseung Kwan O, which real estate agents said range from HK$3,000 to HK$4,000 psf.

Dream City is the first project to be launched by MTRC since it suspended new projects in 2002 in the wake of the government's attempt to prop up the ailing property market.

Dream City's first phase will offer 2,096 flats in five towers with a total area of 1.5 million square feet.

The entire project will eventually become a 50-tower complex with 21,500 apartments.

It will be developed over as many as 14 phases spread over 10 years on a 34.8-hectare site, with the first phase due for completion in 2008.

Source : The Standard.

hkskyline

January 15th, 2005, 07:43 PM

HK's USI in JV to tender for HK$3.2 bln MTRC project

HONG KONG, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Property development firm USI Holdings Ltd. (0369.HK) said on Thursday it would set up a joint venture to tender for a Hong Kong property development project with a total investment of HK$3.2 billion (US$410.3 million).

USI, which would hold 50 percent of the joint venture, said the company would invest HK$1.6 billion in the project, which involves building five residential towers, a club house, car park and a commercial podium in Tseung Kwan O with total gross floor area of 139,840 square metres.

THe project is owned by subway operator and property developer MTR Corp. (0066.HK).

The joint venture company, which will be 50 percent owned by Nan Fung Development Ltd., will fund the development cost by internal resources and bank borrowings if they win.

USI shares have risen 34.3 percent in the past three months to close at HK$1.41 on Wednesday.

hkskyline

January 16th, 2005, 09:24 AM

http://www.mtr.com.hk/news/sale_rooster/enews.gif

nick_taylor

January 16th, 2005, 12:47 PM

Diamond Hill
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/dih_03.jpgIs Diamond Hill on the Kwun Tong line? So are they replacing the PSD's or installing new ones where there were none before?

A certain Hong Konger once told me that PSD's' are installed over night - why on earth have they left a gap, or is there some logic to this gap ;)

vvill

January 16th, 2005, 03:49 PM

Is Diamond Hill on the Kwun Tong line? So are they replacing the PSD's or installing new ones where there were none before?

A certain Hong Konger once told me that PSD's' are installed over night - why on earth have they left a gap, or is there some logic to this gap ;)

yes diamond hill is on the kwun tong line. no these PSDs are all new and it's part of the station renovation project which also include new ventilation system, roof claddings and lightings.

PSD's' are installed overnight but it's literally impossible to install all the screens during one single night. but screens which have been installed will be in operation immediately.

gakei

January 16th, 2005, 05:27 PM

yes diamond hill is on the kwun tong line. no these PSDs are all new and it's part of the station renovation project which also include new ventilation system, roof claddings and lightings.

PSD's' are installed overnight but it's literally impossible to install all the screens during one single night. but screens which have been installed will be in operation immediately.

And there will be a platform assistance standing near the edge of the partly-completed PSDs to monitor and warn passengers. There will also be platform announcement to tell the passengers the PSDs are partly completed only.

ailiton

January 17th, 2005, 12:53 AM

Onboard announcement warning passengers of the newly installed screen doors:

Platform screen doors are now in use on this platform (http://www.ushb.net/broadcast/MTR2004/MTR-psd-K.rm)

hkskyline

January 18th, 2005, 03:38 PM

Hong Kong Cheung Kong Wins MTRC's Tseung Kwan O Property Project Tender
Tuesday January 18, 4:29 AM EST

HONG KONG -(Dow Jones)- Hong Kong property firm Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd. ( 0001.HK) has won a tender to develop the first phase of MTR Corp.'s (0066.HK) residential project in Tseung Kwan O, the blue-chip railway operator said Tuesday.

Cheung Kong outbid 10 other developers for the project, which some analysts said will involve an investment cost of about HK$5 billion.

In a statement, MTRC said it has received strong responses from both large and medium-sized developers for the project, under which it will pay half of the land cost to share part of the development risk.

MTRC said it will sign a formal development agreement with Cheung Kong, but didn't disclose further financial details.

The Tseung Kwan O Area 86 project comprises a total site area of 326,000 square meters. The project is located in Tseung Kwan O, a booming residential area in east New Territories.

MTRC plans to develop the whole project over the next 10 years in different packages.

The first-phase development won by Cheung Kong has a site area of 14,266 square meters and a total gross floor area of 139,840 square meters.

-By Chan Ka Sing, Dow Jones Newswires; 852-2802-7002; ks.chan@dowjones.com
-Edited by Sharon Buan

hkskyline

January 20th, 2005, 05:56 PM

Railway union hopes nearing clarity
Valuing the merged entity and gaining MTR minority shareholders' approval of the deal are key hurdles
Denise Tsang
20 January 2005
South China Morning Post

The prospects of merging Hong Kong's two railway companies will become clear in the second quarter at the latest as the government seeks to overcome a significant hurdle to the deal - putting a value on the merged entity.

Although a joint feasibility study by the MTR Corp and Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp was submitted in September last year, it would take until March for the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau to finish reviewing the report, sources close to the government said yesterday.

The government also had to plan a merger structure that would be acceptable to 360,000 MTR minority shareholders.

"The primary and biggest hurdle of the merger is working out a reasonable valuation of the KCRC," one source said, as it involves the government selling the wholly owned KCRC to the partially privatised MTR.

"Other issues such as operation of the merged entity, fare levels and employees' rice bowls are not difficult to tackle in comparison."

The decision of MTR minority shareholders will be critical to a successful merger as the government is deemed a connected party under the listing rules and, therefore, not eligible to vote.

A government spokesman said it was still evaluating the merger report pending a decision on whether to go ahead or not. She declined to give a timeframe on the issue.

At a Legislative Council panel meeting tomorrow, Environment, Transport and Works Bureau chief Sarah Liao Sau-tung is due to update legislators on the latest progress of the merger study.

Sources said backing the merger intensely was the bureau, which wanted to accomplish its mission of bringing fares down.

"The transport bureau wants to press ahead with the merger as soon as possible because it wants to materialise a unified fare adjustment regime for public transport and the Sha Tin-Central rail project," one source said.

The merger, first proposed in 2002 when the MTR lost its bid for the Sha Tin-Central rail link to the KCRC, has cast a long shadow over the MTR's privatisation, with the government putting plans to offload a second tranche of shares on hold pending a decision.

According to Legislative Council papers issued earlier this week, discussions on the terms of the merger between the government and the MTR are proceeding.

As well as taking up much of the transport bureau's time, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, headed by Frederick Ma Si-hang, was working with its joint financial advisers, HSBC and Citibank, on the structure of the merger, the sources said.

A recent study by public policy think-tank Civic Exchange estimated that a prerequisite to a commercially viable merger was for the government to write down at least half of KCRC's $60 billion net asset value and grant it property development rights.

In response to concerns that the government may sell the KCRC at a substantial discount to obtain MTR minority shareholders' support, a senior MTR official said last month that the government would not be worse off as a result.

"The government wholly owns the KCRC and owns 76 per cent of the MTR. If it sells the KCRC to the MTR, it is still the biggest shareholder of both companies and it's just a matter of transferring the KCRC from one pocket to another."

hkskyline

January 21st, 2005, 06:21 PM

South China Morning Post
January 21, 2005
Chien: MTR merger talks remain on schedule
Eric Ng in Guangzhou

Talks on the terms of a planned merger between the MTR Corp and the Kowloon -Canton Railway Corp have seen some progress, according to MTR chairman Raymond Chien Kuo-fung.

When asked at the sidelines of the CEO Forum in Guangzhou yesterday whether the government would make a decision on the merger plan by March when it was due to revealing its 2005-06 budget, Mr Chien said: "I hope so."

It is understood that the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau will have completed by March the review of a joint study on the merger submitted by MTR and KCRC in September.

At the same time, the government is in talks with MTR over the terms of the merger as it expects to inject its wholly owned KCRC into semi-privatised MTR.

"Whatever proposal we end up with, it must balance the interests of the stakeholders, and MTR minority shareholders will have a final say in it," Mr Chien said.

But he added it would be difficult to meet every stakeholder's interests, saying: "If we satisfy every party's needs, there will be very little left for MTR shareholders."

There are conflicting goals within the government, with the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau aiming to bring down fares, while the Financial Services and Treasury Bureau wants to maximise the value of government assets.

Meanwhile, MTR planned to bring in investors to its railway project in Shenzhen to lower risks and share the investment of 6.36 billion yuan, Mr Chien said.

The corporation, which has a "build-operate-transfer" role in the project, is awaiting approval from the central government.

hkskyline

January 29th, 2005, 02:39 AM

MTR linked to Tianjin-Beijing fast rail line
The Standard
Danny Chung
29 January 2005

Subway operator MTR Corp is in talks with the Tianjin city government to developa high-speed railway link to Beijing,a market source said.

The Hong Kong Economic Times, which reported the talks on Friday, said the 120-kilometer rail link would involvean investment of over 10 billion yuan (HK$9.43 billion). Trains would travel at up to 300 kilometers an hour and cover the journey in 30 minutes.

"There is a highway between Beijing and Tianjin, but its capacity isn't enough. We are planning to build highways and a high speed rail link," Shi Zhenjin, vice president of the Tianjin city commerce committee, was quoted as saying.

The MTRC declined to confirm the deal, saying that officials from "subway systems in many cities in the mainland are currently talking to us."

MTRC signed an agreement with Tianjin government in December to developa subway system in the city, which is awaiting Beijing's approval.

A market source said it would be very difficult to say what kind of work the MTRC would be involved in on the planned high-speed line: "If you look at its committed projects in Shenzhen and Beijing, the form of cooperation on those two projects are very different. The investment amount is also different. This is really project by project basis."

hkskyline

January 29th, 2005, 05:54 PM

HK's MTR to pay half of HK$2.32 bln land premium

HONG KONG, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Hong Kong subway operator MTR Corp Ltd. said on Thursday it would pay half of the the government land premium of HK$2.32 billion (US$297.3 million) for a huge residential project in the New Territories.

The premium is a fee paid to the government to convert the site from its current use to a residential and commercial site.

A spokesman for the government controlled subway operator said the company would use its own resources to pay its 50 percent share of the premium, equivalent to HK$1.16 billion.

The other half of the premium is to be paid by the developer, a unit of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd. , which last week won the first phase development tender. Cheung Kong is the property flagship of Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing.

The 139,840 square-foot project in the rapidly developing suburban area of Tseung Kwan O in Sai Kung in the New Territories is scheduled to be completed by 2007 or 2008, and will comprise 2,096 flats in five residential towers.

MTR shares, which have risen 7.1 percent over the past three months, were flat at HK$12.10 by mid-day Thursday in a broader market that was up about 0.6 percent.

(US$1=HK$7.8)

ailiton

January 29th, 2005, 08:14 PM

The 139,840 square-foot project in the rapidly developing suburban area of Tseung Kwan O in Sai Kung in the New Territories is scheduled to be completed by 2007 or 2008, and will comprise 2,096 flats in five residential towers.

Oh no. TKO and Sai Kung are in Kowloon. Don't tell me that the developer doesn't know this.

xeror

January 30th, 2005, 01:03 AM

Oh no. TKO and Sai Kung are in Kowloon. Don't tell me that the developer doesn't know this.
NO! :bash: Tsueng Kwan O and Sai Kung, which both belong to Sai Kung District, are in the New Territories. You can find the evidence from the District Councils Homepage (http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/text_eng.htm).

ailiton

January 30th, 2005, 01:07 AM

bs_lover_boy

January 30th, 2005, 09:52 AM

Look at this address.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

If Clear Water Bay is in Kowloon, how can TKO be in NT?

Actually we have learned in primary school that Sai Kung is in Kowloon.

Tseung Kwan O is a tough area, some people say that it is Kowloon, but some say that it is in the New Territorites. But I would have to go with NT because Tseung Kwan O is a new town and it is part of the Sai Kung District which is part of the NT.

vvill

January 30th, 2005, 03:07 PM

Tseung Kwan O is a tough area, some people say that it is Kowloon, but some say that it is in the New Territorites. But I would have to go with NT because Tseung Kwan O is a new town and it is part of the Sai Kung District which is part of the NT.

it's very simple... property developer + agents like to say TKO is in Kowloon while the government refuses to acknowledge that. :)

iheartcities

January 31st, 2005, 08:43 AM

Is it just me or is it true that after the installation of the platform doors the MTR platforms are a lot more stuffy. Back in the days when the doors were not built a gust of wind would run through the platform whenever a train approached. That feeling has lost last time I returned to HK. The doors are all safe and everything but unless they upgrade their ventilation system, it's REALLY uncomfortable waiting for a train in stations with platform doors because of the heat. :sleepy:

bs_lover_boy

January 31st, 2005, 08:48 AM

^ Well, in addition to the retrofitting of the Platform Screen Doors, stations are also undergoing an upgrading of the ventilation systems. So it is sometimes very hot in stations.

ailiton

January 31st, 2005, 08:50 AM

superchan7

January 31st, 2005, 08:52 PM

I'm most grateful for the elimination of the stank tunnel smell that all non-PSD metro systems and stations have. The wind from an approaching train is also gone (I kind of miss it), but it's probably for the better in terms of children/elderly getting scared off their balance, because who knows what could happen to them.
The greatest benefit in my opinion is the complete visual upgrade to all the stations and platform areas. It really looks good for something built in the 1960s and 70s.

