HONG KONG | Mass Transit Railway [Archive] - Page 3

hkskyline

June 24th, 2005, 07:18 AM

MTR on an uncertain track in China
Real estate will be key to profitability of HK's metro operator as it looks to expand beyond its home market, says Justine Lau.
22 June 2005
Financial Times

When CK Chow, theformer chief executive of Brambles Industries, returned to his home town of Hong Kong to head MTR Corporation, the subway operator, at the end of 2003, both Mr Chow and MTR were at a crossroads.

Mr Chow had resigned from the Anglo-Australian group amid strong criticism over his inability to turn round the struggling company.

MTR, meanwhile, was suffering from the after-effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak and was desperate to expand beyond Hong Kong's saturated market.

After it opened in 1979, MTR enjoyed strong passenger and revenue growth.

The company's profits were driven in large part by the government awarding it rights to develop the real estate surrounding its stations, with the property business often subsidising the less profitable trains.

But in the past few years, the operating environment in Hong Kong has become increasingly challenging, following a slump in the property market in the late 1990s and a slowdown in passenger growth. Overseas expansion has therefore become one of MTR's main priorities.

Last year, MTR announced its first project outside the territory - a plan to invest Rmb6bn (Dollars 725m) to build a subway in Shenzhen, the southern Chinese city neighbouring Hong Kong, along with rights to develop 2.9m square metres of land.

It has also formed a venture to build a Rmb15.3bn subway in Beijing and explored opportunities in other Chinese cities such as Wuhan, Chengdu, Tianjin and Nanjing.

"Every major city in China has in their planning a 400km to 450km metro railway. In Hong Kong, we have 88km. So every one of those cities is going to build a network that is 4.5 times bigger than ours in the next 15 to 20 years," Mr Chow says.

While the potential is great, some analysts have concerns about the profitability of these investments and their potential risks.

"You look at railway companies around the globe. They are not hugely profitable and they don't always generate solid economic returns for shareholders. That basically tells you that if you are going to build a railway anywhere, you need decent subsidies," says Danie Schutte, analyst at CLSA.

For MTR, such subsidies in China have come in two forms. In the Shenzhen project, the property development is expected to help recoup its rail investment. In Beijing, the municipal government has committed to fund 70 per cent of the capital expenditure.

One analyst, who declined to be named, estimates MTR will still make a loss of Rmb38m a year over its 30-year franchise from the Shenzhen project despite the property development rights.

The same analyst forecasts the Beijing project will generate profits of Rmb60m a year, lifting MTR's earnings by less than 1 per cent in 2008.

"On the railway side, China is going to be a very controlled market. I doubt if MTR will have a lot of flexibility to price. On the property side, the central government's measures to cool down the market from time to time is not good news for them," the analyst says.

Mr Chow says the projects in China will become cash-flow positive in 10 years.

He says MTR will not invest more than 10 per cent of its shareholders' funds in China in the foreseeable future. MTR's shareholders funds were HKDollars 63.5bn in 2004.

But this does not mean MTR will not stop looking abroad.

"We are going for an operating franchise in Europe. These (European franchises) are different from the Chinese businesses: they do not require any investment and we will get the cash from the first day of operation," Mr Chow says.

MTR hired Jeremy Long, former managing director of UK-based FirstGroup's rail division, to head its European operation in April.

It is bidding for two projects in the UK and is looking for a local partner to tender for a project in Sweden as well as considering entering Germany and Italy.

But Mr Chow insists the company has not forgotten its home market, where property prices have rebounded and passenger numbers have been inching up thanks to strong tourism growth.

"Two years ago, I would agree with you that growth in Hong Kong might be quite limited. But now I think the Hong Kong market has changed. It is still going to be very big," he says.

sfgadv02

June 24th, 2005, 07:28 AM

New trains had damaged doors. It is said that people are cutting them up at night. Police are searching for possible motives. Argh...hope they get caught. >(

http://the-sun.com.hk/channels/news/20050621/img/sn02062101_big.jpg

http://the-sun.com.hk/channels/news/20050621/img/sn02062102_big.jpg

hkskyline

June 24th, 2005, 07:47 AM

Hangzhou rail plan drives MTR shares to 4-year high
Denise Tsang
10 June 2005
South China Morning Post

MTR Corp shares reached a four-year high yesterday after the company expressed interest in a 100 billion yuan Hangzhou subway project in its latest drive into the mainland.

The partially privatised corporation's stock jumped a further 2.83 per cent to $14.50, bringing an accumulated gain of 12.4 per cent over the past month. It has outperformed the Hang Seng Index by 18.38 per cent since the start of the year.

Brokers and analysts attributed the revived interest to the MTR's increasing penetration across the border.

Other key factors, such as an earlier than expected share of profits from property development in West Kowloon and a reversal of fortunes for its subway operations in Hong Kong as the economy improved, spurred buying sentiment.

"The growth story supercedes the protracted overhang of the potential merger with the KCRC and sale of the government's second batch of MTR shares. After all, many investors are forgetful," one analyst said.

In its latest bid to seek growth outside the matured and competitive Hong Kong market, the MTR yesterday said it was examining a potential role in a planned, eight-line, 280km subway system in Hangzhou.

Ruling out direct investment in the project, a spokeswoman said the MTR would study whether it should play a role as a project manager or consultant. It helped review the feasibility study of Hangzhou's Metro Line One project in 2003.

"We don't think we will invest in the project, but will look at other roles," she said. "We will focus our resources on two direct investment projects in Beijing and Shenzhen."

The Hangzhou project would be developed in phases after securing government approval recently, the Wen Wei Po newspaper reported.

"[The MTR's] current share-price rally appears justifiable seeing how the market is building up some expectations on future net asset value expansion from both property price appreciation [and] overseas value-enhancing subway projects," said Credit Suisse First Boston in a research note.

The brokerage is the latest to upgrade its earnings and net asset value forecasts for the MTR. It has raised its earnings estimates for the three years to 2007 less than 1 per cent and its net asset value figure 3 per cent to $16.80 per share.

After the MTR disclosed in April that it was likely to recognise profits from internal sales of the Arch apartments in West Kowloon this year instead of next, Daiwa Institute of Research lifted its earnings estimate 44.4 per cent to $5.81 billion this year and 0.7 per cent to $6 billion next year.

hkskyline

June 24th, 2005, 07:56 AM

June 24, 2005
Hong Kong's MTR Corp seeks better power deal from CLP, HK Electric - report

HONG KONG (AFX) - MTR Corp Ltd has called for more competition in the power market and accused Hong Kong's two power producers of earning 'super-normal profits', the South China Morning Post reported, citing MTR Corp chief executive Chow Chung-kong.

Presenting its views to a government-sponsored public consultation on the way forward for Hong Kong's power market, Chow said the regulatory environment does not provide incentives 'to ensure companies supply at a lower cost; indeed the incentives tend to work the other way.'

He added: 'As a result, industrial users in Hong Kong, such as MTR, bear one of the highest electricity costs in the world.'

The scheme of control covering Hong Kong's two power producers, CLP Holdings Ltd and Hong Kong Electric Holdings, is due to expire in 2008, and the government is conducting a review to find out if changes need to be made.

hkskyline

June 26th, 2005, 08:33 AM

New Issue-HK's MTR Corp unit places HK$500 mln note due 2020

HONG KONG, June 24 (Reuters) - The following fixed-rate note issue has been privately placed, lead manager HSBC said.

Issuer : MTR Corporation (C.I.) Ltd.
Guarantor : MTR Corporation Ltd.
Issue Amount : HK$500 million
Maturity Date : July 6, 2020
Coupon : 4.28 per cent per annum, payable quarterly
Issue Price : at par
Payment Date : July 4, 2005
Ratings : Aa3 / AA-
Listing : No
Denominations : 500,000
Governing Law : English
Sales Limits : Reg.S, TEFRA D, Not Rule 144a eligible, HK, UK, Cayman Islands
Documentation : Debt Issuance Programme

hkskyline

June 29th, 2005, 04:35 PM

27 June 2005
Corporate Press Release
Normal Fares To Resume At MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station

Octopus cardholders transferring between the MTR and the KCR East Rail at Tsim Sha Tsui are reminded that normal fares will apply from 1 July 2005, after the expiry of an introductory Rail Interchange Discount.

The Interchange Discount was introduced to encourage passengers to try out the new interchange facility at Tsim Sha Tsui when the KCR East Rail’s new East Tsim Sha Tsui Station opened for service in October 2004 along with two convenient pedestrian subways beneath Mody Road and Middle Road.

From time to time, the Corporation provides different types of promotion and discount offers to promote railway usage and thank passengers for their support.

arashi_1987

June 30th, 2005, 05:18 AM

Skybean

June 30th, 2005, 05:20 AM

^You can see how depressed the man is in that picture.

hkskyline

July 2nd, 2005, 05:42 PM

Western on the MTR track
Chester Yung and Danny Chung, Hong Kong Standard
July 1, 2005

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/images/railway0701.jpg
Green light for $7b West Island Line, with three new stations due for completion in four to five years

The end of a 20-year wait by the 200,000 travel-weary residents of Western District is in sight after the MTR Corp said Thursday it will extend the Island Line to cover the area.

Construction cost of the West Island Line is expected to be HK$6 billion-HK$7 billion, said MTRC chief executive Chow Chung-kong.

The new line, Chow said, will take four to five years to complete, and will be a three-kilometer extension of the Island Line starting from Sheung Wan, with three new stations at Sai Ying Pun, University and Kennedy Town.

On completion of the West Island Line, Chow said travel time from Kennedy Town to Central would be seven minutes, to Causeway Bay 13 minutes and to Tsim Sha Tsui 14 minutes. He also said fares for the new lines will be similar to the MTR's current fare structure.

Speaking after an Executive Council meeting, Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao said the planned West Island Line will be a convenient alternative to commuters in both the Western and Central districts who now rely mainly on other modes of public transport.

She said "the new rail line will generate significant transport and economic benefits to the community."

Liao added that, at present, there is congestion along the main corridors in Western District during rush-hour when traffic lines along Queen's Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central can be as long as one kilometer.

"As Western District is fully developed, there are serious constraints in constructing any new roads to alleviate the traffic congestion problem. The West Island Line will divert passengers from road-based transport to rail services and is, therefore, fully justified on transport grounds," Liao said.

She said the government will begin negotiations with the MTRC on the detailed scope, cost and implementation program for the West Island Line.

It was welcome news for Central and Western district council member Stephen Chan. He urged the MTR to start construction as soon as possible.