VAN-TO

February 1st, 2005, 03:07 AM

^ Definitely, the MTR is quite worth the price, even if it costs 15+ HKD to get across from Kowloon to HKIsland.

oberon

February 1st, 2005, 08:31 AM

I think it's debatable whether Tseung Kwan O, and indeed Sai Kung district as a whole, is in Kowloon or NT. I remember when Hong Kong was still using area code, Sai Kung used the same area code as Kowloon (ie "3"). Hence, Sai Kung and Kowloon were listed in the same telephone directory. So there's a reason people treat Sai Kung as part of Kowloon. Then again, Sai Kung district was also under the jurisdiction of the Regional Council; so officially it should be part of NT.

Hong Kong commuters are so fortunate that the subway company agree to fit in screen doors in its stations. In North America, whenever there's a suicide or people being pushed down to the tracks, the media would cry for similar safety installations; only to be refused by transit authorities on the grounds of lack of funding. They would rather build more new stations than fitting screen doors on platforms.

hkskyline

February 1st, 2005, 06:39 PM

North American transit operators are heavily dependent on government subsidies, and many have other priorities to address before retrofitting their stations with PSDs. In fact, if they can't get enough to maintain their infrastructure to keep current service going, any new money should go there first before doing anything extra.

hkskyline

February 4th, 2005, 04:34 PM

February 4, 2005
Government Press Release
Sarah Liao calls for MTRC improvement

The MTR Corporation needs to pay special attention to customer distress incidents, Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao says.

The Government today received the Lloyd's Register Rail's report on the MTR's performance, and Dr Liao said properly addressing customer distress is one of the most important areas in which the corporation should improve.

She said although the report states that the railway's overall services are up to international standard, it has set out 16 recommendations for service improvement.

Dr Liao said the review looked into the maintenance and repair programme, comparing the figures of the internal maintenance team with those from outsourcing.

"At the moment, there is no indication that outsourcing is a cause for additional incidents. Of course, they will monitor it very carefully," she said, adding she is satisfied with the report, and will conduct a detailed analysis of it before making a report to the Legislative Council in March.

hkskyline

February 6th, 2005, 12:56 AM

By "ben2004" from a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506642iN7Aj.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506643I7DGR.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506645L7Zho.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506644a0rua.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506646FCOXA.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506647cFh4A.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506648R8c3R.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506649sDnpa.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506651D4Qzg.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506654aF46b.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506655J7EGR.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506656MO124.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506658AY3TV.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506657vCi69.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506671KOP73.JPG

hkskyline

February 6th, 2005, 09:10 AM

MTR reliability gets clean bill of health
Dennis Chong, Hong Kong Standard
February 5, 2005

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Front_Page/images/mtr0205.jpg
Michael Hamlyn, left, with MTRC chief CK Chow, presents his findings.

The consultant hired by the MTR Corp (MTRC) to evaluate its rail operation in the wake of a spate of disruptions last year, released a report Friday that was profuse in praise and contained just 16 minor recommendations.

Railway executives said they are pleased to accept the report and that the recommendations will be implemented.

At Friday's two-hour press conference in which the findings were released, top officials and experts from the consultancy firm, Lloyd's Register Rail, spent much time commending the reliability and stability of the Hong Kong subway system.

However, a legislator who monitors transport services said the report failed to allay public fears and that "old figures" were once again being used to prove the network's reliability.

Lloyd's Register Rail, a British risk management consultancy which was appointed by the MTRC in October to evaluate its performance and asset management, said 16 recommendations were given to the railway as a result of an independent assessment of its performance.

All the recommendations related to communications and performance. None were safety-related.

Saying MTRC had provided "one of the best performing train services in the world," Lloyd's said none of the recommendations made are urgently required and they will only make the railway perform better when implemented.

Rail experts from Lloyd's, who studied the MTRC's performance data from 2001 to 2004, found that the frequency of incidents had plummeted over the past three years.

The number of signaling and telecom incidents was reduced by 63 percent and the number of rolling stock incidents dropped by 32 percent.

"Our study has found there are no signs the railway is declining after 25 years of service," Michael Hamlyn, project director of the consultancy, said. "There is no cause for concern and the railway actually gave the best performance in the last quarter of 2004," he added.

The MTRC suffered a variety of service disruptions last year ranging from cracks on the track to trains spewing sparks and white smoke.

Apart from more frequent delays caused by signalling faults, two incidents drew the attention of the public and monitoring bodies.

In January, a mentally-ill 55-year-old man set a compartment of a Central-bound train on fire.

In August, a six-year-old mainland boy walked from Ngau Tau Kok station to Kowloon Bay along the track after losing sight of his mother.

Hamlyn said that while none of the disruptions had placed passengers at risk, the high-profile incidents had focused the public's attention on train safety.

But, he added, when last year's performance data was compared with that of 2001, the number of delays that lasted more than five minutes had been reduced by 69 percent.

Train punctuality and the number of passengers arriving on time both exceed international standards, he said.

According to the report, the proportion of train disruptions during peak hours increased by 5 percent to 29 percent last year from 2001.

Hamlyn said that the corporation should improve its risk management skills and explain its position to the public in order to "address unrealistic expectations."

hkskyline

February 7th, 2005, 12:00 AM

Railway serves as backbone of our transport system
Wednesday, February 2, 2005

Following is a question by the Hon Patrick Lau Sau-shing and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today :

Question

It has been reported that the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works stated in late May last year that the Government would carefully study the project proposals submitted by the MTR Corporation Limited ("MTRCL") for the construction of the West Hong Kong Island Line and South Hong Kong Island Line respectively, and estimated that decisions on these projects would be made in five to six months. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

(a) the results of the studies on the above two projects; and

(b) the decisions on the two projects; if the authorities decide to approve one or both of the two projects, whether they will consider requesting MTRCL to expeditiously implement the project(s) and publish the timetable for the construction works; if the authorities decide not to approve one or both of the two projects, the factors considered by them in making the decision?

Reply

Madam President,

Railways are environmentally friendly and efficient mass carriers. Under the Government's established policy, railways will serve as the backbone of Hong Kong's transport system. The development of railways requires huge investments. Moreover, once a rail line is developed, it will not be as flexible as other transport modes which can be redeployed more easily. Therefore, the Government needs to plan and implement new railway projects prudently.

The Government is examining the proposal submitted by the MTR Corporation Limited on the West Hong Kong Island Line (WIL) and the South Hong Kong Island Line (SIL), including their economic and transport performance, financial implications, and their impact on other public transport modes. We need to consider changing community needs, changes in the relevant planning parameters, as well as the motion passed by the Legislative Council's Panel on Transport on May 28, 2004 urging the Government to shelve temporarily any further development of and planning for the WIL and the SIL, and to proceed with the study on Route 4, to cater for the transport needs of residents in the Southern and Western Districts. We aim at reporting to the Panel on Transport on the way forward for the WIL and the SIL, including the programme for further planning and implementing the projects if they are to go ahead, within the first quarter of the year.

hkskyline

February 7th, 2005, 05:46 PM

Kowloon Bay Station
By "ben2004" from a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/508089JHTCE.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/5080916VDJs.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/5080907x9ER.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/5080927e56b.JPG

Video
http://bus.hkbric.com/DSCF9821.AVI

hkskyline

February 8th, 2005, 03:31 PM

MTR signs concession pact for Beijing rail project
8 February 2005
South China Morning Post

MTR Corp and its partners yesterday signed a concession agreement with the Beijing municipal government for the development of a 15.3 billion yuan railway project in the capital.

MTR said the accord was subject to approval by the National Development and Reform Commission.

In December last year, MTR signed a legally binding agreement for a 49 per cent interest in the project.

MTR and its state-owned partners - Beijing Capital Group and Beijing Infrastructure Investment - will invest, build and operate the Beijing Metro Line 4, a core part of the transport infrastructure for the 2008 Olympic Games. Sandy Li

central bank chief seeks to damp yuan expectation

The mainland had a basically balanced current-account surplus last year, the Financial News yesterday quoted central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan as saying, apparently trying to cool expectations of a revaluation of the yuan.

Mr Zhou told Xinhua the yuan was not substantially undervalued, based on the mainland's balance of payments, but the country would manage capital flows with the aim of eventually making the currency convertible on the capital account.

The mainland has been under pressure to free up the yuan, which has been pegged near 8.28 to the US dollar since the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.

Reuters

hkskyline

February 9th, 2005, 05:25 PM

Some more MTR platform features :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/platform01.jpg

By S3M64~DP2157 from a Hong Kong transport forum.

hkskyline

February 10th, 2005, 04:12 PM

By "ben2004" from a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506672tX24t.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506673P0KMX.JPG

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/506675X2Lta.JPG

superchan7

February 10th, 2005, 07:53 PM

They extended the Tung Chung Line trains to 8 cars...the Airport Express still runs 7-car trains, right?

And what's with that ugly strip of peeling materials right above the front windows?! These trains aren't even 7 years old!

hkskyline

February 11th, 2005, 12:10 AM

February 7, 2005
Government Press Release
Beijing Metro Line concession agreement initialled

The MTR Corporation and its public-private partnership have initialled a concession agreement for Beijing Metro Line Four with the municipal government. MTR Chief Executive Officer CK Chow said the agreement marks an important milestone for the company's participation in Mainland metro development.

Secretary for Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao said the investment signifies the introduction of the Hong Kong brand into the nation's capital.

The partnership project company will soon seek tenders for the provision of trains and related electrical and mechanical systems, as well as the preparation work for the operation and management of the new line.

The agreement has a term of 30 years with a total investment of 15.3 billion yuan, 70% of which will be funded by the Beijing Municipal Government.

Big investment

The project company, with a registered capital of 1.5 billion yuan, will invest five billion yuan. Both the MTRC and the municipal government will each own 49% of the joint venture company whilst Beijing Infrastructure Investment will own 2%.

Two-thirds of the investment of the project company is expected to be funded by non-recourse bank loans. The equity investment by the MTRC will be 735 million yuan.

The land acquisition and civil works construction is being conducted by Beijing Infrastructure Investment on behalf of the municipal government. Civil works started in October 2003.

The 29-kilometre underground line runs from Ma Jia Lou Station on the South Fourth Ring Road to the northwest Hai Dian District and terminates at Long Bei Cun Station.

hkskyline

February 23rd, 2005, 10:11 PM

Turnover key to any MTRC China listing
Danny Chung, Hong Kong Standard
February 24, 2005

The Mass Transit Railway Corp (MTRC) will not list on the mainland's stock markets until it has gained significant business across the border.

"If we have quite a large turnover in a place, then we might list in that place," chairman Raymond Ch'ien told RTHK.

With the possibilities for further growth at home diminishing, MTRC has stepped up its hunt for business in the mainland.

Ch'ien said the subway operator is currently talking to the city governments of Shanghai and Tianjin about cooperative projects.

Earlier this month, it signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Beijing municipal government for the construction and operation of the capital's Metro Line 4 - due to be finished in 2008. MTRC will pay 735 million yuan (HK$692.88 million) for a 49 percent equity stake in the private-public partnership.

In January last year, it secured its first development project outside Hong Kong - an agreement in principle to build phase 2 of Line 4 of the Shenzhen Metro and operate the entire line, due to be finished in 2008, for 30 years.

A major part of the Shenzhen deal is the right to develop property at stations along the line. Its Beijing project carries no such privilege.

JPMorgan analyst Edmond Lee said it is still "early days" where a mainland listing for MTRC is concerned, "because the [mainland] projects will not make an earnings contribution for quite a while," he said. Another analyst agrees, saying it will take years before the MTRC sees cash flow from its mainland projects.

"The Shenzhen line - that's just an 18-kilometer stretch of rail. I don't think you could IPO that separately," he said. There is "very little to get excited about" in the Shenzhen project, apart from the real estate possibilities, he added.

Ch'ien said that in 10 or 20 years, the MTRC would own more track abroad than it does in Hong Kong.

hkskyline

February 24th, 2005, 11:47 PM

New World, MTR poised for $4b sales
Raymond Wang, Hong Kong Standard
February 25, 2005

New World Development and MTR Corp are poised to rake in HK$4 billion from the sale of The Grandiose, a joint-venture residential project above Tseung Kwan O station.

They have raised their price targets following Tuesday's government land auction that saw a commercial site in Kowloon Bay sell for far more than expected.

New World sales and marketing director Barbara Ho said the company expects to start pre-sale of the uncompleted flats in the middle of next month when the sales consent is granted.

Located at Tseung Kwan O Area 55B, next to the Dream City housing development, the project will feature three residential towers with a total of 1,472 flats. It is due for completion in the middle of next year.

Ho expects the first batch of flats to be priced at about HK$4,000 per square foot, compared with prevailing prices of HK$3,500 to HK$3,800 psf in the Tsueng Kwan O secondary market.

"The higher-than-expected transaction price of a Kowloon Bay site at Tuesday's government land auction will further help boost market sentiment, so we have raised the expected price tag of The Grandiose by more than 5 percent to HK$4,000 psf from HK$3,800 psf," she said.

Flats in the Tseung Kwan O project range in size from 580 square feet to 1,020 sq ft.

The project includes a shopping arcade of 170,000 to 180,000 sqft.

New World is already selling flats in The Merton, a joint-venture residential project with the Urban Renewal Authority in Kennedy Town, Western District.

Managing director Henry Cheng said this week that New World could count on HK$4 billion from sales of The Merton, which will not be completed for eight months.

New World is expected to use the revenue from the two residential projects to pay down debt.

New World shares rose 1.96 percent to close at HK$7.8 on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Chun Wo Holdings said it would launch the remaining 90 apartments of the Choi Hung tower, 8 Clear Water Bay Road, with the selling price likely to increase by 5 percent. Property development general manager Clement Ying said homes in the development are currently on offer at HK$6,500 to HK$8,000 psf.

hkskyline

February 25th, 2005, 02:13 PM

Retrofitting of platform screen doors at MTR stations
Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (February 23):

Question:

Regarding the retrofitting of platform screen doors at the MTR stations at ground and elevated levels, as well as the safety of MTR passengers with disabilities, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:

(a) the average costs involved in retrofitting screen doors at the above stations, and how they compare to the corresponding costs in respect of underground MTR stations; and

(b) the number of accidents involving passengers falling onto rail tracks at MTR stations in each of the past 10 years and, among them, the respective numbers of visually and physically handicapped passengers who were injured or died as a result?

Reply:

Madam President,

According to MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), the project cost of the retrofitting of platform screen doors (PSDs) at 74 platforms in all 30 underground MTR stations is over $2 billion, that is about $2.7 million for the retrofitting works at each platform.

Compared with underground stations, retrofitting works in at-grade/elevated stations would involve greater technical constraints. MTRCL is therefore now fully engaged in retrofitting PSDs in the 30 underground stations. Upon their completion, the Corporation will conduct a study to examine the technical and operational feasibility of retrofitting PSDs at at-grade/elevated stations. It will draw up possible proposals for retrofitting PSDs at at-grade/elevated stations subject to the outcome of its study and the requisite cost cannot be estimated at this stage.

The number of accidents involving passengers falling onto rail tracks at MTR stations in each of the past ten years is as follows:

Number of accidents involving
Year passengers falling onto rail tracks

1995 74
1996 80
1997 83
1998 113
1999 119
2000 82
2001 52
2002 61
2003 44
2004 32
Total 740

According to MTRCL's statistics, there is no record of wheelchair / walking stick users falling onto rail tracks in the past ten years, while a total of 13 cases involving visually impaired persons are recorded. Among these 13 cases, ten were injured while the other three were unhurt.

ailiton

February 27th, 2005, 04:43 AM

Before and after platform screen doors installation (Causeway Bay):

Before (taken by hkskyline):
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/5006/cause03.jpg

After
http://img135.exs.cx/img135/4987/hk136wl.jpg

hkskyline

February 28th, 2005, 06:09 AM

MTRC faces profit plunge on property
Staff reporter, Hong Kong Standard
February 28, 2005

MTR Corp is likely to report tomorrow the largest profit fall since it went public in 2000 as it may book less contribution from property development.

Net earnings will fall 19 percent to HK$3.6 billion last year from HK$4.45 billion in 2003, according to the mean estimates of 11 analysts polled by Institutional Brokers' Estimate System.

The estimates ranged from HK$3.11 billion by JPMorgan to Nomura's HK$4.44 billion.

"Booking of property development profit, which has a low visibility, has been a key swing factor to [MTRC's] earnings," Merrill Lynch said.

Property developers may book revenue from sales based on either pre-sale agreements or completions. Prices rose about 20 percent last year.

MTRC may book 20-40 percent less profit from property projects, with major contribution from projects such as The HarbourSide with Hang Lung Properties and Caribbean Coast with Cheung Kong (Holdings) and Hutchison Whampoa, analysts said.

Future major projects include The Grandiose, which is set for pre-sale next month and is expected to fetch HK$4 billion, with New World Development; and Dream City, on which it has teamed up with Cheung Kong. Both projects are in Tseung Kwan O.

However, investors and analysts will be more focused on whether MTRC management will shed light on its merger prospects with Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp as well as on news about the company's expansion moves outside Hong Kong.

Hong Kong media reported Friday that MTRC will probably win two or three more Beijing subway line developments this year, adding to the 49 percent stake of a Metro Line 4 project that it bought for 735 million yuan (HK$692.96 million).

MTRC will also develop phase 2 of Line 4 of the Shenzhen Metro and operate the entire line, due to be finished in 2008.

Locally, MTRC and KCRC submitted merger proposals to the government in September but remain tight-lipped about the content. The merger has been an overhang on MTRC's shares because investors are afraid it will pay too much for the less profitable KCRC.

MTRC shares have advanced by only 2.89 percent since September, trailing the 8.7 percent gain by the benchmark Hang Seng Index.

"We retain our cautious stance and underperform rating on MTR shares," Goldman Sachs said.

hkskyline

March 1st, 2005, 11:46 PM

Hong Kong Subway Operator Reports Profit
Tuesday March 1, 7:27 am ET

HONG KONG (AP) -- Hong Kong's subway operator, Mass Transit Rail Corp., on Tuesday reported stronger-than-expected net profits in 2004, boosted by earnings from its property developments.

MTRC's net profit rose to 4.50 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$577 million; euro437 million) from HK$4.45 billion (US$571 million; euro432 million) in 2003.

Revenue rose 10 percent to HK$8.36 billion (US$1.1 billion; euro811 million), defying market expectation that the company would report its biggest earnings drop since its privatization in 2000.

"The strong operational results achieved in 2004 were brought about by a broad-based economic recovery in Hong Kong, which also led to a significant rise in property prices," said MTRC's Chief Executive C.K. Chow.

The company reported losses of HK$313 million (US$40 million; euro30 million) from its railway-related businesses, much smaller than the HK$980 million (US$126 million; euro95 million) figure reported in 2003.

An 8.3 percent increase in the number of passengers on all MTRC lines also brought in more fare revenues for the railway operator, up 8 percent compared to 2003 when businesses were hit hard by the SARS crisis.

Chow said "significant" progress has been made on the construction of a railway line for Hong Kong's Disney theme park, which is expected to be completed in July, two months before Disneyland is due to open.

hkskyline

March 3rd, 2005, 03:37 PM

Rail operator's growth in profit defies expectations
Danny Chung, Hong Kong Standard
March 02, 2005

The MTR Corporation defied expectations by reporting that profits grew slightly rather than falling sharply as most analysts expected thanks to the rebound in Hong Kong property prices.

The railway and property firm, which is 76.52 percent owned by the government, said net profits rose 1percent to HK$4.5 billion in 2004, from HK$4.45 billion a year earlier.

Analysts polled last week expected net earnings to fall by an average 19 percent to HK$3.6 billion due to sharply reduced profits from property development, the company's mainstay. It loses money on its rail operations.

Turnover climbed 10 percent to HK$8.35 billion, from HK$7.59 billion in 2003. Operating profit for railway operations was HK$4.55 billion before depreciation, up 21.3 percent on 2003.

As expected, property earnings fell, slumping to HK$4.57 billion, down 14.7 percent from 2003's HK$5.27 billion. The 2003 results were given a major boost by a one-time gain of about HK$3 billion a year from the International Financial Center II project.

Analysts had expected property earnings to fall between 20 percent and 40 percent. The positive results flowed from MTRC's share in the retail part of the Kowloon station complex and from various residential developments.

``In 2004, we effectively converted economic growth into operating profit,'' said chief executive Chow Chung-kong, who said the company benefited from increased patronage, growth in station revenue and property development.

Total passenger boardings on MTR lines rebounded by 8.3 percent to 834 million from 770 million in 2003 while the Airport Express Line saw passenger boardings of eight million, up 17 percent from 2003. The firm's share of Hong Kong's transport market climbed to 24.8 percent.

Losses on the company's rail and station operations declined by 68 percent to HK$313 million, from HK$980 million in 2003.

Chow warned that the company's property earnings will decline again next year because of fewer developments coming on the market.

hkskyline

March 4th, 2005, 06:24 PM

SETW's transcript on Lloyd's Register Rail's report
Government Press Release - February 4, 2005

Following is a transcript of a media session by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao this evening (February 4) upon receipt of Lloyd's Register Rail's report on MTR's performance:

Reporter: Do you think ...( inaudible)areas for improvement...?

SETW: Certainly, the report has reinforced that our overall services are up to international standard. But nonetheless, it has clearly stated 16 recommendations where the MTRC should make improvements on.

Reporter: So the report mentioned customer distress...(inaudible)?

SETW: Well, that is one of the most important areas that they have to improve on. We had not separately classified such incidents. But from now on they would need to pay special attention to customer distress incidents.

Reporter: ...What do you think about... MTRC and your view on outsourcing ...?

SETW : The review actually looked into the maintenance and repair programme, compared the figures of the internal maintenance team with that of the outsourcing. At the moment, there is no indication that outsourcing is a cause for additional incidents. Of course, they would monitor it very carefully all the time.

Reporter : Are you satisfied with the report ?

SETW: So far I am satisfied with what has been reported. We would have a detailed analysis of what is in the report.

Reporter : When are you going to complete your analysis and reported to LegCo ?

SETW: In March.

hkskyline

March 5th, 2005, 08:43 AM

MTR tempers profit growth with warning over property
Denise Tsang
02 March 2005
South China Morning Post

MTR Corp surprised the market yesterday by announcing a 1 per cent rise in net profit to $4.49 billion for last year, then warned of waning property earnings.

The profit growth was spurred by a turnaround of the economy, which helped boost passenger numbers to a record and reduce the losses of its core rail services to $313 million from $980 million in 2003.

The semi-privatised corporation, which counts on income from property development to fund rail investments, also benefited from a rapid upturn in the property market, which enabled it to reap a profit of $4.56 billion.

"To sum up 2004, we effectively captured economic growth and converted it into operational growth," said chief executive Chow Chung-kwong.

However, he then warned: "Although the property contribution will continue to serve as a growth driver in the coming two to three years, the amount may not be as high as this year."

Earnings per share were 1.17 per cent lower at 84 cents, much better than the 18.82 per cent decrease to 69 cents expected from a Thomson First Call consensus.

A final dividend of 28 cents per share was proposed, bringing the full-year payout to 42 cents, the same as in 2003.

Operating five urban rail lines and the Airport Express rail services, MTR saw fare revenue jump 8.07 per cent to $5.93 billion last year.

Buoyant economic growth helped boost non-fare revenue, including advertising, station commercial activities, telecommunications and consultancy services, 17.36 per cent to $1.31 billion.

Shrugging off the havoc caused by the Sars outbreak in 2003, the five urban rail lines carried 833.6 million passengers last year, an increase of 8.3 per cent, while the Airport Express rail line recorded 17 per cent growth with 8.01 million passengers.

However, analysts said the improved performance could spark renewed calls for lower train fares as legislators and the government attempted to introduce a regulatory regime to determine public transport fares.

MTR has frozen train fares since 1997, even though it has been empowered with fare autonomy since it went public in 2000.

Last year, growth of the corporation's property profit tapered off to 14.9 per cent as the previous figure was inflated by the value of 18 floors in Two International Finance Centre at Hong Kong Station.

Mr Chow said that in the next two years, the MTR would recognise profits from phase three of the residential development at Olympic Station and the Lane shopping centre at Hang Hau Station.

Taking advantage of developers' desire to replenish land banks, the corporation would put two phases of the Tseung Kwan O Dreamcity project up for tender in the second half of this year, property director Thomas Ho Hang-kwong said.

vytux

March 5th, 2005, 10:57 AM

vytux

March 5th, 2005, 11:04 AM

ailiton

March 5th, 2005, 11:09 AM

Does any1 have technical data on the PSD's?

How does the train driver stop the train perfectly so the train doors' corresopond with the PSD's?

I believe the train stops automatically at the right place.

ailiton

March 5th, 2005, 11:10 AM

Many homeless people around there?

No one is allowed to stay in the MTR system for more than 90 minutes.

no name

March 5th, 2005, 11:48 AM

No one is allowed to stay in the MTR system for more than 90 minutes.

what happens if you do?

ailiton

March 5th, 2005, 12:13 PM

what happens if you do?

You will be charged maximum fare (and if you stay too long, you may have to pay a penalty of a few thousand HK dollars).

bs_lover_boy

March 5th, 2005, 12:13 PM

what happens if you do?

If you use an Octopus card, you'll be charged with the highest distance fare which is from Chai Wan to Tung Chung and I'm not sure how much it costs. On the other hand if you don't use an Octopus card, you cannot go out of the gates and need to go to the customer services centre to pay the money in order to exit.

aznichiro115

March 5th, 2005, 07:04 PM

Chai Wan-Tung Chung: $23.1 with octopus. $26 paying with ticket

superchan7

March 5th, 2005, 09:08 PM

You can't get to the unused Sheung Wan platform without passing through the ticket gates. Therefore, the homeless wouldn't be able to reach it anyway.

InitialD18

March 6th, 2005, 04:24 AM

its strange but there aren't homeless in MTR stations or close to it in hk ... unlike most other cities ... where they live in it or close to it ...

vvill

March 6th, 2005, 11:47 AM

its strange but there aren't homeless in MTR stations or close to it in hk ... unlike most other cities ... where they live in it or close to it ...

thanks to MTR management. also CCTV cameras have been installed in every single corner of the stations.

hkskyline

March 7th, 2005, 06:59 PM

Summary of 2004 Results
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-05-017-E.pdf

Financial
- revenue +10% to HK$8,351 million
- operating profit before property development & depreciation +21.3% to HK$4,546 million
- operating margin improved 5.1% to 54.4%
- property development profit HK$4,568 million
- Gross debt / equity ratio at year-end improved to 47.8% from 55.9%

Operational
- patronage +8.% to record high of 842 million
- construction of Disneyland Resort Line & Tung Chung Cable Car on schedule
- initial of a concession agreement for the Beijing Metro Line 4, February 2005
- first property development package at Tseung Kwan O Area 75 tendered, December 2004

2004 Profit before taxation : 5,196 vs. 5,198 in 2003 (HK$ millions)
Profit Attributable to Shareholders : 4,496 vs. 4,450 in 2003 (HK$ millions)

hkskyline

March 10th, 2005, 07:34 PM

Airport rail line falls short of expectation
Chloe Lai
10 March 2005
South China Morning Post

The Airport Express recorded 24 million passenger trips last year, six million short of the forecast the government made before its construction, an official paper revealed yesterday.