"Seven years of construction is far too long as we have been fighting [for an MTR line] for more than 20 years," Chan said.

Legco transport panel chairman Lau Kong-wah urged the government to speed up discussions with the MTR for the project to begin next year.

Responding to the MTR extension to Kennedy Town, a spokeswoman for both Citybus and New World First Bus admitted that it will have an impact, but said it is "too early to assess" the effect at this stage.

With regard to financing the new line, Chow said that as it was an infrastructure project, the government will have to subsidise part of the cost in order to allow the MTR to get a "commercial return on the investment."

"But if you look at it from an infrastructure investment point of view and a public spending point of view, it's a very cost effective way for the government," Chow said. This was because while the government has to meet 100 percent of capital investment and recurring maintenance costs for infrastructure like roads and highways, with the MTR, "normally" the level of government support was less than 50 percent of capital expenditure.

Chow said the MTR would continue to discuss financing options such as property rights, cash payments, capital injection and paying dividends with the government but said it was difficult to say when an agreement would be reached.

Meanwhile, the MTR said it will continue studying the proposed South Island Line, which has two sections, taking into account the latest proposals for tourism and commercial development of Southern District and Ocean Park. "According to our calculations, if the South Island Line is built, 30,000 jobs would be created in the area," Chow said.

The proposed eastern section would run seven kilometers from Admiralty via Ocean Park, Wong Chuk Hang and Lei Tung to South Horizons.

The western section would run for eight kilometers from University station via Cyberport, Wah Fu and Aberdeen to Wong Chuk Hang.

sfgadv02

July 2nd, 2005, 08:06 PM

Oh finally!! So glad, but the extension was previously erected before, so it should be easier for them.

Anekdote

July 2nd, 2005, 09:00 PM

Great news !!

hkskyline

July 4th, 2005, 04:20 PM

Sunday July 3, 7:02 PM
Hundreds rally for discounts for handicapped people on Hong Kong subways

AP - Handicapped protesters, some in wheelchairs and others walking on crutches, crowded into a subway train in Hong Kong Sunday to demand a half-price discount fare for the disabled, police and local media said.

Television footage showed one protester with crutches being helped onto an escalator in a subway station. Another demonstrator, apparently blind, navigated with a cane and others traveled in wheelchairs.

The protesters chanted "we want half price" and carried signs that said, "live up to corporate social responsibility right away," and "reducing handicapped people's burden helps them fit into society."

Wong Chiu-yung, a spokeswoman for Hong Kong's subway operator, MTR Corp., said the company is focused on making its services more accessible for the handicapped but had no plans to offer them a discount.

Wong said MTR has spent more than 400 million Hong Kong dollars (US$51 million) on upgrading its infrastructure for the disabled in the past decade and plans to spend another HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) in the next five years.

Police spokeswoman Ivy Yue said 600 people participated in the demonstration. Hong Kong television station Cable TV said local disabled people and their relatives participated.

hkskyline

July 7th, 2005, 03:52 AM

LCQ1: MTR West Island Line to start planning and design
Government Press Release
Wednesday, July 6, 2005

Following is a question by the Hon Ma Lik and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (July 6) :

Question:

In February this year, the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) submitted to the Government a revised project proposal on two railway extensions, namely the West Hong Kong Island Line (WIL) and the South Hong Kong Island Line (SIL). The Transport Panel of this Council also passed two motions in the same month urging the Government to expedite the construction of the railway extensions. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) the proposed implementation timetable for WIL; and

(b) whether WIL and SIL are still treated as a single project, and thus only one financial analysis report has been provided; if so, whether such an approach is the cause for WIL's not being implemented yet?

Reply :

Madam President,

The Chief Executive-in-Council has agreed that:

(i) the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) should be asked to proceed with the preliminary planning and design of the proposed "West Island Line" (WIL), involving the extension of the MTR Island Line from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town with two intermediate stations at Sai Ying Pun and University;

(ii) negotiations with the MTRCL on the detailed scope, cost and implementation programme for the WIL should commence; and

(iii) the proposed "South Island Line" (SIL) should be kept under review and its way forward considered in the light of the results of the review on the planning of tourism and commercial development in the Southern District due to be completed by the end of 2005 and our consideration of Ocean Park's redevelopment proposal.

We are following up the above decision, and are now negotiating with the MTRCL on the detailed scope, cost and implementation programme for the WIL. We hope that we can reach agreement with the MTRCL as soon as practicable.

In the revised proposal submitted by the MTRCL in February this year, the WIL is set out as one proposed project. The SIL is split into "South Island Line (East)" and "South Island Line (West)". A separate financial analysis on the WIL has been provided in the proposal.

hkskyline

July 7th, 2005, 07:40 PM

Pulling all stops on railway funding
MTR's West Island line may cost the government $3.5b, writes Denise Tsang
7 July 2005
South China Morning Post

Now that the much-awaited West Island rail line has been given the green light, the government and MTR Corp are bargaining over funding for the $6 billion to $7 billion project.

After 20 years of discussions and revisions, the MTR last week was finally allowed to proceed with further planning of a 2.8km rail extension to Kennedy Town from Sheung Wan. It is expected that commuters who now take up to 25 minutes to get into Central in peak-hour traffic will do the trip underground in about eight minutes.

The government's approval was cheered by Western District residents, but the rail extension will not be ready for service until at least 2010, pending a compromise on filling a funding gap of several billion dollars for the project.

There are a number of entangling issues, including whether the government and the rail corporation should work on a sustainable funding alternative to the once financially proven property-plus-rail model and whether the two parties should compromise specifically on the West Island line project.

Other key questions are how much construction cost the government should bear and the type of subsidy to allow a return of 1 to 3 per cent above the MTR's weighted average cost of capital.

The discussions process is arduous. A case in point is the MTR's decision to shift its strategy of pursuing collective funding for both West Island and South Island rail lines by focusing on the West Island line at this stage.

The West Island project will require up to 50 per cent, or $3 billion to $3.5 billion, of government funding to generate "an acceptable commercial return", an MTR spokeswoman said.

"We are open to any form of funding as long as it helps us achieve our target return," she said.

Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung hinted last week that government's contribution to the construction cost could be in the form of cash, land grants and forgoing future MTR dividends.

An MTR insider suggested the subsidy could even be a reduction in some public transport choices such as franchised buses and minibuses to minimise competition.

However, a senior government official familiar with the project said negotiations would be lengthy as the bureau was pressing MTR to lower the construction cost.

"The construction cost is still expensive," the official said and pointed to limited land for property development in Western district and the government's housing policy as hurdles in determining the form of funding.

"The nature of the West Island rail project is different from other rail projects in new towns such as Tseung Kwan O and Tung Chung, where everything is built from scratch," the official said. "Therefore, the funding formula is likely to be applied specifically on the project."

Bill Barron, a senior fellow at public policy think-tank Civic Exchange and a former University of Hong Kong professor, called on the government to come up with a sustainable funding model for future rail projects.

"The government is doing things in an ad hoc manner again, which works against long-term planning of rail projects if the MTR doesn't know what the financing model will be," he said. "If the government finds it unacceptable to subsidise rail lines, why is it acceptable to pay for the construction and maintenance costs of roads?"

Comparing overseas experience in government subsidising rail projects, Mr Barron said cash grants were by far the best and most simple form of subsidy.

"The property-plus-rail model turns the MTR into a very good property developer, which by business nature it shouldn't have been," he said.

The model, which counts on government grants of land to the MTR to develop properties above train stations to create demand for rail services and subsidise rail construction costs is no longer feasible after the government modified its housing and land policies and the economy went through a long period of deflation.

"Even if we talk about granting the MTR land for the West Island line project, we have to take into consideration [Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands] Michael Suen [Ming-yeung]'s housing policy," the government official said.

"If we talk about giving cash funding, we need to convince [Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury] Frederick Ma [Si-hang] for spending billions of dollars of public money into a rail project with an aim to help the MTR achieve a commercial return," the official added.

No matter what funding solution is found for the West Island line, it will have far-reaching implications for future rail projects such as the MTR's South Island rail line and Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp's Sha Tin to Central rail link.

hkskyline

July 9th, 2005, 03:02 AM

地鐵幕門質素被轟
08/07/2005

http://the-sun.com.hk/channels/tsnmain/header/img/main_logo.gif

【本報訊】地鐵公司昨日已暫停坑口站「飛站」事故肇事車長的駕駛職務，並協助調查事故。有立法會議員炮轟地鐵一方面向乘客收取月台幕門保養費，但卻不保證幕門服務質素，當局有需要加強監管。

允加強車長培訓

地鐵公司表示會加強車長的培訓，及採取適當措施以確保車長當值時提高警覺性，保證行車期間車門及月台幕門正常開啟。

理工大學機械工程系科學主任盧覺強指出，地鐵幕門及月台屬全自動系統，一旦出現故障，車長可改用人手即時開關補救，今次事件顯示了地鐵應開辦更多培訓提高車長應變能力。

立法會交通事務委員會主席劉江華建議政府除統計列車誤點率、班次等數據外，應統計各類事故數據來評估地鐵的表現。有議員不滿地鐵未來十年都會向乘客收取一角幕門建造及保養費，出現故障是不可接受的。

hkskyline

July 10th, 2005, 02:02 AM

Yam O @ night by "1311" from a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/1311/SunnyBay/IMG_0909.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/1311/SunnyBay/IMG_0892.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/1311/SunnyBay/IMG_0917.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/1311/SunnyBay/IMG_0912.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/1311/SunnyBay/IMG_0896.jpg

hkskyline

July 10th, 2005, 04:46 AM

Views sought on the Tung Chung Cable Car Bylaw
Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Government Press Release

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

The Legislative Council now invites members of the public and interested parties to express their views on the Tung Chung Cable Car Bylaw.

The Secretary for the Economic Development and Labour has given notice to move a motion at the Legislative Council meeting. The motion seeks the Legislative Council to approve the Tung Chung Cable Car Bylaw made by the Mass Transit Railway Corporation Limited under section 22 of the Tung Chung Cable Car Ordinance (Cap. 577). At the House Committee meeting held on 17 June 2005, Members agreed to form a subcommittee to examine the Bylaw. The purpose of the Bylaw is to provide for matters relating to the control, operation and management of the Cable Car System and the traffic management in the Cable Car System Area. For details of the Bylaw and the relevant information, please visit the website:
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr04-05/english/hc/sub_leg/sc10/general/sc10.htm

A Subcommittee, chaired by Hon Miriam LAU Kin-yee, has been formed to study the Bylaw. Those interested in giving their views on the Bylaw are invited to send their written submissions (preferably in both Chinese and English) to the Clerk to the Subcommittee on or before 18 July 2005 (Monday). They are also requested to indicate whether they intend to make oral representations to the Subcommittee at its meeting to be held on 21 July 2005 (Thursday) at 8:30 am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. Submissions received will be made available to the media and the public and uploaded onto the Website of the Legislative Council unless advised otherwise.

hkskyline

July 11th, 2005, 04:42 PM

11 July 2005
Corporate Press Release
New Promotion Offers Replace “Ride 10 Get 1 Free”
Passengers to Enjoy Dining Discounts, $2 Travel and Free Ride Souvenir Tickets!