While the forecast estimated 66 per cent of the passengers using the airport rail last year would be overseas visitors, the actual figure was 58 per cent.

In a written reply to the Legislative Council, the Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung attributed the rail line's lower than expected passenger numbers to changing conditions.

She wrote: "Some of the assumptions made then are different from the actual situation. The differences may be attributable to the rail's lower than forecast patronage."

The passenger forecast was made in the New Airport Master Plan in 1991.

It made a number of assumptions, such as that there would be no competition from buses; more than 60 per cent of overseas visitors would use the rail line; and there would be congestion on the North Lantau Expressway.

There are now 37 franchised bus routes connecting the airport and the rest of Hong Kong.

And while the Airport Express charges between $60 and $100 for a single journey, the bus fares range from $3.50 to $45.

Bus companies have 45 per cent of the market share, while the rail line has only 29.2 per cent.

The government study estimated the expressway's two-way traffic flow at peak hours would reach 13,900 cars, prompting people to use the train to save time.

The assumed congestion did not happen. The expressway's two-way traffic in peak hours last year amounted to only 4,800 cars.

Dr Liao made no prediction as to when the passenger numbers that had been forecast for the Airport Express would be reached.

She said the Airport Authority last year had commissioned a consultant to survey the market share between the rail line and other transport options.

hkskyline

March 11th, 2005, 07:48 AM

Patronage forecast of the Airport Express Line

Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (March 9) :

Question:

Among the passenger trips by land to the Passenger Terminal Building of the airport in 2002-03, those made by the Airport Railway accounted for 19 percent only, and such a market share figure fell far short of the 43 percent forecast in the New Airport Master Plan, drawn up by the relevant authorities in 1991. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

(a) the basis on which the market share of the Airport Railway in respect of land passenger transport was arrived at in 1991, and whether it has looked into the reasons for the substantial difference between the forecast and actual market shares; if so, of the findings and whether the fare level of the Airport Railway is considered one of the factors; and

(b) the respective current market shares of various modes of land transport in respect of passenger traffic to the airport, and how they have changed over the past five years?

Reply:

Madam President,

The patronage forecast for the Airport Express Line (AEL) made in the New Airport Master Plan (the Plan) in 1991 was based on a number of assumptions, including competition from buses, AEL's fare level, air passenger volume and composition, and congestion on North Lantau Expressway. Some of the assumptions made then are different from the actual situation. The differences, as set out below, may be attributable to AEL's lower than forecast patronage, though it would not be possible to establish a causal correlation between them and the rail's patronage :

(i) competition from buses: the Plan assumed that there would be no competition from buses. At present, 37 franchised bus routes are serving the Airport and connecting it to various key locations in the territory. The current single-journey AEL fares from Tsing Yi, Kowloon and Hong Kong Stations to the AEL Terminus at the Airport are $60, $90 and $100 respectively, which are close to those assumed at the planning stage of AEL. The bus fares range from $3.5 to $45;

(ii) air passenger volume and composition: it was assumed in 1991 that by 2004 the Airport would handle 30 million passenger trips requiring connecting land transport. However, the actual figure in 2004 was 24 million passenger trips. It was also assumed that 66 percent of the passengers using the Airport would be visitors from overseas who are more prone to using AEL than passengers who are local citizens. However, in 2004, only 58 percent of the passengers using the Airport were overseas visitors; and

(iii) congestion on North Lantau Expressway: the more congested the connecting highway is, the higher should be AEL's patronage as AEL would save people's journey time. It was assumed in 1991 that the peak hour two-way traffic flow through the Expressway would be 13 900 passenger car units (PCU) by 2004. However, the actual figure in 2004 was only 4 800 PCU. The assumed congestion on the Expressway has not eventuated.

We believe that the figure of 19 percent for 2002-03 mentioned in the question comes from a consultancy report commissioned by the Hong Kong Airport Authority. The figure was specifically for comparing the usage of railway and the usage of other land transport modes. The consultancy did not examine the breakdown of the market shares of the various non-rail land transport modes. There is no information on the current market shares of various land transport modes serving the Airport. The last survey on that was conducted by the Hong Kong Airport Authority in 1999, and the results were as follows :

Percentage of total passenger
Transport Mode trips to the Airport
************** *****************************
Rail 29.2%
Franchised bus 45.0%
Private car 13.1%
Taxi 3.8%
Hotel vehicle 2.3%
Non-franchised bus 4.4%
Ferry (Note) 2.1%
Others (e.g. motorcycle) 0.1%

(Note: In 1999, there was a ferry service running between Tuen Mun and the Airport. It was subsequently changed in 2002 to a service between Tuen Mun and Tung Chung Pier.)

The Hong Kong Airport Authority commissioned a consultant to conduct another survey in 2004. The survey will be completed shortly. We would only be able to assess the changes in the market shares over the past five years when the survey results are available.

hkskyline

March 15th, 2005, 07:58 AM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/tih_02.jpg

hkskyline

March 15th, 2005, 06:28 PM

An added incentive to use your Octopus card :

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/533011tEoqb.JPG

hkskyline

March 16th, 2005, 06:12 PM

HK's MTR keen to invest in Thai subway - adviser

BANGKOK, March 15 (Reuters) - Hong Kong railway operator MTR Corp. (0066.HK) is interested in investing in the expansion of Bangkok's new subway system, the project adviser said on Tuesday.

MTR also wanted to be an adviser for the 400 billion-baht ($10.4 billion) underground project and lend to it, Pichit Akrathit, president of MFC Asset Management (MFC.BK), the project adviser.

"No deal has been made. But if we get a loan from them, we my get low interest rates," he said.

The Thai government was likely to allow foreign investors to invest about 20-30 percent of the project, Pichit said.

"There are many foreign investors showing interest in investing in this project," Pichit said.

"The Finance Ministry is expected to decide on the issue over the 3-4 months," he said without elaborating.

The underground system, which started operating last July, will add more routes over the next 3-6 years.

It is part of the government's mega infrastructure projects worth 1.5 trillion baht over the next five years. ($1=38.41 baht).

hkskyline

March 18th, 2005, 07:43 AM

17 March 2005
Enhanced Airport Express Train Service for Easter
MTR Press Release

For passengers catching early morning flights, trains to Hong Kong International Airport will depart at 5am on 24 and 25 March nearly one hour earlier than usual.

During peak periods, trains will depart every 10 minutes as opposed to the normal 12 minutes a train.

24-25 March 2005
- train frequency increased to 10-minute intervals from 7am-3pm
- first train departs Hong Kong Station at 5am, 50 minutes earlier than normal schedule

28 March 2005
- train frequency increased to 10-minute intervals from 6pm-11pm

Passengers can also enjoy discounted ticket prices when travelling in groups. From now until 14 December 2005, travel with family and friends in groups of 2,3, or 4 people on the Airport Express to enjoy savings of up to 40%.

Passengers purchasing group tickets are also entitled to buy the two limited edition "Spring Journey- Doraemon Child ticket Sets" from 21 March to 30 April 2005 at $30 each. Each ticket set includes one Airport Express child ticket and a free gift featuring Doraemon.

timothy_tw

March 19th, 2005, 12:28 AM

Oh my gosh what happened? Did someone fall onto the tracks or something in the first pic?

On an unrelated note, are those MTR cops (if such a thing exist) or are they HK cops? cause I thought cops there have their ranks on their sleeves...or did they update the uni already...

Do HK's subways have security guards at stations?

there are 25 Police District in Hong Kong, and one of them are MTR District. the subway system is petroled by Hong Kong Police (HKPD) on a regular basis.

ignoramus

March 20th, 2005, 11:01 AM

ailiton

March 20th, 2005, 11:38 AM

i heard from a friend who visited hong kong just like 2 days ago that mtr stations have internet terminals in them. are they available at some or most or all mtr stations? they are free right. won't there be queues. cool.

These are available at 7 stations (Central, Prince Edward, Wan Chai, Tsuen Wan, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon Bay, Causeway Bay).

are they found in kcr stations as well?

I don't think so.

anything else special abt hk's mtr?

Hehe. Maybe you should ask your friend. What is special to us may not be special to other people.

What about getting fast food coupons for taking the MTR? Ha ha.

ignoramus

March 20th, 2005, 11:59 AM

These are available at 7 stations (Central, Prince Edward, Wan Chai, Tsuen Wan, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon Bay, Causeway Bay).

I don't think so.

Hehe. Maybe you should ask your friend. What is special to us may not be special to other people.

What about getting fast food coupons for taking the MTR? Ha ha.

people really do get fast food coupons for taking the mtr? what are the discounts like? successful?

timothy_tw

March 21st, 2005, 12:54 AM

people really do get fast food coupons for taking the mtr? what are the discounts like? successful?

yeap, in most of the(i'm not sure is it in everyone) MTR station, there is a mechine called "sth i forgot" :) . there is a good selection of different coupons from businesses. e.g. Fastfood, medical, snacks, computer stuff, travel, etc... each coupon cost you HKD$1, just simply place yr Octopus card of the reader, the coupon will be print right away. you sometimes could get a really good deal!

hkskyline

March 25th, 2005, 06:13 AM

Financial Times
March 14, 2005
MTR puts out feelers in Europe

MTR Corporation, owner and operator of Hong Kong's metro rail service, is seeking local partners for an attempt to expand into Europe's liberalising rail markets.

Phil Gaffney, managing director for operations and business development, said during a visit to London last week that MTR, which is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, was looking particularly at opportunities in the UK, Sweden and Germany.

The three countries are the most liberalised rail markets in Europe. In Sweden and Germany, local authorities have issued tenders for private operators to run some subsidised local rail services, instead of giving subsidy direct to the state rail operator. In the UK, nearly all rail services are operated under franchises awarded by a government body.

European rail operations would be a low-risk source of growth for MTR and, because trains are mostly leased, would impose small capital requirements.

MTR faces stagnation in the Hong Kong market and its other source of growth - the building and operation of metros in mainland China - promises to be relatively risky and capital-intensive.

MTR has already joined the UK's GNER in bidding for the Integrated Kent rail franchise in south-east England. The company has also qualified for a tender to operate a local train service in the south of Sweden.

Mr Gaffney said the company would be interested in bidding for the Silverlink, Great Northern/Thameslink and South West Trains franchises in the UK. In Sweden , MTR hopes to qualify for a tender to operate local services in Stockholm. Expansion into Germany is likely to take longer.

hkskyline

March 27th, 2005, 10:08 AM

Hong Kong MTR Expects Mainland Listing
SinoCast China Business Daily News

HONG KONG, March 02, SinoCast -- MTR Corporation Limited (HK:0066), a Hong Kong mass transit railway system operator, expects to be listed on China mainland's stock market as the company develops its business in China mainland, said the company's chairman Raymond Ch'ien Kuo Feng.

When the company's overseas business achieves a growth in turnover and the overseas company is approved of listing on the mainland. The company would seek for listing on the mainland, said the chairman.

The company would have more investment and operate longer subways in China mainland than in Hong Kong in the future 10 or 20 years, said the chairman.

After having reached deal on the subway projects in Beijing and Shenzhen, the company is in talks with related parties and plans to invest in the subway systems in Tianjin and Shanghai, said the chairman.

hkskyline

March 31st, 2005, 12:31 AM

MTR most socially responsible company, student survey finds
Ravina Shamdasani
30 March 2005
South China Morning Post

The MTR Corporation topped a list of the five most socially responsible listed companies in Hong Kong in a survey of university students.

Social responsibility was measured with reference to five criteria, survey organiser Patsy Cheng Man-wah, of the SEE network, said.

The six-month-old SEE network publishes a free quarterly magazine whose central theme is sustainability.

The title stands for a balance of "society, economy and environment" in development.

Thirty-three of the biggest publicly listed companies were evaluated according to their level of corporate governance, contribution to the community, how well they treated their staff, their adoption of environmentally friendly practices and their respect for public opinion.

Of the worst qualities in a corporation, the students ranked worker exploitation and environmentally unfriendly practices as the most serious. The survey was organised by the SEE network together with a student organisation called the World University Service at the University of Hong Kong.

"Over 90 per cent of respondents said that upon graduation, they would want to enter a company with a good social conscience," Ms Cheng said.

"This shows that university students and consumers in general are more aware of corporate social responsibility and see it as a priority."

Maggie So Man-kit, external affairs officer for the MTR, said the company was aware of its power in Hong Kong as a vehicle that most people encountered daily. "We need to be able to balance our books but also need to be responsible to society," she said.

Rita Leung Shui-hing, manager of sustainable development with the Business Environmental Council, said local firms had a history of generosity to charities and were becoming environmentally aware.

hkskyline

April 5th, 2005, 02:34 AM

MTR Corp may build toilets - but not in its stations
Zhou Weijing and Rachel Zeng
05 April 2005
South China Morning Post

Relief may be on the way for MTR passengers desperate to answer the call of nature. The MTR Corporation is in discussion with transport officials to build toilet facilities at major public transport hubs such as large bus, minivan and other terminals near its stations.

However, an MTR Corp spokeswoman said there was still no plan to provide such facilities inside its stations. "We are discussing with transport officials about setting up public toilets at [public transport interchanges] near MTR stations," she said.

While talks are still ongoing, it is not clear how many such interchanges will be selected and who would pay for the construction.

The Transport Department said building public toilets at transport hubs would be considered on a case-by-case basis. A toilet facility is expected to open on Suffolk Road, near the Kowloon Tong MTR and KCR stations, at the end of the year.

"As practical conditions of different transport interchanges vary, they will be considered case by case," a transport spokesman said. "If situations allow, provision of public toilet facilities will be taken into consideration."

Tse Wing-ling, vice-chairman of Wan Chai District Council, said there should be at least some toilets near MTR stations. "Though it is not a simple question, I insist there should be public conveniences near or at the entrance of the MTR stations. The MTR Corporation should at least sponsor some such facilities at the stations."

Council chairwoman Ada Wong Ying-kay said while building toilet facilities at transport hubs was an acceptable solution to help passengers, the MTR should give clear directions to such facilities.

"They should have public toilets as one of the markings at the relevant exits," she said.

Meanwhile, four toilet facilities are under construction or in active planning at scenic or tourist spots, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said.

The four are located at Lantau Link View Point in Tsing Yi; the Education Resource Centre, also a transport interchange, at Kowloon Tong; the Tsam Chuk Wan Anti-Japanese Martyrs Monument in Sai Kung; and a new public transport interchange in Wing On Plaza Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui. They will be completed by 2007.

ailiton

April 24th, 2005, 09:40 PM

http://a8.cpimg.com/image/D2/9B/47224018-4231-028001E0-.jpg

http://a7.cpimg.com/image/03/9D/47224067-5e11-028001E0-.jpg

from a transportation forum.

hkskyline

April 25th, 2005, 02:34 PM

Monday April 25, 3:20 PM
Hong Kong Disneyland unveils rail line for its theme park

AP - With the help of Donald Duck and a cloud of silver confetti, officials unveiled a new rail line Monday for Hong Kong Disneyland _ the world's first train route specifically dedicated for a theme park.

The 3.5-kilometer (2-mile) train line, which cost 2 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$257 million, Â€197 million), will be able to shuttle about 10,000 passengers per hour to the park, set to open Sept. 12, said Disneyland and the city's Mass Transit Rail Corp. The park and subway operator financed the project.

The line will be a branch off the subway line from Central Hong Kong to outlying Lantau Island, where Disneyland is being built.

"Disneyland Resort line will take visitors to a magical world," MTRC Chief Executive C.K. Chow said. "The 3.5 minute train journey is not to be missed for all Disneyland visitors who wish to enjoy the full experience."

The trains' windows and the straphangers are shaped like Mickey Mouse. The ceiling and the sides of the train are painted red, yellow, purple and blue.

The park is a joint venture between the Hong Kong government and The Walt Disney Co. It's being built on reclaimed land at Penny's Bay.

Critics have criticized the government for shouldering most of the US$3.5 billion construction cost for the park. But officials have argued that the park will boost employment and help make Hong Kong a major tourist destination.

hkskyline

April 26th, 2005, 04:35 AM

LCQ10: Railway corporations regard staff as important asset
Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Following is a question by the Hon Li Fung-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (April 20):

Question:

Regarding the operation of the MTR Corporation Limited and the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the respective numbers of staff of the two corporations each year during the period between January 1, 2002 and March 31, 2005, together with a breakdown by terms of employment; and among these staff, the number of those engaged in duties such as frontline train operations, logistics support in maintenance and inspection, and engineering services;

(b) of the respective total numbers of outsourcing contracts for works and services awarded/to be awarded by the two corporations each year during the above period and in the coming year; and in relation to such contracts, the work and service items, the number of workers engaged in outsourced works and services, the contract periods and costs involved, the total number of affected railway corporation staff, and how the two corporations handled/will handle the problems concerning the affected staff;

(c) whether it has conducted a comprehensive review on the adjustments to the terms of employment for staff made by the two corporations in recent years, and studied the impact of such adjustments on the overall rail operation; if it has, of the details and results of the study; if not, the reasons for that and whether it has any plan to conduct such review and study in future; and

(d) whether any preliminary results regarding the impact of the merger on the staff were available from the merger study conducted by the two corporations; if they were, of the details; if not, the time when the staff and the public will be informed of such results?

Reply:

Madam President,

For the period between January 1, 2002 to March 31, 2005, based on the railway corporations' existing establishment, the respective total numbers of staff employed by the two railway corporations are set out in annex 1.

The respective total numbers of outsourcing contracts for works and services awarded/to be awarded by the two railway corporations each year between January 1, 2002 and March 31, 2005 and in the coming year are set out in annex 2.

MTRCL indicates that there is no additional outsourcing project by the corporation for the remaining months of year 2005 and year 2006.

Since the two railway corporations manage and monitor their outsourced contracts by contractors' performance rather than by number of staff of individual contractors, they cannot provide the total number of such staff engaged in these contracts.

The two railway corporations advise that the contract period of the outsourced engineering and service contracts varies according to the nature of the contracts. Generally speaking, for MTRCL, the contract period ranges from two to five years. For some contracts which require a longer follow-up period or continuity of service such as maintenance service for infrastructure and rolling stock, the contract period normally lasts for six to seven years. For KCRC, the contract period ranges from one to five years.

In planning and implementing outsourcing contracts, the two railway corporations give full regard to the interests of staff. The two railway corporations point out that job security of staff has not been affected by outsourcing activities.

The two railway corporations are directly responsible for managing their human resources in the provision of efficient and reliable railway services. Like other commercial entities, the two railway corporations review on its own the terms of employment of their staff including any adjustment. The role of the Government as the regulator of railway services is to closely monitor the performance of the railways, in particular, the safety and reliability aspects.

The two railway corporations pledge that they regard staff as their most important asset and are committed to looking after the interests of all staff in taking forward the merger issue. In the course of the merger discussion, the two railway corporations have enhanced communication with their staff, and have established channels to listen to their concerns and views. So far, the two railway corporations' discussions of the merger are conducted from a broad perspective and no detailed plan has been made yet. If the merger were to proceed, they would conduct further studies on post-merger staffing arrangement. The two railway corporations will further consult their staff on issues affecting them before making final decisions.

hkskyline

April 27th, 2005, 10:23 PM

http://appledaily.atnext.com/images/apple-photos/640pix/20050426/Article_news/26la2p3.jpg

bs_lover_boy

April 28th, 2005, 01:12 AM

^It's so cool, I wonder who ripped it out?

superchan7

April 28th, 2005, 01:38 AM

Why is there a KCR line (gray) going that way?

vvill

April 28th, 2005, 02:09 AM

Why is there a KCR line (gray) going that way?

it does go that way..
that's the KCR west rail.. cos it goes along the western coast.. and then through the tunnel after the stop at Tseun Wan West.

btw...
thought it'd be cool if there'll be a stop called 'macau'. :P
haha.

superchan7

April 28th, 2005, 04:40 AM

I thought the KCR west rail line in that diagram went upward instead of left. They changed it?

gakei

April 29th, 2005, 06:01 AM

I thought the KCR west rail line in that diagram went upward instead of left. They changed it?

Yes, they have changed. A Legislative Council member complained that MTRC did not show the KCR West Rail Line correctly and omitted the Tsuen Wan West Stn.

hkskyline

April 29th, 2005, 02:48 PM

Tuesday April 26, 1:59 AM
HK MTR Corp Issues HK$1 Bln Long-Term Debt Via HSBC

HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--MTR Corp. (C.I.) Ltd., an arm of Hong Kong railway operator MTR Corp. (0066.HK), is offering HK$1 billion of long-term fixed-rate debt, lead manager HSBC said, comprising HK$500 million each of 10-year and 15-year bonds.

Terms for the issues are as follows:

Amount: HK$500 million
Maturity: May 11, 2015
Coupon: 4.50% per annum
Coupon Frequency: Quarterly
Issue Price: At par
Redemption: At par
Payment date: May 9, 2005
Denominations: HK$500,000
Listing: None
Guarantor: MTR Corp.
Amount: HK$500 million
Maturity: May 11, 2020
Coupon: 4.75% per annum
Coupon Frequency: Quarterly
Issue Price: At par
Redemption: At par
Payment date: May 9, 2005
Denominations: HK$500,000
Listing: None
Guarantor: MTR Corp.

hkskyline

April 30th, 2005, 02:18 PM

MTR Press Release
28 April 2005
Interchange Discount at MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station Extended for 2 Months

Octopus cardholders transferring between the MTR and the KCR East Rail at Tsim Sha Tsui will continue to enjoy interchange discount until 30 June 2005.

Adult Octopus cardholders will automatically save $1.5 on the second leg of their journey when they use the same Octopus card to travel on both rail systems and transfer at Tsim Sha Tsui. To enjoy the discount, the second leg journey must be made within 30 minutes after completion of first leg.

Under the offer, Elder and Child Octopus users will enjoy a $0.8 discount on the second leg journey.

Students currently enjoying concessionary fares on the MTR will save $1.5 when they go from the MTR to the KCR and $0.8 when they travel in the opposite direction.

The extension of the interchange discount will help encourage more passengers to use the new interchange facility at Tsim Sha Tsui with the KCR East Rail's new East Tsim Sha Tsui Station and the two convenient pedestrian subways beneath Mody Road and Middle Road.

hkskyline

May 1st, 2005, 02:12 PM

South China Morning Post
April 28, 2005
Grandiose project sparks buying spree
Tseung Kwan O development sells more than 500 flats on the first day of sale
Peggy Sito

The recent upsurge in the residential market continued yesterday, with more than 500 flats offered at the Grandiose development in Tseung Kwan O being snapped up by end-users and investors on the first day of sale.

The joint project between New World Development and MTR Corp comprises three buildings with 1,472 apartments ranging in size from 576 square feet to 1,055 sqft.

The Grandiose will be completed by the middle of next year.

Estate agents said the project had attracted end-users and a large number of speculators and investors.

Centaline Property Agency said 500 units had been sold by 10.30pm and 20 of them had been immediately offered for resale.

According to Midland Realty, one investor who snapped up 10 units offered them for resale at 10 per cent more than the purchase price.

"So far, I have not met any buyer planning to purchase the units for their own use," Midland senior sales manager Candy Chan Pui-fong said.

"Not only veteran speculators are attracted to the projects, but also some small investors. They will sell their units if prices can go up 15 per cent before completion, while others will hold on to them as long-term investments."

Ms Chan said most of the buyers had chosen a staggered payment method, which allowed them to make a down-payment of 15 per cent in three instalments by January, with the remaining 85 per cent to be paid on completion of the apartment.

Buyers using this method end up paying 4 per cent more than those who complete the deal in 30 days.

"We cannot say purchasers who choose staggered payment are definitely investors, but it is investors who prefer to use this method because of the long completion period," Ms Chan said.

However, Centaline executive director Louis Chan Wing-kit estimated investors only accounted for 30 per cent of the buyers. "Many of our clients are end -users," he said.

Agents said flat-hunters were optimistic about the market outlook on the back of the improved economy and falling supply in the housing sector.

They cited the encouraging sales of the Arch in West Kowloon as an example. About 90 per cent of the 1,052 units in the project were sold in little more than a week.

But analysts said there was sufficient supply in Tseung Kwan O in the next few years.

Cheung Kong (Holdings) and MTR are developing two residential projects at the Tiu Keng Leng MTR station.

MTR also has its Tseung Kwan O development, Dreamcity, which will comprise 21,500 flats when it is completed in 10 years. The first phase of Dreamcity was won by Cheung Kong last month.

HKR International has sold 13 of its 41 houses at Le Bleu, the second phase of Coastal Skyline in Tung Chung, over the past 10 days for $ 300 million, according to the firm's general manager of development and marketing Chan Chi -ming.

Mr Chan said the houses, which ranged from 2,300 sqft to 2,500 sqft, were sold at about $10,000 per square foot, a record for the district and comparable to home values in traditional luxury areas such as Yau Yat Tsuen.

hkskyline

May 1st, 2005, 02:13 PM

MTR Press Release
18 April 2005
MTR Appoints CEO for Europe Operations

The MTR Corporation Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of
Mr Jeremy Long as Chief Executive Officer – European Business with effect from 2 May 2005.

Mr Long will be responsible for developing the Corporation’s business in the Europe market where MTR looks to take advantage of opportunities opening up in the United Kingdom and other European countries to apply its operational and technical experience in providing effective and efficient rail services.

The Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation Mr C K Chow said: “Jeremy brings with him extensive experience and knowledge of the UK and European rail industry. We are confident he will help MTR to implement our growth strategy by leading efforts to establish a strong MTR presence in Europe.”

A Chartered Accountant, Mr Long was most recently Managing Director, Rail of FirstGroup plc. “I am excited to be joining the MTR Corporation, one of the best names in the railway industry worldwide,” said Mr Long. “The MTR has much to offer in helping to bring more reliable and efficient passenger rail services to Europe and I look forward to working with the MTR team in exporting their expertise overseas.”

hkskyline

May 1st, 2005, 07:55 PM

MTRC aims deeper in Shenzhen and Beijing
Danny Chung and Eli Lau
29 April 2005
Hong Kong Standard

MTR Corp, Hong Kong's subway operator, is in talks to deepen its involvement in developing the underground train systems in Shenzhen and Beijing, the company said.