Starting 17 July 2005, MTR passengers using Octopus cards will enjoy a whole new series of promotion offers after the current “Ride 10 Get One Free” promotion expires.

“The Ride 10 Get One Free promotion was introduced at a difficult time for Hong Kong when it suffered an economic decline made worse by SARS. We are pleased to see that the economy has now recovered and in fact, has been growing strongly over the last 18 months. Nevertheless, we continue to look for new promotions to share with our passengers to thank them for their support,” said Mr Adi Lau,

General Manager – Marketing and Station Business of MTR Corporation. “We hope this new series of offers including dining discounts, $2 travel for children and the elderly on Sundays and public holidays as well as exclusive souvenir tickets and train sets will bring more fun to MTR journeys, especially during the summer holidays,” added Mr Lau.

More information : http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/Copy%20of%20PR-05-054-E.pdf

hkskyline

July 13th, 2005, 04:13 PM

South China Morning Post
July 8, 2005
Fix problem with platform doors, transport bureau warns MTR
Felix Chan

Transport chiefs have told the MTR Corporation to take speedy action to ensure passengers don't miss their stops, following two incidents in eight days in which platform screen doors failed to open.

On Wednesday, about 50 passengers on the Tseung Kwan O Line had their journeys delayed when the doors failed to open at Hang Hau. The train pulled out of the station and continued to Po Lam.

A week earlier, a similar incident happened at Admiralty, inconveniencing 200 passengers on a Sheung Wan-bound Island Line train.

The MTR said investigations showed both train drivers had failed to realise the screen doors had malfunctioned.

The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau said yesterday it had asked the MTR to submit a detailed report on the incidents as soon as possible.

A spokesman for the bureau also said the train operator had been asked to suggest measures to prevent a repeat of the incidents.

MTR chief executive Chow Chung-kwong said he and the rest of MTR management were very concerned about what had happened.

He said the train operator would continue reviewing its operating procedures and ask its staff to be more vigilant to avoid similar cases.

Mr Chow admitted it would be difficult to eliminate human error, but insisted such occurrences were very rare on the MTR. He said the company has improved drivers' training, and they are now required to undergo training twice a year.

Legislator Lau Kong-wah, chairman of the Legislative Council's transport panel, said the incidents raised questions about the MTR's procedures for checking new equipment.

"Does this call into question whether the check procedures are stringent enough, or are there problems with maintenance after the installation of new facilities?

"I hope the MTR can look at these issues seriously," he said.

Last month, the government suggested measures, including employing co-drivers, to ensure drivers stop at stations. The suggestions were made after a KCR East driver failed to stop his train manually at Tai Wo when the train's automatic brakes failed three months ago.

hkskyline

July 14th, 2005, 06:54 PM

Developers all aboard for Western revival
Industry players are set to breathe new life into the old residential district following the government's approval of a rail link
Sandy Li
13 July 2005
South China Morning Post

The approval of the MTR West Island line last week has set off a potential race among developers to build up their land banks in the district dominated by old residential properties.

The long-awaited, $7 billion, 3km route will have three stations - University, Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town.

The project has renewed homeowners' hopes of enjoying capital appreciation. Home prices in the area, on average $4,600 per sqft, are 20 per cent to 30 per cent lower than Island East.

Although the proposed line will not start operation until 2012, major developers are gearing up to capitalise on growing demand for housing in Western District once the area's accessibility is improved.

They are urging the government to release some of the waterfront sites for sale, such as the abandoned incinerator plant and abattoir in Kennedy Town, and to relocate the Western Wholesale Food Market in Sai Ying Pun to make way for large-scale residential and commercial projects.

Ricky Wong Kwong-yiu, a sales and marketing director at Wheelock Properties, said that it would not be easy for developers to assemble a site of more than 100,000 sqft for large-scale residential-commercial development similar to that found in Taikoo Shing because Western District was an old area.

"For example, Tseung Kwan O is a new district with more flexibility in town planning. It will be hard to attract homebuyers from Kowloon to Western District unless the area has large, modern housing estates," Mr Wong said.

The new line will cut the travelling time of the 200,000 residents in Western District between Sheung Wan and Kennedy Town by at least half to seven minutes from 15 to 25 minutes now.

Mr Wong said that apart from calling for more government sites to be released for sale, Wheelock was monitoring the availability of private sites.

"We are discussing [options] with various owners now," he said.

The positive news about the MTR project has prompted the group to raise asking prices by up to 10 per cent for its retail project Great Western Plaza on Belcher's Street and for another residential project at 60 Victoria Road.

Shops at Great Western Plaza are on sale now, while the housing project at 60 Victoria Road will go on sale in September.

"The new pricing strategy will reflect the benefits the West Island line will bring to the district," Mr Wong said.

Wheelock Properties is one of 11 bidders to compete for the Urban Renewal Authority's residential redevelopment incorporating up to 1,000 flats in Sai Ying Pun. The tender closed last Friday.

Dennis Law Sau-yiu, managing director of private developer Yu Tai Hing, which often acquires old buildings for redevelopment, said the West Island line would speed up the redevelopment of the district.

"Nearly half of residential buildings [in Western District] are more than 20 years old and some are even potentially dangerous buildings which were built before the war."

But he emphasised that the company would not pay aggressive prices to acquire old properties because the new line would take five or six years to complete.

"Developers will not maximise their profit if the projects are released years ahead of the opening of the West Island line," Mr Law said.

Chartersince Realty International associate director Desmond Poon Chi-ming said Kowloon Development and Hongkong Land Holdings bought old properties in the district years ago, hoping to benefit from the approval of the line.

"Over the past 10 years, investors believed opening a shopping mall would never be successful in Western District," he said.

So prices for street-level shops in the district lagged other areas. For instance, a 453 sqft shop in Sai Ying Pun would sell for only $2.4 million or $5,300 per sqft, he said.

hkskyline

July 17th, 2005, 02:04 AM

MTR criticised for silence over screen doors' failure
Elaine Wu
15 July 2005
South China Morning Post

Lawmakers have criticised MTR Corporation for "unreasonably" refusing to disclose to the public results from studies into two incidents of screen doors failing to open, which prevented hundreds of passengers from getting off at Admiralty and Hang Hau stations.

The rail operator submitted two reports to the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau in the past week but declined to give a summary of the findings to the media.

MTR spokeswoman Helen Cheung said the company told the public on June 29, the day one of the incidents happened, that it was caused by human error. She said no further explanation was needed. "We have already issued the basic information of what happened on the day of the incident," she said. "It was very quick and with high transparency."

A bureau spokeswoman said the government was not in a position to disclose the MTR reports.

Legislator Andrew Cheng Kar-foo said the public should be told of the findings of the investigation so there could be a discussion.

"I think this gives the feeling that the government is spoiling MTR and KCRC by letting them continue to have these operation failures without any reasonable explanation," he said. "They might have some reasonable explanation, but if they don't disclose it then no one knows."

Lau Kong-wah, chairman of the Legislative Council's transport panel, said he would consider including the issue at the panel's meeting next Friday so that MTR executives could explain what happened.

On June 29, screen doors failed to open on the Island Line at Admiralty, forcing 200 passengers to get off in Central instead and then take another train back to Admiralty. A similar incident happened on July 6 at Hang Hau.

These passengers can call MTR's customer service hotline at 2881 8888 to find out if they are eligible for compensation.

hkskyline

July 18th, 2005, 04:25 PM

Rail operators get Moody's credit boost
15 July 2005
South China Morning Post

MTR Corp and Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp will for the first time have higher credit ratings than the Hong Kong government after an upgrade by Moody's Investors Service yesterday.

The upgrade of their respective long-term foreign currency ratings to Aa3 from A1 was due to a change in methodology used to rate government-related issuers that was first announced in April. The new system formally incorporates the expected level of support from the government to prevent a default, which in the case of Hong Kong's two railway operators is considered high.

At present, Moody's rates Hong Kong's domestic currency debt Aa3, but its foreign currency debt is rated A1 with a stable outlook as it is seen as limited by the relationship with China. That link should not affect the credit worthiness of government-related issuers, a Moody's analyst said.

The domestic currency ratings of MTR and KCRC were affirmed at Aa3.

Under the new system, the ratings agency will also assess each issuer on the basis of its baseline credit risk, the default risk of the supporting government and the dependence between the government and the issuer.

The rating agency said 21 Asian quasi-sovereigns had been upgraded due to the system change while 39 had been affirmed at existing levels.

hkskyline

July 20th, 2005, 05:31 PM

July 19, 2005
Government Press Release
Experts hail MTR planning enhancement

The Transport Advisory Committee has welcomed the Government's advancement in planning for the MTR West Island and South Island Lines, and Route 4.

Committee Chairman Teresa Cheng said the move will benefit commuters.

"The community in Western District have been asking for the extension of the Island Line to Kennedy Town. The West Island Line will provide a more convenient alternative to commuters who are now relying mainly on road-based transport. It will reduce traffic on the road and generate significant transport and economic benefits."

Members noted the southern line will be kept under review and its way forward considered in light of the planning of tourism and commercial developments in Southern District.

Route 4 will be kept under review and its way forward considered in the light of the Government's decision on the southern line.

aznichiro115

July 23rd, 2005, 02:30 PM

http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/tv/blueprint05e/20050722.html 2005-7-22 is about the MTR

hkskyline

July 24th, 2005, 03:54 AM

16 July 2005
MTR Disneyland Resort Line gets ready with emergency exercises
Corporate Press Release

The MTR Corporation carried out an emergency exercise on the Disneyland Resort Line today (16 July 2005) jointly with the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Hong Kong Police to test the adequacy and effectiveness of contingency plans for a major incident involving the evacuation of passengers from train and station.

This is one of several major joint emergency exercises in preparation for the opening of the MTR Disneyland Resort Line. The drills and exercises are designed to test responsiveness, co-ordination and communication among MTR staff and emergency services under different emergency scenarios.