Besides Line 4 of the Shenzhen Metro, which is already under development, MTRC is also looking to take part in two to three other lines in Shenzhen, as well as the same number of rail projects in Beijing, said chief executive officer Chow Chung-kong Thursday.

He did not reveal the amount of investments or predict if the projects will include property development.

He said it would depend on the nature of the projects.

Earlier this year, MTRC signed an agreement with the Beijing municipal government to develop Beijing Metro Line 4 in a public-private partnership.

In Shenzhen, it agreed last year to invest in a company that will develop the second phase of Line 4 of the Shenzhen Metro, costing six billion yuan (HK$5.7 billion), including property development rights.

MTRC also said Thursday that profits from the sale of homes at The Arch in Union Square at Kowloon Station will be booked for the current financial year instead of 2006 as originally planned.

This is because sales, which started earlier this month, are going faster than expected, the firm said.

In 2000, MTRC joined with Sun Hung Kai Properties to develop The Arch, which comprises 1,054 residential units with floor areas ranging from 505 to 5,497 square feet.

Under the development agreement, MTRC is entitled to a share of the proceeds from the sales, which market watchers say is about 30 percent.

Sun Hung Kai Properties earlier this month said it had sold a penthouse triplex for the highest price seen since the last property boom in 1997, at HK$31,300 per square foot.

More than 950 apartments at The Arch have been sold in the past two weeks, generating HK$12 billion.

hkskyline

May 3rd, 2005, 04:08 AM

By mario from a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/marioso/k-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/marioso/k-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/marioso/k-4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/marioso/k-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/marioso/k-5.jpg

superchan7

May 3rd, 2005, 04:16 AM

I saw those pictures in a forum...I think they were saying MTR is going to spread the Korean trains over to the purple line.

aznichiro115

May 3rd, 2005, 04:46 AM

anyone know why the K-stock is only on the kwun tong and tsueng kwan o lines?

ailiton

May 3rd, 2005, 04:51 AM

k-stocks were supposed to be running on TKO line.

superchan7

May 3rd, 2005, 05:02 AM

Anyway, it's good to see those newer trains running around more. They're much quieter because there's no wind leak from the door design.

Anyone know if they're still importing K-stocks, or anything about the future of urban-line stocks?

ailiton

May 3rd, 2005, 07:18 AM

The new Tung Chung Line trains are made by Rotem (spelling?) and they will arrive next year, I think.

hkskyline

May 3rd, 2005, 04:29 PM

Metro Hong Kong Extends Distribution Contract With MTR
14 March 2005
PrimeZone Media Network

BERTRANGE, Luxembourg, March 14, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metro International S.A. ("Metro"), the international newspaper group, today announced that that it has extended its distribution contract with MTR Corporation Ltd. until 14 April 2010. The agreement gives Metro the right to distribute the Metro free newspaper from racks in Hong Kong's subway network, which is used by more than 2.2 million commuters every day.

Metro is currently distributing more than 300,000 copies daily throughout Hong Kong at 49 MTR stations. The contract was initially awarded in April 2002 for a period of three years with the option for a further five-year extension.

Peter Kuo, MD Metro Asia, commented: "Distribution through the MTR network has been a successful way of reaching a young, active and well-educated audience. Metro will continue targeting this audience, which is hard to reach through other media and is very attractive to advertisers. We are grateful for MTR's continuing support".

Pelle Tornberg, President and CEO, commented: "Our Hong Kong operation has experienced significant growth since its launch and we expect to see further expansion. The MTR network is an efficient means of reaching the young professional commuting public that Metro targets".

For further information, please visit www.metro.lu , email info@metro.lu or contact: Pelle Tornberg, President & CEO tel: +44 (0) 20 7016 1300 Henrik Persson, Corporate Communications tel: +46 (0) 8 562 000 87

Metro is the largest and fastest growing international newspaper in the world. 46 daily Metro editions are published in 68 major cities in 17 countries in 16 languages across Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro has a unique global reach - attracting a young, active, well-educated audience of more than 15 million daily readers and over 33 million weekly readers. Metro has an equal number of male and female readers and 70% are under the age of 45. Metro's advertising sales have grown at a compound annual rate of 47% since the launch of the first edition in 1995.

Metro International S.A. `A' and `B' shares are listed on the Stockholmsborsen `O-List' under the symbols MTROA and MTROB.

This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net

superchan7

May 3rd, 2005, 06:33 PM

Really? Any concepts or renderings/pics of those trains? I had no idea TCL was getting new trains.

ailiton

May 4th, 2005, 01:01 AM

No la. But they should look very similar to the current trains.

superchan7

May 4th, 2005, 02:45 AM

Even though the urban K-stock is very similar to the original M-stock, it had many cool features and subtle differences (even the exterior colour is darker). So I'm looking forward to knowing of these differences.

hkskyline

May 5th, 2005, 12:47 AM

MTR may revisit bond market to raise $6b
Georgina Lee
5 May 2005
South China Morning Post

MTR Corp says it may revisit the bond market in the next seven months to fund $6 billion in capital expenditure on expansion over the next three years.

Finance director Lincoln Leong Kwok-kuen said the rail company might sell bonds to overseas investors this year as it wanted to take advantage of free liquidity in many Asian markets, from which investors were looking for higher yielding financial instruments amid the low interest-rate environment.

"We are always looking for opportunities in the market," Mr Leong told Bloomberg on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank's annual meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday.

"Our capital expenditure for the next three years is only six odd billion Hong Kong dollars combined, so it's not significant," he said.

Just last month, the 75 per cent government-owned rail operator raised $1 billion through 10-year and 15-year bonds of $500 million each.

While the company said it was not arranging any bond issue now, analysts said the utility company would have no problem coming to the market.

A credit rating of A-plus by Standard & Poor's, which yesterday raised its outlook to "positive" from "stable", meant MTR would be in high demand by institutional investors.

With as much as $63.5 billion in shareholder funds and $30 billion in debt, analysts said MTR's strong balance sheet showed it had no pressing need for fresh capital.

However, they said the company might want to borrow now by issuing long-term bonds to lock in attractive interest rates - especially as rates will probably trend upwards - as it expected more projects to be approved by the government soon.

Dilip Parameswaran, the head of capital markets credit research at Calyon, said MTR might be expecting imminent approval to build two extensions to the Island line - one to connect Wong Chuk Hang with Sai Ying Pun, passing through Cyberport, and the other joining Ap Lei Chau with Admiralty, through Ocean Park.

ailiton

May 5th, 2005, 11:36 AM

Photos by dik chai:

http://home.i-cable.com/declan_1/NEWRouteMap/east.jpg

http://home.i-cable.com/declan_1/NEWRouteMap/light.jpg

http://home.i-cable.com/declan_1/NEWRouteMap/TST.jpg

hkskyline

May 5th, 2005, 06:07 PM

Beijing starts metro upgrading
1 May 2005
Railway Gazette International

BEIJING METRO Corp announced in March that it was starting work on a network-wide upgrading and renovation programme ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Costed at 4.3bn yuan, the package includes replacement of track, trains, signalling and communications equipment on Lines 1 and 2, parts of which are now approaching 30 years old. A new smart card based fare collection system will also be introduced by the end of 2007, covering all metro lines in the Chinese capital.

In total 52.2km of track will be relaid. Around 180 trainsets will be replaced with new air-conditioned stock, and the signalling renewal will allow peak headways to be cut from 3min to 2.5min.

Hong Kong's MTR Corp, Beijing Capital Group and Beijing Infrastructure Investment Co have initialled the formal PPP concession agreement with Beijing Municipal Government to equip and operate Line 4, although this is still subject to approval by the National Development & Reform Commission.

The 29km route between Majialou and Longbeicun will be the capital's principal north-south metro line, serving 24 stations. Civil engineering has been underway since October 2003. The PPP concessionaires will provide the rolling stock and other E&M systems and operate the line. Total cost of Line 4 is put at 15.3bn yuan, of which the city will fund around 70%.

hkskyline

May 7th, 2005, 02:52 AM

Legislators lash out at 'greedy' MTRC
Sylvia Hui, Hong Kong Standard
May 7, 2005

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/images/dis0507.jpg

The MTR Corp was accused of being "greedy" and "socially irresponsible" by furious legislators who also described the HK$2 billion Disneyland Resort Line as a shady deal between MTRC and the government and demanded that the company lower the fares it charges.

Legislators attending a Legislative Council subcommittee meeting on railway matters Friday launched the attack when MTRC representatives told the meeting fares to Disneyland will be based on "existing fare structures."

"Although you say train fares to Disneyland are much cheaper than bus fares, there is no reason to base Disney trip fares using your existing structure," said democrat Andrew Cheung.

"Don't forget you are exempted from HK$800 million worth of dividends to the government."

The resort line, which is expected to transport 40 percent of the visitors to the theme park when it opens September 12, was initially considered not financially viable.

In 2002, the government, a major shareholder in the MTRC, agreed to waive its claim for HK$798 million worth of dividends.

Legislators accused the MTRC and the government of bypassing Legco when the 2002 decision was made. They also doubted the profitability of the venture and described the resort line as an overinvestment.

"The people give [the subsidized train line] their public money but MTRC pockets all the goods," said Cheng.

When asked to disclose financial projections for the line, MTRC deputy operations director Andrew McCusker said the information is commercially sensitive. He stressed the fares are highly competitive, but the company will review prices after assessing market response.

The fares ranging from HK$6 to HK$26 - much lower than proposed bus fares at HK$7 to HK$38 - triggered accusations the government is deliberately suppressing other public transport providers to ensure MTRC maintains a reasonable passenger flow.

The government and MTRC were urged to submit written replies on how and when the government will receive the waived dividends.

The attacks were followed by more criticism of MTRC's financial transparency. Legislators were furious when McCusker said that 10 cents charged to each Octopus journey from MTR passengers, aimed to subsidize the fitting of platform screen doors, will "go on indefinitely."

"At the time Legco approved this move we only agreed on charging passengers for the HK$2 billion construction cost of the screen doors," legislator Lau Kong-wah said. "We never agreed to charge people indefinitely for the doors' maintenance and cleaning costs."

Since July 2000 MTRC has collected HK$3 million from passengers for the screen doors, said McCusker.

The government was also accused of failing to maintain its role as gatekeeper of public interests.

MTRC's Disney line train, unveiled late last month, has two new stations at Sunny Bay and Disneyland.

The trains' four carriages, each carrying 180 passengers, are expected to be able to carry 11,000 people during peak hours. However, up to 17,000 people can squeezed in during extremely busy hours.

It is the first train line in the world specially dedicated to a theme park.

hkskyline

May 7th, 2005, 03:37 AM

MTR's 10-cent door levy to continue
Elaine Wu
7 May 2005
South China Morning Post

Train passengers will have to continue paying an extra 10 cents on each ride to cover the cost of installation and maintenance of platform screen doors even after the MTR has finished fitting the doors next year.

Andrew McCusker, deputy operations director of the rail operator, told lawmakers on the railways subcommittee yesterday that the 10-cent surcharge was needed to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the doors.

"There are lots of ongoing costs in terms of the platform screen doors," he said.

"And going into the future they will have to be renewed and upgraded, as all assets are."

His remarks angered some lawmakers, who said the fee should not be applied forever and should only be used for the construction cost of the doors.

The MTR has added the charge since 2000 for people who use the Octopus card to pay for their rides.

The company had estimated the surcharge would pay for about half of the $2 billion construction cost of the doors.

It had collected $300 million so far from the 10-cent fee, Mr McCusker said, but he did not say when MTR passengers could stop paying it.

Legislator Lau Kong-wah said: "This is like cheating in a way because at the time when [the company] spoke with us, they did not mention all the costs involved. Everyone had the impression [the fee] was for the construction cost."

The MTR began installing screen doors on platforms to separate passengers from train tracks in 2001.

It has completed the work at 24 underground stations and has six more to go before the project finishes early next year.

Mr McCusker said next year the company would start studying how to install the screens at above-ground stations.

Separately, Mr McCusker told the subcommittee yesterday that there was no room for giving passengers group or family discounts on the Disneyland Resort Line, which is scheduled to open in September.

Lawmakers argued that the rail operator should give the public more concessions on the rides because the government had helped to finance the project by waiving its claim for $798 million in dividends over a few years to which it was entitled as a shareholder.

They also questioned whether the four-car train line would be able to transport all the passengers going to Disneyland in the early morning rush hour and late night after the fireworks finished.

Deputy Secretary for Transport Cathy Chu Man-ling said the train line had a capacity of more than 10,000 passengers per hour, which should be enough to handle Disneyland's forecast of 11,000 hourly visitors during the morning hours.

Aside from the train line, Disneyland visitors would also be able to take buses and coaches to get to the theme park.

Ms Chu said minibuses have been ruled out because of their low capacity for passenger numbers.

hkskyline

May 7th, 2005, 06:12 PM

Corporate Press Release
27 April 2005
CityU and MTR Win Prestigious International Award With AI Software

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) software system jointly designed and developed by Dr Andy Chun at City University of Hong Kong and the MTR Corporation has been honoured by the American Association for Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) with the “Innovative Application of Artificial Intelligence” Award 2005 (IAAI) in the category of “Deployed Applications”. This demonstrates CityU’s excellence in applied research and the University’s commitment to collaboration with industry leaders for the benefit of Hong Kong society.