The joint exercise was conducted at Disneyland Resort Station at Penny’s Bay this afternoon with about 1,000 volunteers; mostly MTR staff and family members including about 300 children.

The scenario simulated a fire in a train on the way to the Disneyland Resort Station and an emergency evacuation of passengers from train and platform. The train had about 700 passengers on board and was about to arrive at Disneyland Resort Station when a ‘fire’ suddenly broke out and smoke filled the car. Passengers pressed the emergency call button, and the incident train berthed at the station platform where 300 passengers were waiting for a train to go home.

Passengers were immediately evacuated from the station by MTR staff while Fire Engines and Police arrived. ‘Injured passengers’ were taken care of by the ambulance service and police. About 1,000 passengers evacuated from the station gathered at the open space outside the entrance of the Disneyland Theme Park.

Mr. Wilfred Lau, Head of Operations of MTR Corporation said, “The exercise provided an opportunity for emergency services personnel and MTR operations staff to familiarize themselves with emergency procedures and equipment, as well as enhancing coordination and communication between agencies.”

To prepare for the commissioning of the Disneyland Resort Line, a total of 52 exercises simulating various scenarios of different scales have been carried out in the past few months.

“These exercises play an important role in drawing up contingency plans for potential incidents and ensuring full preparedness before the commissioning of the new line,” added Mr. Lau.

londonindyboy

July 25th, 2005, 12:22 AM

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/9673/070305homemtrtravellator4ha.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

hkskyline

July 26th, 2005, 06:57 PM

Disneyland Resort rail link to open August 1
Winnie Chong
26 July 2005
Hong Kong Standard

Disneyland Resort Line, the rail link running between the new Tung Chung Line Sunny Bay Station and the Disneyland Resort Station, will be open to the public August 1.

MTRC's head of operations, Wilfred Lau, said the opening is part of the final preparation work for Hong Kong Disneyland, which will open September 12.

Lau said there will be contingency measures in place to control the crowd at Disneyland Resort Station, while a small section of the Park Promenade between the station exit and the park entrance will be open for public access to facilitate smooth pedestrian flow.

``Advisory public announcements will be broadcast at MTR stations when we see crowds starting to build. And there will be intermittent closure of ticket gates to slow down passenger flow,'' Lau said.

He said the MTRC will work with the police and Disneyland to monitor the crowd situation.

Lau urged the public not to be in a hurry to try out the new service on August 1 and during the initial period of the MTR's operations.

The Disneyland Resort Station was opened to the media Monday. The station is decorated in Victorian style.

Miranda Leung, MTRC's general manager-corporate relations, said that the aim is to take visitors on a journey back in time, traveling from the modern-day Sunny Bay Station to the 19th century-styled Disneyland Resort Station.

Inside the Disneyland Resort Station, people can find Mickey Mouse everywhere as nearly 200 Mickey head logos in five styles are printed on lifts or engraved on lamp poles inside the station.

The resort line trains will be fully automatic. Lau said there may be ``teething problems'' during the early days of operation, but they will try to deal with problems immediately. The route length of Disneyland Resort Line is 3.5 kilometers and it takes only 3 minutes to finish the journey. The fare from Sunny Bay to Disneyland Resort Station is HK$6.

The service hours of the new line will be from 6am to 1am, as with the current MTR system.

Trains will run every four minutes during peak hours and 10 minutes during non-peak hours.

RafflesCity

July 26th, 2005, 08:39 PM

http://img224.echo.cx/img224/2031/dsc60742uk.jpg

http://img98.echo.cx/img98/1749/dsc60762ue.jpg

nice pics hya!

very artfully presented :happy:

hkskyline

July 27th, 2005, 03:43 PM

Crowd-control measures in place for trains to Disneyland
Dennis Eng
26 July 2005
South China Morning Post

Trains on the Tung Chung Line will suspend service to Sunny Bay Station if Disneyland reaches full capacity or dangerous overcrowding occurs at the theme park's rail platform, the MTR Corp said.

Sunny Bay Station can safely accommodate about 4,500 passengers at any one time while the Disneyland Resort platform can handle about 1,600 people.

Crowd-control measures, including public announcements, will be in effect once the number of people reaches 800 at the theme park station, said Albert Ng Ka-wah, deputy railway district commander of the police force. Some train ticket gates may also be temporarily closed if the crowd is estimated to reach 1,600 people.

"These are the crowd capacity numbers we have determined to be safe, although the measures will largely be at the discretion of the theme park operator," Mr Ng said.

The MTRC's Disneyland Resort Line will operate from August 1, six weeks before the theme park officially opens to the public. The driverless train service is fully automatic, capable of shuttling as many as 10,800 passengers between the Sunny Bay and Disneyland Resort Stations per hour in each direction.

The rail company's head of operations, Wilfred Lau Cheuk-man, said "some teething problems may occur during the early days of operation". Such problems could involve the 1.1-metre-high platform gates at the two open-air stations. The "half-height" gates were introduced to avoid upsetting Disney, which did not want the Mickey Mouse-shaped train windows to be obscured by a full-height platform door.

"We have been testing the system for a long time so I only expect very minor problems to arise," Mr Lau said, adding that a close liaison group involving the MTR Corp, police and the theme park will be in force to handle overcrowding.

The MTR Corp said that it aims to capture 40 per cent of all visitors travelling to the theme park.

Park staff will mainly use the train service in its first two weeks of operation. From August 16 onwards, the public is expected to use the rail link more as they will gain free access to Inspiration Lake and Park Promenade. The Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre can handle about 5,000 people while the Park Promenade can host about 27,000.

The Disneyland resort line will run from 6am to 1am every day.

paidos

July 27th, 2005, 05:57 PM

That Mickey Mouse MTR will start its service in a few days?

mrtfreak

July 27th, 2005, 07:34 PM

That Mickey Mouse MTR will start its service in a few days?
August 1st is next week I think. Not sure of the day.

hkskyline

July 28th, 2005, 07:04 PM

Source : http://www.pbase.com/davinci/hongkong__taipei_2004

http://www.pbase.com/davinci/image/36675176.jpg

hkskyline

July 29th, 2005, 06:02 AM

MTR on track for paperless future as engineers move to tablet PCs
The automated set-up lets inspectors update data anywhere along railway routes and has helped speed the process of structural examinations
Bien Perez
26 July 2005
South China Morning Post

In a bid to strengthen its asset-management operations, MTR Corp has quietly moved to automate structural inspection with the use of tablet personal computers.

First deployed in 2003, the Microsoft-based Fujitsu tablet PCs have eliminated the tedious business of carrying blueprints, maps and other paper data by the rail operator's seven-man inspection team.

Engineer Dorian Leung Wai-man, MTR maintenance support manager, said the inspections were carried out annually, covering the railway network's 87.7km route.

"Our inspectors do their job during the non-traffic hours, between 1 o'clock and 5 o'clock in the morning," she said, noting that the tablet PCs had helped to speed up the inspection process during those hours.

The MTR, established in 1979, runs a 19-hour daily passenger service that handles about 2.4 million passengers a day. The service timetable is planned according to passenger demand, taking into account the morning and evening peaks on normal working days.

Harry Leung Hon-wa, systems analyst at the MTR, said the inspection programmes used on the tablet PCs were developed by in-house developers using standards-based software. Data gathered by inspectors is downloaded and studied at the MTR operations headquarters in Kowloon Bay.

The automated set-up allows inspectors to update data anywhere along the railway route, which includes more than 129km of tunnels.

There are no immediate plans to expand or upgrade the maintenance support team's tablet PC infrastructure, based on current job demand. But an increase in budget could drive enhancements, such as digital camera add-on and network connection for the tablet PCs.

Daniel Lai, MTR head of information technology, said the firm's IT budget was comparable with those of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp and other transport firms of a similar size. By comparison, major financial institutions "spend much more" on their annual IT programmes, he said.

Still, the MTR has been anything but conservative in pushing select IT initiatives to improve its operations. Last month, IBM China/Hong Kong completed an Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) consultancy study for the MTR. The study marked a significant milestone for Hong Kong's metro rail system in terms of bolstering safety, operational efficiency, asset use and performing its wide range of maintenance jobs.

IBM's business consulting services unit was first engaged by the MTR in March last year to undertake a strategic asset management review.

That was followed by an EAM Requirements Definition Study in August last year and the development of an EAM Solution Roadmap in March this year.

hkskyline

July 30th, 2005, 07:38 PM

60 walk on tracks as MTR train is stranded
Felix Chan and Petrina Chan
30 July 2005
South China Morning Post

Sixty passengers of a Chai Wan-bound train were forced to walk on the tracks after a power-supply problem stranded their train 40 metres from the station yesterday afternoon.

About 2,500 other commuters suffered delays as a detached power cable at the eastern end of the MTR Island Line led to a two-hour interruption of service between Chai Wan and Heng Fa Chuen.

The power interruption happened at 3.40pm after a support arm holding up a section of the overhead line near Chai Wan station detached. Power to trains operating between the two stations was cut. Shuttle buses ferried affected passengers.

During the interruption, service between Heng Fa Chuen and Sheung Wan was maintained at six-minute intervals.

By 5.15pm, the interval was down to three minutes between Sheung Wan and Taikoo and four minutes between Taikoo and Heng Fa Chuen.

Normal train service resumed half an hour later, upon the completion of temporary repairs.

Some passengers were unhappy about the delays. "I'll take the bus next time. At least if something like this happens it won't be as serious," one commuter said.

Wilfred Lau, MTR Corporation's head of operations, last night apologised on behalf of the company, "especially to the 60 passengers who had to walk to Chai Wan station".

He added: "I wish to emphasise that passenger safety was never at risk {hellip} the tripping of the circuit breaker is a safety protection measure."

The operator said the support arm in question was last inspected in February and would now be sent for "independent, external examination and analysis by experts".

Last Saturday, a signalling failure at Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station delayed hundreds of commuters as trains between Jordan and Tsim Sha Tsui were affected.

hkskyline

July 30th, 2005, 07:42 PM

Metro plans to raise ad rate 10pc
30 July 2005
South China Morning Post

Swedish Metro, publisher of the free daily targeting MTR commuters, is not worried by increasing competition and plans to raise its advertising rate by 10 per cent next year, chief executive Peter Kuo said.

"We don't reduce our rate as our competitors do," Mr Kuo said. "The increase in the ad rate would be a good promotion tool to affirm our leading position in the market."

Metro was established three years ago with exclusive distribution rights for all Mass Transit Railway stations. It has a daily circulation of 340,000 copies aimed at two million commuters. Mr Kuo said printing capacity limited the number of pages to 64, of which 28 were for advertising.

"We have a headache satisfying client demand," Mr Kuo said. In order to better allocate advertising space, Metro plans to introduce a bidding system for key pages.

Advertising space on the front and back pages, for example, would go to the highest bidder - a system he hoped would better serve clients as well as increase revenue.

But advertising agencies doubted the effectiveness of the bidding system.

"Metro should increase its number of pages. It is difficult for a daily to use such a bidding mechanism to boost advertising revenue," one media agent said.

Metro is exploring expansion opportunities. Mr Kuo said the company was eyeing China, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan.

Frederick Yeung

Anekdote

August 1st, 2005, 06:19 PM

MTR HK Disneyland Resort Line opened their doors
Pictures from a Hong Kong forum

http://www2.hkedcity.net/citizen_files/aa/fr/dg50711/public_html/DL1.jpg
http://www2.hkedcity.net/citizen_files/aa/fr/dg50711/public_html/DL2.jpg
http://www2.hkedcity.net/citizen_files/aa/fr/dg50711/public_html/DL3.jpg
http://www2.hkedcity.net/citizen_files/aa/fr/dg50711/public_html/DL5.jpg

http://xs40.xs.to/pics/05311/20050801_MTRsign01.jpg

http://images.fotopic.net/yaufpb.jpg
http://images.fotopic.net/yaufpe.jpg
http://images.fotopic.net/yaufp9.jpg
http://images.fotopic.net/yaufp4.jpg
http://images.fotopic.net/yaufph.jpg
http://images.fotopic.net/yaufpi.jpg
http://images.fotopic.net/yaufpx.jpg
http://images.fotopic.net/yaufpj.jpg
http://images.fotopic.net/yaufpn.jpg
http://images.fotopic.net/yaufpr.jpg
http://images.fotopic.net/yaufpp.jpg

hkskyline

August 5th, 2005, 03:48 AM

August 2, 2005
Crowds expected at Disneyland MTR station
Government Press Release

http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/infrastructureandlogistics/050802/html/050802p003jpg.jpg
Mickey magic: The Disneyland Resort Line carried 9,300 passengers on its first day of operation.

The MTR Corporation will implement crowd control measures at Disneyland Resort Station this weekend as scores are expected to try out the new Disney-themed train.

Although Hong Kong Disneyland will not open until next month, the Disneyland Resort Line carried more than 9,300 passengers on its first day of operation yesterday. And passengers are expected to swell on the weekend as people take the opportunity to try the line and visit the small section of the Park Promenade now open to the public.

The MTRC said the situation will likely warrant control measures like one-way pedestrian flow systems and intermittent closure of ticket gates, should many people congregate at the station.

Passengers are reminded to listen for public announcements and notices on the MTR network for updates on the crowd flow situation.

The line has opened ahead of the theme park to support final preparations for Disney and other attractions in Penny's Bay.

hkskyline

August 11th, 2005, 12:52 AM

3 Hong Kong 3G Network Covers Entire MTR Subway Network
10 August 2005
China News Digest

Hong Kong Hutchison Telecom, operating the 3 Hong Kong third generation (3G) mobile network, became the first mobile operator in Hong Kong to provide full 3G coverage for the entire subway network of Hong Kong subway operator MTR Corporation.

Starting from August 9, 2005, 3 Hong Kong's coverage will include MTR's Island Line, Airport Express Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tung Chung Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Disneyland Resort Line and Tseung Kwan O Line. By extending its 3G coverage to all the MTR stations, 3's 3G network will provide customers with seamless 3G video communication and high-speed video content from ground to tunnels.

In addition to offering full MTR coverage, 3 Hong Kong was also the first to provide 3G network coverage in all of Hong Kong's 12 major tunnels: the Lion Rock Tunnel, Cross Harbour Tunnel, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Aberdeen Tunnel, Eastern Harbour Tunnel, Western Harbour Crossing, Airport Tunnel, Discovery Bay Tunnel, Shing Mun Tunnel, Tate's Cairn Tunnel, Tseung Kwan O Tunnel and Tai Lam Tunnel.

3 Hong Kong recently launched 3G video roaming services for Japan and was also the first operator in Hong Kong to provide exclusive 3G auto-roaming services in South Korea.

londonindyboy

August 12th, 2005, 12:43 AM

nice pics

londonindyboy

August 12th, 2005, 12:44 AM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/1311/SunnyBay/IMG_0909.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/1311/SunnyBay/IMG_0896.jpg[/QUOTE]

LOVE THESE PICS.

hkskyline

August 13th, 2005, 04:53 AM

Shell man catches Hong Kong subway
By DENIS HERBSTEIN
10 August 2005
Financial Times

MTR Corporation, which operates the Hong Kong subway, has appointed Dr Francois Ka Kui Lung as its China and international business director. Currently China general manager of Shell Eastern Petroleum, he has an engineering doctorate from Leeds.

Last week MTR reported a gain of more than 50 per cent in underlying net earnings for the first six months of 2005. The new railway line to the Disneyland theme park on Lantau Island is expected to boost profits further.

hkskyline

August 24th, 2005, 07:12 AM

West Island Line might open early
Hopes of a 2010 completion date considered unlikely, but smooth process could see link ready a year ahead of plans
Andy Cheng
24 August 2005
South China Morning Post

The long-awaited MTR West Island Line could be completed in 2011 - a year ahead of schedule - if there are no public objections and government talks on subsidies go smoothly, the rail corporation says.

But an MTR Corporation spokeswoman yesterday described Democratic Party calls for the project's completion in 2010 unrealistic.

The Executive Council approved the extension of the Hong Kong Island Line between Sheung Wan and Kennedy Town last month, a move that would cut travel times between the two areas by at least half.

At a meeting between Democratic Party legislator Yeung Sum, district councillors and MTR Corporation chief executive Chow Chung-kong yesterday, Mr Chow made it clear that it would be difficult to have trains running on the line well before 2012. He said this was because of the need for public consultation, gazetting and negotiations over subsidies for the 3km route, which is expected to have three stations - University, Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town.

The MTR Corp spokeswoman later said consultation with the Central and Western District Council and residents would start next month on station locations, while an environmental impact assessment for the preliminary design would begin in October.

"Hopefully, the preliminary design can be done by June next year, but it depends on the number of residents' objections to the project. From our experience, resolving objections can take more than nine months," she said.

After the preliminary design, the MTR Corp will need to secure government subsidies, which could be as much as half of the project's proposed $6 billion to $7 billion cost.

"The process can take a very long time. We have to discuss with the government the amount of the subsidy and what form it will take, whether it is a cash injection or the right to property development above the MTR stations," the spokeswoman said, adding that construction work, which would take four years, could ideally start in 2007.

Dr Yeung said his party had conducted a poll of residents after the Executive Council's decision on the project. All 1,742 respondents wanted the railway's fare to be less than $4, and 80 per cent wanted it to be completed before 2012.

"Hong Kong Island west is an old district and many of the residents are elderly. The Democratic Party believes a fare of about $4 is appropriate," he said.

Dr Yeung quoted Mr Chow as saying the MTR Corp would consider giving the elderly concession fares, and more fare-saving programmes would be established.

The push for an MTR extension from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town dates back to the 1980s, but the project was hampered by construction of the Airport Express link. There were also fears that Kennedy Town's population was not big enough to support a new line.

hkskyline

September 3rd, 2005, 10:43 PM

Two MTR drivers at fault
Anita Lam
2 September 2005
South China Morning Post

Drivers who failed to take proper action after technical failures have been blamed for two station-skipping incidents on the MTR that left 250 passengers stranded.

At Admiralty on June 29, a driver did not notice the train had stopped short and the doors had not opened, the Hong Kong Railway Inspectorate said in a report released yesterday. At Hang Hau on June 6, the driver did not notice the platform doors had not opened and left without letting passengers on or off. The MTR said both drivers had been "promptly" removed from duty for further training.

In the Admiralty incident, the report said, the driver should have moved the train forward but had not noticed a button warning that the doors had not opened. Two hundred passengers were delayed.

At Hang Hau, the screen doors had not opened because of a signal failure, but the train had stopped in the right position. Instead of opening them manually, the driver had driven off, delaying 50 passengers. The driver admitted he had not noticed the fault, the report said.

The rail operator has commissioned a consultant to review similar incidents and conducted a series of briefings to remind train and platform staff to stay alert.

cal_t

September 4th, 2005, 06:50 AM

First time MTR had these accidents since PSD installation I think....

sfgadv02

September 4th, 2005, 09:31 PM

Did anyone see the new tiles they did to Yau Ma Tai?? I have to say that it looks great with the renovation! The station looks a lot cleaner.

hkskyline

September 8th, 2005, 05:40 PM

MTR may get Shenzhen Metro No.3 subway line again
Wen Wei Po
6 September 2005

Mainland media news reveals that the Shenzhen Metro No.3 subway line is expected to start construction as early as year end 2005. Since MTR Corporation (MTR) has already secured a contract to build and operate the Shenzhen Metro No.4 subway, it is highly likely that MTR will win this No.3 contract again. The No.4 subway line operation right may last for 25 years. Subway station property development within 500m of area may also be used to support operations of the subway. There will be 21 subway stations along the No.3 line.

The No.4 line has a total length of 32.983km. Of the 32.983km, 8.533km in suburban Luohu will be constructed underground. The rest of the suburban Longgang District line will be above ground and elevated. It connects Luohu with suburban Longgang District. The construction cost will be RMB10.897 billion.

The No.3 line is expected to complete in 2009. It takes 45 minutes to get from Honghum Central Road in Luohu to Longgang city centre. It is estimated that about 60% of passengers will be those traveling for a longer distance of 17km or more. The No.3 subway line has a capacity to handle 1,440 passengers in each service. By 2012, it will be able to handle 1.73 million person-times each our. By 2019, it will be able to run 25 subway service each hour at about once every three minutes.

hkskyline

September 11th, 2005, 08:57 PM

8 September 2005
MTR Press Release
New sights and sounds greet passengers on the MTR Disneyland Resort Line

Customer Service Ambassadors in Victorian costumes will greet MTR passengers at Disneyland Resort Station when Hong Kong Disneyland opens on 12 September 2005 and on subsequent Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

They will answer passenger enquiries about the Disneyland Resort Line and be able to pose for pictures, to help guests make their Disneyland photo albums complete.