The award-winning “AI Engine”, which has been in daily use since July 2004, is a component of the MTR’s Engineering Works and Traffic Information Management System. The “AI Engine” is an intelligent scheduling software for the efficient allocation and management of all engineering resources for the five existing MTR lines, Airport Express and the new Disneyland Resort Line scheduled to open soon.

“Ensuring the safety of engineering works and the consistently optimal usage of the railway system during the short few hours available overnight are the top priorities of the AI scheduling system. With CityU’s expertise in this area, we are pleased to work with them on this state-of-the-art project. MTR Corporation is committed to adopt latest technologies for the provision of a safe, efficient and comfortable mass transit railway system,” commented Ir Richard Keefe, Infrastructure Engineering Manager – Tseung Kwan O Line of MTR Corporation.

Dr Andy Chun, Associate Professor in CityU’s Department of Computer Science, is the only person in Greater China to have received this award to date. He is a local expert in applying AI technology to scheduling, and resource and manpower allocation. “I am delighted that we have won this prestigious award which recognizes CityU as one of the world’s leading technology innovators,” he said. “I believe our AI technologies can easily be applied to many different types of organizations in Hong Kong, to help them streamline operations and maximize performance and revenue.”

Since 1990, the annual IAAI has been awarded internationally to honour deployed applications with measurable benefits whose value depends on the use of AI technology. Founded in 1979, the AAAI is a nonprofit scientific society devoted to advancing scientific understanding of the mechanisms underlying thought and intelligent behaviour and their embodiment in machines.

hkskyline

May 8th, 2005, 06:28 AM

每程收一毫已進帳三億
地鐵榨財長收幕門費
http://www.the-sun.com.hk/general/img/endmarker.gif
07/05/2005

http://www.the-sun.com.hk/channels/news/20050507/img/sn07050701_big.jpg

地鐵以地底車站加裝月台幕門為由，向八達通乘客徵收的每程一毫幕門附加費，擬「無限期」實施。地鐵解釋，有關安排是要彌補月台幕門計畫導致維修保養成本增加，但卻遭立法會議員猛烈抨擊。議員炮轟地鐵做法「豈有此理」及「欺騙乘客」，等同變相加價，因當年地鐵向立法會提交收取附加費的文件時，列明徵費只是「資助」工程費用，但卻無提及要乘客繼續負擔其他開支，更有議員批評等同「成世要畀錢資助地鐵」。

立法會交通事務委員會鐵路事宜小組會議，昨日討論地鐵加裝月台幕門計畫，由於所有路線的加裝工程將於明年初竣工，因此多名立法會議員促地鐵交代，會否於工程完結的同時，停止再向乘客徵收幕門附加費。

地鐵公司副車務總監麥國琛指出，地鐵在三十個地底車站加裝月台幕門，費用約二十億元，以一般鐵路系統可運作四十年計算，地鐵目標是與乘客各自分擔一半建造費，而幕門引致的額外維修保養支出亦應包括在內。他續指，地鐵由二○○○年起約收到三億元幕門附加費，因幕門需定期維修及更換，故不可能取消每程一毫的附加費。

變相收足一世

議員王國興怒斥地鐵的做法「豈有此理」，是變相向乘客收足一世附加費，這種安排等同「劉備借荊州、一去無回頭」，完全不能接受，應受譴責。他又指出，地鐵當年向立法會提交文件時，只列明所收取的附加費，是用作補貼安裝幕門的成本，但卻不包括營運、維修及清潔等開支，故他會要求地鐵向立法會遞交詳細帳目。

另一名議員劉江華亦稱，地鐵應在收回建造成本後停收附加費，地鐵的說法完全不合理。有議員動議，要求地鐵明年完成建造幕門後立即撤銷附加費，但委員會最後地鐵提供更多資料，留待下次會議再與地鐵詳細算帳。

對於地鐵打算繼續向八達通乘客收取附加費，民建聯昨晚發聲明表達強烈不滿，並指摘地鐵是企圖利用該項工程來間接壓榨乘客，增加車費。民建聯促地鐵承諾，當月台幕門工程完成後，立刻取消向乘客收取附加費。

地鐵發言人補充，地鐵為配合公眾需求而加裝月台幕門，但由於工程涉及龐大的成本開支，故需要由乘客資助部分費用，該公司會盡量向市民及立法會提供相關資料。

hkskyline

May 8th, 2005, 07:01 AM

"Disney Pixar Animation Series" MTR Souvenir Ticket Family Packs

MTR will issue a series of three limited-edition "Disney Pixar Animation Series" MTR Souvenir Ticket Family Packs in three consecutive weeks starting 8 May 2005. Priced at $98, each ticket pack includes one Adult Souvenir Ticket and one Concessionary Souvenir Ticket*, a Ticket Holder, and a Disney Pixar Premium, namely "The Incredibles" Desktop Light for the first pack, "Buzz Light-year" Mini Desktop Fan for the second, and "Nemo" Mini Loudspeaker for the third. The ticket packs will be available for sale at Customer Service Centres at all MTR stations (except Airport Express) while stock lasts.

Each ticket is valid for two rides to any destination on the MTR (except Airport Express) until 12, 19 and 26 July 2005 respectively. Each person is limited to two packs per purchase.

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/whatsnew/pixar/ticket_e.gif

hkskyline

May 8th, 2005, 07:07 AM

Tourist MTR 1-Day Pass

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/train/images/ticket_1day.gif

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/train/images/tour_ticket_1day_e.gif

Tourist MTR 1-Day Pass is tailored for tourist travel around Hong Kong. Tourist can have any one day* of unlimited rides on the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) (except the Airport Express Line) within the ticket validity period. The ticket can be kept as souvenir. The ticket is available at Customer Service Centre of all MTR or Airport Express stations, or you can purchase via on-line booking.

* 1-day for unlimited number of rides on the MTR starts from the 1st MTR journey of this ticket and lasts until 24 hours thereafter within a month of purchase.

Airport Express Tourist Octopus "3-Day Hong Kong Transport Pass"

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/train/images/ticket_3day.gif

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/train/images/tour_ticket_3day_e.gif

Widely accepted by all major transportation services in Hong Kong, the 3-Day Hong Kong Transport Pass is your ideal choice. The pass not only takes you to/from the airport; it also allows you to travel within the city in a hazzle-free way! Travelling around Hong Kong has never been easier!

Two types of 3-Day Hong Kong Transport Pass are available at Customer Service Centre of all MTR or Airport Express stations, or you can purchase via on-line booking.

What's more, you can keep the card as a souvenir or return it for a refund**

^ The 3 days of unlimited MTR rides (except on the Airport Express Line) will start on the day of your first MTR journey.
** Refund = remaining usable value + HK$50 deposit

The above 2 Tourist Transport passes are restricted to tourists who are non-Hong Kong residents and have stayed in Hong Kong for less than 14 days. A valid passport of similar valid proof of such tourist status must be shown at the time of purchase.

hkskyline

May 9th, 2005, 06:49 PM

Lower property earnings may derail profit growth
9 May 2005
South China Morning Post

MTR CORP SURPRISED the market with a 1 per cent rise in net profit to $4.49 billion for last year, but warned of waning property earnings.

The profit growth was spurred by a turnaround of the economy, which helped boost passenger numbers to a record and reduce losses at its core rail services to $313 million from $980 million in 2003. The semi-privatised corporation, which counts on property development income to fund rail investments, also benefited from an upturn in the property market, which enabled it to reap a profit of $4.56 billion.

"We effectively captured economic growth and converted it into operational growth," said chief executive Chow Chung-kwong. But he warned: "Although the property contribution will continue to serve as a growth driver in the coming two to three years the amount may not be as high."

Operating five urban rail lines and the Airport Express rail services, MTR Corp saw fare revenue jump 8.07 per cent to $5.93 billion last year. The five urban lines carried 833.6 million passengers last year, an increase of 8.3 per cent, while the Airport Express recorded 17 per cent growth with 8.01 million passengers. However, analysts said the improved performance could spark renewed calls for lower train fares.

Growth of the corporation's property profit last year tapered off to 14.9 per cent as the previous figure was inflated by the value of 18 floors in Two IFC.

Mr Chow said that in the next two years the MTR Corp would recognise profits from phase three of the residential development at Olympic station and the Lane shopping centre at Hang Hau Station.

The company will also put two phases of the Tseung Kwan O Dreamcity project up for tender in the second half of this year.

superchan7

May 9th, 2005, 07:40 PM

MTR's rail operations are still losing that much in one year? Passenger revenue should be at least HK$5 billion. Does it really cost that much to run the system?

hkskyline

May 10th, 2005, 04:31 PM

Tung Chung Cable Car

http://web.hku.hk/~cablecar/image/index/skyview_s_f.jpg

hkskyline

May 11th, 2005, 06:38 PM

HK MTR Corp Signs MOU To Develop Wuhan Metro Projects
10 May 2005

HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--MTR Corp. (0066.HK) said Tuesday it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Wuhan municipal government to jointly develop three metro lines in the central China city.

The Hong Kong railway operator said the Wuhan municipal government is planning to add three metro lines to its existing metro network, which will have a total route length of about 70 kilometers by 2011.

'In line with our strategies, MTRC continues to explore new business opportunities beyond Hong Kong into mainland China and Europe,' said MTRC in a statement.

Wuhan is the capital city of China's Hubei province and a major transport hub in central China.

- By Chan Ka Sing
- Edited by David Riordan

hkskyline

May 12th, 2005, 03:34 AM

Accords put Wuhan next on MTRC China map
Danny Chung
11 May 2005
Hong Kong Standard

MTR Corp is seeking to help build a railway in Wuhan in a move that will expand its presence on the mainland as growth in its home market slows.

MTRC, 76 percent owned by the SAR government, said Tuesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Wuhan Urban Construction Investment & Development Group and the Wuhan Municipal Development Planning Commission to build and run metro lines.

MTRC spokeswoman Wong Chiu- yung said it is too early to estimate the investment amount because the project still requires a feasibility study and that MTR has no preferred line to develop.

"We're only exploring the opportunities for cooperation," she said.

The city in Hebei is planning to add a second section to its existing Line 1 as well as two other lines in the next phase of its metro network development.

Wong said the Wuhan government is also interested in a development model that includes properties.

"The payback on railways is [typically] long, so if property is included, this would speed up the payback period," said Daiwa Institute of Research analyst Jonas Kan.

MTRC has been busy looking for overseas projects in the past year or so to offset slow growth of its railway operations in Hong Kong, where expansion plans have not been finalized.

The company signed an agreement with the Beijing municipal government last year to develop Beijing Metro Line 4 in a public-private partnership.

It also agreed last year to invest in a company that will develop the second phase of Line 4 of the Shenzhen Metro.

The project will cost six billion yuan (HK$5.66 billion).

The railway operator also has property development rights for the Shenzhen section it will develop.

Besides Line 4 of the Shenzhen Metro, MTRC is looking to take part in two to three other lines in Shenzhen, as well as the same number of rail projects in Beijing, chief executive Chow Chung-kong said last month.

At full development, Wuhan's subway is expected to comprise seven lines totaling 220 kilometres in length with 182 stations.

The city is looking to have a metro network with a total length of about 70 kilometers by 2011.

MTRC shares closed the day up 1.94 percent at HK$13.15 Tuesday.

hkskyline

May 12th, 2005, 04:05 PM

Hong Kong MTR Corporation's 2003 Sustainability Report Named Best by ACCA
11 May 2005
China News Digest

The 2003 Sustainability Report, issued by Hong Kong subway operator MTR Corporation in 2004, was awarded the Best Sustainability Report Award by the Hong Kong Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), MTR announced on May 11, 2005.

The award was given in recognition of MTR's outstanding performance in sustainability reporting. This is the third time in a row for the company to win this award since it was first launched in 2003.

The ACCA Hong Kong Awards for Sustainability Reporting aim at identifying and rewarding innovative attempts to communicate organisational performance in sustainability and environmental reporting.

MTR's award-winning report has also been included in the best 100 sustainability reports worldwide in a United Nations sponsored study, undertaken by British strategy consultancy and independent think tank SustainAbility in 2004.

http://www.mtr.com.hk

hkskyline

May 14th, 2005, 06:41 PM

Hong Kong's MTR looks to Europe for rail investments - reports
12 May 2005

HONG KONG (AFX) - MTR Corp is pursuing new business in Britain, Sweden, Holland, Germany and Italy, several newspapers here reported, citing head of European operations Jeremy Long.

'We'll look across Europe wherever there are opportunities,' said Long, a former British rail industry executive who joined the MTR on May 2.

Britain's rail authority last month named the MTR in a shortlist of five bidders for a franchise deal to operate the Thameslink/Great Northern network, linking London with Brighton and Cambridge.

joeazn

May 16th, 2005, 10:01 AM

Hi.... does anyone know of any webpages that have sound files of the MTR/KCR public announcements they play on the trains? I tried http://www.ushb.net/broadcast/, but they're no longer there.

hkskyline

May 17th, 2005, 06:53 PM

MTR Corp Ops Managing Director Gaffney To Retire End-2005
17 May 2005

HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--MTR Corp. (0066.HK) said Tuesday Phil Gaffney will retire as managing director of operations and business development by the end of 2005.