Starting from 12 September 2005, Disney music will be played at the MTR Sunny Bay and Disneyland Resort Stations, where passengers take the three and a halfminute journey to Hong Kong Disneyland on whimsical, unique Disney-themed trains designed by the MTR Corporation with Disney’s Imagineers.

As a journey on the MTR Disneyland Resort Line is not to be missed for visitors
wishing to enjoy the full theme park experience, the Corporation is launching a
specially designed Disneyland Resort Line 1-Day Pass which will be sold as a joint package with the Hong Kong Disneyland park ticket. To celebrate the opening of the Hong Kong Disneyland, 100,000 specially designed ticket jackets will be given away with the ticket packages on a first-come-first-served basis. The ticket package is sold exclusively at the Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express at MTR Hong Kong Station starting from 12 September 2005.

hkskyline

September 24th, 2005, 03:11 AM

Corporate Press Release
18 September 2005
Airport Express Trains Get Ready for AsiaWorld-Expo

One Airport Express train now stands out from the rest!

Comprising eight cars - seven passenger cars and one baggage car - it is 22 metres longer than the other seven-car Airport Express trains currently operating on the line.
The eight-car train is the first in the Airport Express fleet to be converted to meet the additional passenger demand expected when AsiaWorld-Expo opens at the end of this year when the Airport Express trains will start calling at a new AsiaWorld-Expo Station.

According to the programme, the entire fleet of 11 Airport Express trains will be converted to 8-car trains by December 2005. The additional passenger car will increase the number of seats on each Airport Express train to 448 from the current 384.

AsiaWorld-Expo is a world class exhibition and event facility which is fully integrated with an international airport and served by an in-venue railway station. The Airport Express will offer the fastest, most comfortable and direct mode of transport to the new exhibition centre upon its opening later this year.

hkskyline

September 25th, 2005, 03:56 AM

Freesheet battle intensifies in HK with Express Post
By James Murphy
2005/09/23

HONG KONG: Sing Tao News Corporation has upped the ante in the city's free newspaper war, launching a free weekend newspaper to be distributed at MTR stations.

The 24-page Express Post launched on September 10 and will have an initial print run of 300,000, after its parent company won the tender for the Saturday slot. Rival Metro is available during the week in the MTR, while Sing Tao's weekday publication Headline Daily is available in 490 housing estates, among other locations.

Express Post chiefs are hoping the weekend title will give Sing Tao the upper hand, by convincing advertisers and consumers to migrate from Metro.

"The strategy is to occupy two distribution channels, and I am sure it will be well received," said Lo Wing-hung, publisher of Express Post and Headline Daily.

The sector has been the focus of increasing interest recently, with am730 launching a few months ago.

Skyscrapercitizen

September 28th, 2005, 12:24 AM

Mickey Mouse windows...:lol:

kenlau13

September 30th, 2005, 06:40 AM

I love it!!

kenlau13

October 1st, 2005, 08:32 PM

a funny mtr song... (http://rapidshare.de/files/4861498/MTR_Song.mp3.html)

kenlau13

October 3rd, 2005, 01:42 PM

http://www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner_opt/images/maps/mtr_map2.jpg

cal_t

October 3rd, 2005, 04:23 PM

Wander how they're going to fit the 2 SILs onto the bulb maps of URL stock

bs_lover_boy

October 4th, 2005, 02:51 AM

Wander how they're going to fit the 2 SILs onto the bulb maps of URL stock

Shrink whole map and then squish the ESIL and WSIL into a very flat U shape!!!

kenlau13

October 7th, 2005, 02:55 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/1311/SunnyBay/IMG_0909.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/1311/SunnyBay/IMG_0896.jpg

LOVE THESE PICS.[/QUOTE]
I love it too

kenlau13

October 10th, 2005, 12:34 PM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/MTR_Hong_Kong_station_Causeway_Bay.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/MTR_people_4_all.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/HK_MTR_DisneyResortLine_Sunny_Bay_platform_trains.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/MTR_Hong_Kong_platform_screen_doors.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/MTRTungChungLineTrain.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/MTR_North_Point_station_%281%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/MTR_people_Island_line.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/PSD_in_Central_Station.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/MTPrinceEdwardStationPlatfo.jpg

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTR

hkskyline

October 12th, 2005, 04:13 PM

MTR must tread softly amid British rail property bonanza
8 October 2005
South China Morning Post

The MTR Corp is no slouch when it comes to drumming up business. And in Britain it may be about to beat a drum roll of opportunities, from running London's commuter railway lines to developing clusters of ageing railway stations around the country.

As the South China Morning Post reported this week, MTR is looking at redeveloping stations on different networks in North London's West Hampstead as well as bidding for two South East England systems and planning to bid for the South West regional network.

All have connections to London. MTR's man in London, Jeremy Long, has a weather eye on plans by the national infrastructure operator Network Rail to redeveloping some of its 2,500 stations.

The opportunities are enormous but investment in commercial property in Britain is not always for the faint-hearted. What is more, there are plenty of other property developers and infrastructure builders who are prepared to make a bid for some of the business.

The good news is this: Network Rail - which owns and maintains the track, signalling equipment, tunnels and most stations - has unveiled a ?4 billion ($54.5 billion), 10-year station redevelopment strategy. It will start with six London stations, initially Victoria, Waterloo and Euston which between them have potential for up to 490,000 square metres of development.

Railtrack says it hopes to put the first few projects out to limited tender by the end of the year. A spokesman declined to say whether the list of companies likely to be invited included either MTR or any other non-British group.

Then, as well as big provincial stations such as Birmingham, which are "popping at the seams", there are 40 to 50 medium-sized regional stations, including Leicester and Reading which are also too small to cope with demand. Many are interesting architecturally, requiring sensitive handling.

Whether MTR is considered - or considers itself - big enough to take on these projects, either on its own or as part of a consortium, remains to be seen but it might be interested in Network Rail's "cluster strategy" for smaller stations.

The idea is to take up to 25 smaller stations, although more likely six to 12 stations along a line, for concurrent development.

Government-owned Network Rail will not leave its plans in control of the private sector. It will insist on 50-50 joint ventures.

Network Rail will bring the land and the development permission. The private sector will provide the cash and the know-how. Both will then benefit from the commercial income from the slick new shopping centres, residential and office developments sprouting up and down busy lines, while the rail network benefits from much needed additional resources.

Still, there is some bad news. In London, especially outside the West End, there is already a glut of commercial property.

The City of London earlier this year was reported to have 13 per cent of its office space standing empty, although demand is improving. There are 560,000 square metres of office space being built in the City alone and more is planned.

As for the shopping centres, Britain's retail sector is struggling. A string of retailers has issued profit warnings this year and new shops are standing empty.

Network Rail confidently told the real estate newspaper Property Week that the "captured" nature of its passengers would allow station shops to outperform the high street. But commuting is expensive and passengers may be less inclined to put even more money the way of their "captors".

Worse still, the government this week proposed a new windfall gains tax on land that receives planning permission for development. It is unclear how this will affect railway development projects.

Property is a cyclical business and MTR and its peers know the risks. That British stations are a potential bonanza is not in doubt but MTR may well take a cautious approach once the projects are really up for grabs.

vincent

October 12th, 2005, 11:07 PM

Source: http://www.asiaworld-expo.com/WebForm/Section4/pressRelease20051010.aspx?lang=enUS

AsiaWorld-Expo and Airport Express Station open in December 2005

[HONG KONG, 10 October 2005] AsiaWorld-Expo will become operational before the end of the year in Hong Kong. It is the world’s only exhibition and event venue that is fully integrated with an international airport and supported with an in-venue railway station.

Scheduled to open in December, AsiaWorld-Expo is Hong Kong’s newest and largest exhibition and event centre. It offers over 70,000 square metres of state-of-the-art rental space for exhibitions, conventions, meetings and events. Located at the centre of an extensive and efficient air, land and marine transport network which connects Hong Kong to China’s Pearl River Delta and the world’s business capitals. The complex has 10 column-free, high specifications exhibition halls, one of which is a purpose-built entertainment arena which is Hong Kong’s largest indoor seated venue for an audience of 13,500, making it ideal for concerts and large entertainment events.

To-date, an impressive event calendar for 2006 and beyond has been confirmed with leading organisers from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Europe and America hosting exhibitions and functions on a wide variety of themes, including the ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006, the recognised ‘Olympics of International Telecommunications industry’. This is a strong testimony to the achievements of the location and recognition to the outstanding quality of AsiaWorld-Expo.

To better serve the travelling needs of AsiaWorld-Expo exhibitors and visitors, the MTR Airport Express is being extended to a new in-venue station at AsiaWorld-Expo.

Ms Helen Chiu, Chief Commercial Officer of AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited said, “Upon arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport, overseas exhibitors and buyers can take the train from the airport to arrive directly at AsiaWorld-Expo in less than 2 minutes. The Airport Express provides a safe, fast, convenient and comfortable service at a very attractive price.”

Mr. Adi Lau, General Manager-Marketing & Station Business of MTR Corporation, added, “the Airport Express service will be extended to AsiaWorld-Expo, providing exhibitors and visitors convenient access to the venue, and easy connections to all other major destinations in Hong Kong through the Airport Express and the MTR network.”

Mr. Lau continued, “whilst the Airport Express fare structure will apply, an attractive fare will be offered to passengers using Octopus card, taking same-day round-trips and staying for two hours or more at AsiaWorld-Expo.”

A same-day round trip journey to AsiaWorld-Expo from Tsing Yi Station is HK$42 when using Octopus, Kowloon Station is HK$64 and from Hong Kong Station is HK$72. Passengers are also entitled to a free MTR connection to any destinations when they use their Octopus cards to travel on Airport Express. An adult single journey fare from Airport Station to AsiaWorld-Expo station is HK$5.

“Hong Kong has become the Asian hub for major exhibitions and events. We are honoured that our Airport Express service with this attractive package will further enhance the city’s attractiveness and competitiveness among all neighbouring cities,” Mr. Lau added.

“Nowhere in the world can you experience a world class train service that takes you from the doorstep of the arrival hall of an international airport directly to the doorstep of the exhibition halls in such a short time. The MTR railway network connection also helps Airport Express passengers to get access to major destinations in Hong Kong,” added Ms Chiu.

With increase in passenger volume on Airport Express brought about by AsiaWorld-Expo, the existing 7-car Airport Express trains are being progressively converted to 8-car trains starting from this September.

During major exhibitions and events, train services will be further enhanced by deploying more Airport Express trains and larger capacity MTR Tung Chung Line trains to meet adequately any upsurge of passenger demand before and after events.

The new AsiaWorld-Expo Station will be a two-level above-ground structure, with a single platform at ground level and the station concourse on the first level. The concourse will be integrated with AsiaWorld-Expo, thus providing the venue with convenient access to the railway services.

i personally think the price a too expensive to attract people to use AE to the asiaworld expo.

hkth

October 13th, 2005, 09:03 AM

From MTR's website (http://mtr.com.hk),

MTRC obtains PAS 55-1 certification (http://mtr.com.hk/eng/homepage/others/pas55_e.pdf)

MTR wins two prestigious awards, the China National Quality Management Award and the 1st Runner-up of the Robert W. Campbell Award (http://mtr.com.hk/eng/homepage/others/dual_award_e.pdf)

bs_lover_boy

October 14th, 2005, 04:00 AM

IF MTR further reduces the price on the Airport Express will make more people ride it and it will not be as big of a waste as it is now.

vincent

October 14th, 2005, 05:29 AM

kenlau13

October 14th, 2005, 01:33 PM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/HK_MTR_ChaiWan_TrainWaiting_2003Jan17.JPG

sfgadv02

October 15th, 2005, 02:36 AM

Are they going to add PSD to Chai Wan or those "proposed" plat-form gates?

Jaroslaw

October 16th, 2005, 03:56 AM

Since there are no exit gates at the airport, what's to prevent me from buying the cheaper ticket to AWE and getting off at the earlier stop?

vincent

October 16th, 2005, 04:15 AM

Since there are no exit gates at the airport, what's to prevent me from buying the cheaper ticket to AWE and getting off at the earlier stop?
i think they will add the gates now for the airport station. Before the AWE is built, everyone only has one station to exit, which is the airport.

ailiton

October 16th, 2005, 05:09 AM

i think they will add the gates now for the airport station. Before the AWE is built, everyone only has one station to exit, which is the airport.

I'm quite sure they won't do that.

Airport station will remain barrier free but AWE station will have fare gates.

ailiton

October 16th, 2005, 05:11 AM

Since there are no exit gates at the airport, what's to prevent me from buying the cheaper ticket to AWE and getting off at the earlier stop?

You only get discount (~25% off) if you use your Octopus card. You will be deducted full fare when you scan your card at one of the AEL stations in the city and the discount amount will be refunded to you when you scan your card at AWE.

bs_lover_boy

October 16th, 2005, 10:53 AM

Are they going to add PSD to Chai Wan or those "proposed" plat-form gates?

Definitely not PSD, but PGD is under experimentation and consideration.

sfgadv02

October 16th, 2005, 09:35 PM

Yea, thats what I said those PGD...but is it more, or are those PGD @ Sunny Bay are so slow..it takes like 5 seconds for it to open after the train door are open. Shouldnt they be open at the same time?

vincent

October 18th, 2005, 03:45 AM

You only get discount (~25% off) if you use your Octopus card. You will be deducted full fare when you scan your card at one of the AEL stations in the city and the discount amount will be refunded to you when you scan your card at AWE.
oops, i was thinking too fast. ailiton is right.
Oh wait, so how do they know if the passenger is travel from airport to AWE? They need to know where the passenger get in to charge the $5 (airport to AWE). Hmm....

ailiton

October 18th, 2005, 03:59 AM

oops, i was thinking too fast. ailiton is right.
Oh wait, so how do they know if the passenger is travel from airport to AWE? They need to know where the passenger get in to charge the $5 (airport to AWE). Hmm....

I'm not sure but...

If you get on the train at HKG, KOW, or TSY, you would have to scan your card at those stations.

But if you get on the train at the airport, you would not have to scan your card (assuming that they won't install fare gates). Then the fare gate at AWE knows that you come from the airport.

Jaroslaw

October 18th, 2005, 04:36 AM

Yeah, that makes sense. Still, the airport people kind of get ripped off.

I didn't notice the airport station being rebuilt, but it was probably on the other side... They will have to add a second platform and a passageway--most likely under the tracks??? And does anyone have info about the "second terminal building" on the other side of the tracks? There was nothing about it on the airport site.

ailiton

October 18th, 2005, 04:43 AM

???

Why would they add a second platform when they already have two?

ailiton

October 18th, 2005, 04:44 AM

And does anyone have info about the "second terminal building" on the other side of the tracks? There was nothing about it on the airport site.

You might be able to find something in the airport thread, or you should wait for vvill, he's the expert here.

Jaroslaw

October 18th, 2005, 06:47 AM

I thought they had only one platform, like at the terminal in Central...

ailiton

October 18th, 2005, 07:03 AM

There are 2 platforms at Airport stations. Arrival platform is located above the departure platform.

vincent

October 18th, 2005, 09:10 PM

I'm not sure but...

If you get on the train at HKG, KOW, or TSY, you would have to scan your card at those stations.

But if you get on the train at the airport, you would not have to scan your card (assuming that they won't install fare gates). Then the fare gate at AWE knows that you come from the airport.
i don't think MTR would do that. Otherwise, people will just bring in extra Octopus card just to scan it in AWE. Let's say if you are going from HK to AWE. You can pay only HK$5 instead of like $100. That's assuming you go back to the stations closer to HK in order to get out in the time limit for your first card scanned at HK. Is that two hours time limit? So you can get out of KWL on your way back. So the first card will just assume you traveled from HK to KWL ($10?). The whole thing would be 5+10=15! better than 100.

vincent

October 18th, 2005, 09:16 PM

You might be able to find something in the airport thread, or you should wait for vvill, he's the expert here.
hey, i am expert in hk development too. :)

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/pr/pr_800.html

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/pr/ex_513.html

more info at aedas.com also.

ailiton

October 18th, 2005, 09:25 PM

i don't think MTR would do that. Otherwise, people will just bring in extra Octopus card just to scan it in AWE. Let's say if you are going from HK to AWE. You can pay only HK$5 instead of like $100. That's assuming you go back to the stations closer to HK in order to get out in the time limit for your first card scanned at HK. Is that two hours time limit? So you can get out of KWL on your way back. So the first card will just assume you traveled from HK to KWL ($10?). The whole thing would be 5+10=15! better than 100.

You mean you one card to go from HKG to Airport and then a 2nd card from Airport to AWE? Then 2nd card from AWE to Airport and then from Airport to KOW using the 1st card?

Firstly, when you scan your 1st card at HKG, you are charged $100. Secondly, Same-Day return only works if you enter and exit at the same station. So I guess this method doesn't work.

vincent

October 20th, 2005, 12:21 AM

ailiton

October 20th, 2005, 12:30 AM

No, i meant this.

West-bound trip:
Use card 1 for entry at HKG, and travel from HKG all the way to AWE. But use card 2 to exit at AWE (keep card 1 unscanned). So card 2 would assume you just travel from airport to AWE, which is just $5.

East-bound trip:
Use card 2 for entry at AWE, and travel from AWE all the way to KWL or HKG. Never use card 2 again, so it assume u just exit at airport. Use card 1 to exit either at KWL or HKG. I was talking about the time limit because i remember a rule that say if you enter MTR system from any station, and didn't get out in certain time limit (like 2 hours??). It would charge you the highest price (i am guessing the farest station price). I am not sure about the same-day, same-station policy (please explain). So if you get out at KWL (exit using card 1) just within that time limit, card 1 would assume you just traveled from HKG to KWL. So i think the total cost would be 5+5+ whatever it cost to travel from hkg to kwl. I don't know how much it cost though if you exit at hkg.

Note: these steps won't work if MTR install fare gate at airport station.

This doesn't work because:
1. once you have scanned card 1 at HKG at the beginning of the trip, you are charged $100.
2. when you travel eastbound back to HKG on the same day, you are charged $0 (same day return fare = single journey fare)
3. no one is supposed to take AEL from HKG to KWL anyways but if you exit at KWL on the return trip, you will probably still be charge $0

if you do it your way, you will be charged $100 (card 1) + $5 (card 2) + $5 (card 2) = $110

superchan7

October 20th, 2005, 02:07 AM

You rebels, stop trying to cheat! ;)

vincent

October 20th, 2005, 03:23 AM

This doesn't work because:
1. once you have scanned card 1 at HKG at the beginning of the trip, you are charged $100.
2. when you travel eastbound back to HKG on the same day, you are charged $0 (same day return fare = single journey fare)
3. no one is supposed to take AEL from HKG to KWL anyways but if you exit at KWL on the return trip, you will probably still be charge $0

if you do it your way, you will be charged $100 (card 1) + $5 (card 2) + $5 (card 2) = $110
for step 1, since i will scan card 1 again at KWL later on (on the return trip). That mean card 1 assume i travel only from HKG to KWl, how can they charge $100?

vincent

October 20th, 2005, 03:26 AM

You rebels, stop trying to cheat! ;)
haha :)

ailiton

October 20th, 2005, 05:39 AM

for step 1, since i will scan card 1 again at KWL later on (on the return trip). That mean card 1 assume i travel only from HKG to KWl, how can they charge $100?

After you board a train at HKG, you theoretically are not allowed to get off the train until you reach the airport because there are no exit fare gates installed on the westbound platforms in KWL and TSY. Moreover, westbound and eastbound platforms at KWL (or TSY) are not connected by staircases and elevators at the paid zone. So once you have scanned your card at HKG, you are charged $100 immediately (simply because you can only get off at the airport).

When you take the train back to KWL, the fare gate at KWL knows that you come from airport (because no one can get on the train at TSY except those using the morning express service).

ailiton

October 20th, 2005, 05:43 AM

The $100 is deducted right at HKG station at the beginning of the trip (since there are not exit fare gates at airport).

vincent

October 20th, 2005, 05:58 AM

Oh, I see. I didn't know kwl, and tyl station doesn't have exit fare gate. So what happen if you exit at HKG on the eastbound (return) trip? Will you be charged 0 or 100 or 200??

ailiton

October 20th, 2005, 06:08 AM

If you get on the train at HKG and go to airport, then take the train back the HKG, the second trip is free.

bs_lover_boy

October 20th, 2005, 02:03 PM

One thing out of your fare coversation. There is actually two platforms for the Airport express in Hong Kong Station. But the other one is sealed and closed for future usage.

hkskyline

October 21st, 2005, 10:44 AM

The Airport Express was designed to go to the Convention Centre. Until the Central Phase 3 reclamation is fully complete, that extra platform will remain disused.

hkskyline

October 21st, 2005, 05:47 PM

Hong Kong's MTR Corp Sept passengers 71.48 mln vs 75.32 mln in Aug
17 October 2005
AFX Asia

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - MTR Corp Ltd said it carried 71.48 mln passengers in September, down from 75.32 mln in August.