Gaffney, who joined the Hong Kong railway operator in 1977, will be moving to Europe to spend more time with his family, the company said in a brief statement.

However, Gaffney will continue to 'provide advice and support' to the company's business development in Europe.

MTR said Deputy Operations Director Andrew McCusker will become acting operations director responsible for Hong Kong rail operations once Gaffney retires.

Q-TIP

May 24th, 2005, 06:31 PM

Searched this thread and there is no MTR network map (english)? Anyone got a current one showing the latest proposals. Its been a while since Ive been to Lantau but it's developing well with HK Disneyland...

superchan7

May 24th, 2005, 09:57 PM

www.urbanrail.net has all the planned lines on the full map.

--> Asia --> Hongkong --> click the map to view full size

hkskyline

May 24th, 2005, 10:57 PM

24 May 2005
MTR Press Release
Sunny Bay Station Opens For Tung Chung Line Service Only

From 1 June 2005 onward, the Tung Chung Line platforms of Sunny Bay Station will commence operation allowing passengers to board and alight from Tung Chung Line trains in the station.

This opening would facilitate authorized personnel to access the Penny’s Bay area which remains a construction area not open to the public.

When the Disneyland Resort Line commences service later this summer to tie in with the opening of the Hong Kong Disneyland in September, MTR passengers can interchange at Sunny Bay Station to the Disneyland Resort Line.

With the opening of Sunny Bay station, there will be extra traveling time for both the
Airport Express and the Tung Chung Line services. The journey times for Airport xpress
(Hong Kong Station to Airport Station) and Tung Chung Line (Hong Kong Station to Tung Chung Station) will become 24 minutes and 28 minutes respectively.

hkskyline

May 24th, 2005, 11:00 PM

hkskyline

May 26th, 2005, 03:26 PM

MTR Lands $725M Rail Project in China
Thursday May 26, 9:00 am ET

HONG KONG (AP) -- Hong Kong's MTR Corp. said Thursday it has landed a 6 billion Chinese yuan (US$725 million) railway project in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, as the subway operator continues to expand outside its home turf.

The project, which MTR will build and operate, will include a 20.5-kilometer (12.7-mile) double-track urban railway with 15 stations.

"Whilst Hong Kong always remains MTRC's home, we are also looking beyond Hong Kong for business opportunities to generate new revenue and profit streams," said MTR Chief Executive C.K. Chow. This is MTR's second metro project in China after it signed on in February to construct and operate a metro line in Beijing in a public-private partnership project.

ailiton

May 27th, 2005, 11:20 AM

New Tung Chung Line map:

http://www.hkedcity.net/citizen_files/aa/dz/go4545/visitor_cabinet/120046/mtr_002.JPG

http://www.hkedcity.net/citizen_files/aa/dz/go4545/visitor_cabinet/120046/mtr_001.JPG

Rachmaninov

May 28th, 2005, 01:31 AM

Wow! Interchange on every station apart from Olympic!

superchan7

May 28th, 2005, 01:37 AM

Also kind of interesting how none of the stations have interchange for more than one other line, except for Hong Kong Station.

PS: Rachmaninov, I found you! :weirdo:
(I should've paid more attention to those Rachmaninov references of yours)

Rachmaninov

May 28th, 2005, 01:42 AM

:applause: Great job superchan7! You win!

superchan7

May 28th, 2005, 01:49 AM

I'd also like to note that the LEDs on the Tung Chung Line trains aren't that great. Did they swap for some brighter ones?

hkskyline

May 28th, 2005, 06:51 AM

HK Airport express line resumes operation after storm

HONG KONG, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Trains on the airport express line resumed operation after a break down halted service for an hour, the Mass Transit Railway Corp (MTRC) said here Friday.

The stoppage occurred at 7:30 pm. The MTRC said the disruption was linked to a thunderstorm that hit the territory Friday evening. Emergency bus services were arranged for passengers during the stoppage.

The thunderstorm caused 48 flights to delay leaving Hong Kong, according to sources from Airport Authority Hong Kong.

During the bad weather, one was killed and four injured in two accidents in the western part of the New Territories, local media reported.

In one accident, two trucks collided into each other, killing one and injuring three.

In the other accident, which occurred almost at the same place but in the opposite direction, a truck crashed into the rock along the road. One man was slightly injured.

The rain also led to traffic jams across Hong Kong island and New Territories.

hkskyline

May 28th, 2005, 07:17 AM

MTRC plans more lines in Shenzhen
Vicki Kwong
May 27, 2005

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Business/images/subway0527.jpg
A train driver goes through a subway tunnel in Shenzhen where MTR has signed a memo of understanding for two more lines. AP

Subway operator MTR Corp said it plans to invest in two more subway lines in Shenzhen as it seeks to expand income sources outside its home base.

The company Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with Shenzhen's city government to cooperate on construction and operation of the Metro Lines 2 and 3 projects, chief executive Chow Chung-kong said.

The two projects will cost more than 10 billion yuan (HK$9.4 billion), according an estimate from Chen Biao, director of Shenzhen's planning bureau.

MTRC has been investing outside Hong Kong, where its six rail lines face competition from Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp, which operates commuter rail lines in the city, and bus companies. The subway operator wants to expand in Shenzhen and other mainland cities, which are adding subway lines as road traffic increases.

MTRC is also spending 735 million yuan to help build a subway line in Beijing and plans to submit proposals to invest in the three other lines that the city government is adding as it prepares to host the 2008 summer Olympic Games. The subway operator is also in talks to invest in a rail project in Wuhan, the capital of central Hubei province, spokeswoman Wong Chiu-yung said on May 10.

The company also signed a concession agreement for the extension of Shenzhen's Metro Line 4, on which it is spending six billion yuan. MTRC will finance 40 percent of the project with internal funds and the remainder will come from loans, it said. MTRC first announced its plans to invest in Line 4 in January 2004. The company will add 16 kilometers over four years to a 4.5- kilometer rail line.

Outside of Asia, MTRC last November formed a venture with GNER Holdings that will bid to run a commuter train service between London and the south coast of Britain.

It also has a venture with British construction company John Laing to bid for the Thameslink/Great Northern franchise. The venture, MTR Laing Railway, is one of five pre-qualified bidders that also include National Express Group and Stagecoach Group.

BLOOMBERG

hkskyline

May 31st, 2005, 05:10 PM

Platform screen doors under installation by S3M64~DP2157 from a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/tak_hvpsd.jpg

superchan7

May 31st, 2005, 07:13 PM

Anyone know the progress on the remaining stations?

hkskyline

June 1st, 2005, 02:48 AM

MTR lines up Shenzhen deals
Rail firm chief says 10b yuan projects will help achieve economies of scale abroad
Denise Tsang in Shenzhen
27 May 2005
South China Morning Post

MTR Corp has picked up two more metro projects in Shenzhen costing at least 10 billion yuan as it pushes for economies of scale in offshore investments.

The partially privatised urban railway service provider and the Shenzhen municipal government yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding on the investment, construction and operation of Shenzhen Metro Lines 2 and 3.

Following an initial Shenzhen deal 16 months ago marking its first direct investment on the mainland, MTR yesterday also signed a concession agreement to invest in, build and operate the second phase of the city's Metro Line 4 for 30 years.

The six billion yuan, 16km extension due by 2009 is the country's first rail line based on a build-operate-transfer model.

MTR chief executive Chow Chung-kong said fresh investments in Shenzhen were part of a strategy to maximise return and use resources as the growth-challenged corporation sought to capitalise on deregulation of overseas rail markets.

"The potential projects [of Lines 2 and 3] mean a solid step further on our investments across the border. We want to build a web of rail lines in a city where we have a presence," Mr Chow said. "Having a single rail line in a city is not meaningful; therefore we want to create economies of scale."

He added the MTR was keen to repeat its proven business model - using profits from property development along tracks to recoup rail investments - on overseas projects.

The second stage of Shenzhen Metro Line 4 is a test case of what Mr Chow called "a rail plus property development model", with 2.9 million square metres of land to be developed along the line between Shaoniangong in the south and Longhua Town Centre in the north.

The project requires the MTR to spend 2.4 billion yuan as registered capital of a project firm. The rest of the funding would come from non-recourse financing, he said.

The existing first phase of Metro Line 4, a 4.5km section between Huanggang and Shaoniangong in Futian district, will be linked to the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp's Lok Ma Chau spur line due for completion in 2007.

Chen Biao, a director of the Shenzhen Municipal Planning and Reform Bureau, said Metro Lines 2 and 3, which would cost at least 10 billion yuan, would be part of the special economic zone's five core metro lines costing 36 billion yuan.

Citing a continuing preliminary study on the design of the two lines, Mr Chow said it was premature to reveal the form of investment and timetable of construction.

Metro Line 2 is a 14.4km, 11-station spur off Line 1 at Window of the World station to Shekou West, serving western Shenzhen. In eastern Shenzhen, the 32.8km Line 3 serving 19 stations will run from Honglingzhonglu in Lowu district to Longxingjie in Longgang district.

Mr Chow said the MTR, which in February recorded its first subway deal in Beijing and is hoping for three more there, did not expect overseas projects to make material contributions in the near term.

Analysts are cautious about the MTR's investments outside Hong Kong because potentially higher returns had higher risks.

Some contacted yesterday said they would wait and see if the rail-plus-property development model was feasible across the border. They were also worried by competition from other modes of transport.

Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung said after the contract-signing that a government decision on the potential MTR-KCRC merger would not be affected by the forthcoming election of Hong Kong's Chief Executive. She said talks on the merger terms were progressing.

littlearea

June 1st, 2005, 03:08 AM

Platform screen doors under installation by S3M64~DP2157 from a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/KS2043/tak_hvpsd.jpg

Which station is this? :runaway:

ailiton

June 1st, 2005, 03:26 AM

^Looks like Tai Koo.

hyacinthus

June 1st, 2005, 03:34 AM

http://img138.echo.cx/img138/1065/dsc60724ul.jpg

hyacinthus

June 1st, 2005, 03:38 AM

http://img224.echo.cx/img224/2031/dsc60742uk.jpg

http://img98.echo.cx/img98/1749/dsc60762ue.jpg

hkskyline

June 1st, 2005, 06:28 AM

31 May 2005
Five More Green Minibus Routes Offer Discount With MTR
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-05-042-E.pdf

Starting tomorrow (1 June 2005), MTR passengers will be able to enjoy Bus Interchange Discounts on five more Green Minibus (GMB) routes. They are: Route 7 in Tsim Sha Tsui, Route 10A in Central; and Routes 10, 11 and 31 in Causeway Bay.

Adult Octopus Card users who transfer between the MTR and one of the five GMB routes will be able to save either $0.5 or $1.0 on the combined MTR/GMB fare. The discount will be valid within one hour of a passenger entering or exiting the MTR ticket gates at the designated MTR stations.

With the addition of the five routes, a total of 18 GMB routes now offer Bus Interchange Discounts with the MTR.

hkskyline

June 1st, 2005, 03:00 PM

May 28, 2005
Government Press Release
MTR asked to submit report on service halt

Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao has asked the Mass Transit Railway to submit a report on the Airport Express' hour-long service disruption.

Speaking on a radio talk show today, Dr Liao said the service halt last evening may be related to the poor weather, adding feeder services were provided to affected passengers.

On the proposed higher penalty for red-light jumping offences, Dr Liao said at present an average daily of 100 red-light jumping cases are recorded. An opinion survey found 79% of the respondents support the proposed increase in driving offence points.

She admitted the existing penalty lacks a deterrent effect. To tackle the issue, the Government has proposed raising the driving offence points from three to five. Meanwhile, the number of red-light cameras will rise to 96 from 28 and improvements will be carried out at 20 locations to enhance drivers' visibility of traffic lights.

Dr Liao stressed the proposed legislation, which will be tabled to the Legislative Council next month, has taken into account working drivers' concerns.

hkskyline

June 3rd, 2005, 06:49 PM

Rail firms closer to a union
Denise Tsang
3 June 2005
South China Morning Post

Merger talks between Hong Kong's two rail firms are on track, according to MTR Corp chairman Raymond Chien Kuo-fung.

The partially privatised MTR and government-owned Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp submitted a joint proposal to integrate in September last year and although Mr Chien declined to specify a timeframe for the merger, he said the parties aimed to merge as soon as possible.

"The merger is a large and complicated project, and there are inevitably some differences on the merger terms," he said after the MTR's annual shareholder meeting yesterday. "However, gaps are narrowing. The sooner we complete the discussions, the better."

The merger to be done by selling the KCRC to the MTR, aims to create savings that in turn could be passed on to passengers through lower fares.

It also aims to boost government revenue through the sale of government assets.

"Given the size of the merger, we need patience in discussions," Mr Chien said. He told shareholders the MTR was likely to receive a boost in profits this year from the sale of residential project the Arch, above Kowloon Station.

"We are likely to recognise the profit contribution of the Arch this year rather than next year if the occupation permit is issued by the end of this year," he said.

"The sales are proceeding faster than expected since it was launched in April."

A joint development with Sun Hung Kai Properties, the Arch launched internal sales at record-breaking prices.

Meanwhile, Mr Chien said the Disneyland rail line on Lantau would open in tandem with the theme park in September.

Despite looming competition from up to 70 bus routes directly from the mainland to the theme park, he said the MTR did not believe this would hurt the financial viability of the rail line.

"Competition is inevitable, but we will do our best," he said.