On an average weekday basis, MTR Corp carried 2.53 mln passengers in September, unchanged from August, according to figures published on the company's website.

MTR Corp noted that the total monthly patronage of MTR lines and Airport Express line in September rose 2.89 pct year-on-year, but it did not give comparative numbers of passengers for the period.

However, for comparative month-on-month figures, the website said Airport Express carried 706,000 passengers in September, lower than the 736,000 passengers it carried in August, it said.

On an average daily basis, the Airport Express carried 23,500 people in September, against 23,700 in the preceding month.

vincent

October 21st, 2005, 09:46 PM

Effer

October 22nd, 2005, 12:18 AM

^^I thought more people used it.

kenlau13

October 23rd, 2005, 05:58 AM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/MTR_Mong_Kok_station_%281%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/MTR_Shek_Kip_Mei_station_%281%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/MTR_Hong_Kong_station_Kwun_Tong.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/MTR_Central_station_%282%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/MTR_Central_station_%283%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/MTR_Tsim_Sha_Tsui_station_%281%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/MTR_Sheung_Wan_station_%282%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/MTR_Wan_Chai_station_%281%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/MTR_Quarry_Bay_station_%281%29.jpg

kenlau13

October 23rd, 2005, 06:03 AM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/MTR_Mong_Kok_station_%281%29.jpg

[/IMG]Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:MTR_stations

samsonyuen

October 23rd, 2005, 12:22 PM

Great pictures. I rode the MTR in '93 and was instantly impressed. There were only three lines then, but it was so modern. Glad to see the expansion it's gone through. Why did it take until '79 to build the subway and not earlier?

simhks

October 23rd, 2005, 01:34 PM

It's not related when the system was built. The whole MTR network has been refurbished for numerous times over the years.

superchan7

October 23rd, 2005, 10:44 PM

I first rode the MTR in 1989. Had anything been renewed between 1979-1989? I always thought that was the original form of the MTR, except for the expansions throughout the 1980s.

kenlau13

October 25th, 2005, 11:16 AM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/HKMTRDisneyresortstation3.jpg

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Resort_%28MTR%29

mrtfreak

October 25th, 2005, 05:01 PM

It's not related when the system was built. The whole MTR network has been refurbished for numerous times over the years.
He means why was the MTR only built like in '79, not why the the refurbishments/improvments only came later. :)

hkskyline

October 25th, 2005, 05:22 PM

Studies to build a subway system took place back in the 1960s to find solutions to growing traffic problems, and construction soon followed in the 1970s, with the first line opening in 1979 and many extensions soon followed.

Here is some more information on the history of the MTR : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTR

waikhplkcc

October 25th, 2005, 05:49 PM

http://img37.exs.cx/img37/7267/URaT_MTR2018.jpg

great!

Momo1435

October 25th, 2005, 08:29 PM

bs_lover_boy

October 26th, 2005, 02:27 AM

I was just wondering looking at the 2018 map, are they going the use the partly completed upper level, the Rumsey Street platforms of the Sheung Wan station? Now the platform is only used as a walkway to the actual station one level below. It's the most strangest place of the whole of the MTR.

Nope. the platform lies at a 90 degree from the one in Sheung Wan and also the interchage patterns (how people interchange) will overfill the escalators. MTR and the govenment considered it before, but it is not feasible.

hkskyline

October 26th, 2005, 03:05 PM

Railway operators face partial merger
Government likely to keep KCR assets, new firm to run trains
Denise Tsang
6 October 2005
South China Morning Post

After floating an ambitious plan to combine Hong Kong's two rail corporations into a railroad giant more than two years ago, the government appears to be inching towards its final destination - a partial merger.

Its conundrum was how to satisfy 360,000 MTR Corp minority shareholders, legislators and rail users. Its answer seems likely to be injecting management rights for the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp (KCRC) into the MTR.

A final decision has not been made but well-placed sources say the asset-light approach is the preferred option. It is reminiscent of Singapore's separation of track and rolling stock and would involve the MTR being given an option to acquire the hard assets of its country railway cousin at a later date.

"The government and the MTR are close to reaching a consensus on the valuation of the merger and it is planned that Chief Executive [Donald Tsang Yam-kuen] will announce the merger deal shortly after delivering his maiden policy address," one source close to the government said.

A key driving force behind the deal is the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau which, ahead of a decision, has put on hold the planned Sha Tin to Central rail project and a new fare setting mechanism for the operator.

The Treasury Bureau has also been given an incentive to force a deal since record share prices for the MTR make the delayed sale of a second batch of shares attractive.

"The government favours the partial merger option as a result of shifting priorities," a source said. "There have been so many changes in Hong Kong's economy and also the government's financial position since the merger idea was brought up in 2002."

A much improved fiscal situation, thanks to lucrative land sales and a booming economy, has reduced the need for the government to raise fast cash from a lock, stock and barrel KCRC sale.

It is understood that a partial merger will mean the creation of a single operating company with ownership of KCRC's assets remaining in government hands.

In return for running the operation, management fees would be paid to the listed entity. It is similar to Singapore's approach, in which the government funds capital works and the listed SMRT Corp runs network operations and maintenance.

To pave the way for a genuine merger, it is planned that the merged entity will be granted an exclusive right to purchase KCRC assets at a time when they begin to yield profits.

The partial merger would need to comply with five parameters set by the government last year, which include scrapping second boarding charges and bringing down fares, sources said.

"The arrangement will allay the financial sector's concern about destroying MTR value and the public's concern over selling government assets at substantial discounts," said another source.

Whether it makes for a well-managed, merged railway operation is, perhaps, another question.

littlearea

October 27th, 2005, 11:30 AM

http://hk.yimg.com/hk/providers/sun/20051019/20051019_newsa_01_1.jpg

人鏈鎖路軌攻佔地鐵反世貿至激示威

【太陽報專訊】年底在港舉行的世界貿易組織部長級會議，大批來自歐美韓等國的激進示威者，計畫衝擊本港地鐵沿線各站，以達到癱瘓公共交通工具服務之目的。警方掌握最新情報顯示，激進示威者極可能以前所未見的人鏈路軌行動，在繁忙時間阻斷地鐵服務。消息透露，地鐵警區已與地鐵公司組成風險評估小組，制訂連串方案。二千名地鐵前線員工已秘密演習，在世貿會議期間協助警方應變。

地鐵公司發言人承認，該公司一直與政府部門商討世貿期間地鐵的安全措施，亦會積極配合政府的需要，但發言人補充，相關細節暫不便透露，要留待政府日後公布。

目標：金鐘灣仔銅鑼灣站

情報顯示，該批來自歐美韓的激進示威者，很熟悉本港地鐵運作。為要使他們的抗議行動達到「嚇怕所有主辦世貿國家及地區」之目的，估計示威者會選擇人流最頻密、最靠近世貿會議場地的地鐵港島線金鐘、灣仔及銅鑼灣這三個站為衝擊目標。

由地鐵警區及地鐵公司組成的十八人風險評估小組在分析情報後，已制訂了最少五套緊急應變方案，以及多達百項因應不同情況的對策，除考慮到屆時示威行動會癱瘓港島線外，也預期會對地鐵全線交通造成嚴重影響。

消息稱，根據示威者過往在世貿會議舉辦地區的抗議行動，最激烈的都不會有恐怖襲擊。不過，情報顯示該批示威者會採取衝擊地鐵月台、集體跳落路軌、用鐵鏈將自己綁在路軌上，以圖阻塞地鐵交通，癱瘓整條地鐵線。

鐵筆撬開幕門集體跳軌

評估小組成員本月初先後前往金鐘、灣仔及銅鑼灣地鐵站月台視察，雖然發現這些月台都有幕門，一般人不易自行打開跳軌，不過，由於幕門的設計方便消防員在緊急時打開，故兩邊門中間由一條兩吋黑膠邊接合，如幕門失去電力開動，可方便消防員用鐵筆撬開。據悉，這種設計也同時方便了該批富經驗的「專業示威者」，他們只要乘他人不覺，用鐵筆撬開幕門，就可輕鬆跳落路軌，串成人鏈展開抗爭行動。

評估小組聯席會議按已收集的情報訂出應變計畫，包括應付地鐵站遭抗議群眾潛入地搗亂、車站內自綁在售票機或入閘機、月台內聚集抗議及以鐵鏈自綁、潛入路軌用鐵鏈自綁、破壞幕門強行跳落路軌自綁、衝入各車站控制室擾亂行車操作，以及擾亂車站內信號系統等的可能狀況。

地鐵亦為應付今次史無前例的擾亂行動添置新器材，包括最新式油壓剪刀，能在短時間內剪斷示威者用以自綁的鐵鏈，配合警員搬走在站內的示威者。

地鐵為了及早讓全線車站近二千名前線人員熟習應變工作，評估小組已將應變策略發放到各個車站，由各車站管理人員即時開展駐站人員演習及調動。在高風險的金鐘、灣仔及銅鑼灣站，更會由車站前線人員與警員聯合演練，希望透過純熟的演習，加強隊伍的合作性及應變行動。

1. 軌示威模擬圖示威者用鐵筆撬開地鐵幕門後，齊齊跳落路軌。以鐵鏈綑綁身體再鎖在路軌的空隙。

vincent

October 28th, 2005, 07:05 AM

bs_lover_boy

October 28th, 2005, 07:59 AM

hkskyline

October 28th, 2005, 02:23 PM

MTR interested in Wuhan railway network
28 October 2005
NewsTrak Daily

Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTR) shows great interest in exploring subway construction and management projects in China. It made a trip to Wuhan to study and observed Wuhan's transportation infrastructure in mid 2005.

MTR is interested in taking part in building and operating railway infrastructure in Wuhan. MTR wants to join the railways building and management project through open, fair and just competition. Earlier, Wuhan revealed that it was going to construct a railway network. The proposed network consists of seven major lines, 182 stations and a total length of 220km.

kenlau13

October 29th, 2005, 05:46 AM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/MTR_System_Map.png

Sourse:http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E5%9C%B0%E9%90%B5

hkskyline

October 29th, 2005, 05:57 PM

MTR management unit expands with Beijing deal
Jamil Anderlini in Beijing
27 October 2005
South China Morning Post

The MTR Corp's mainland property management subsidiary yesterday signed a deal with developer Pan Shiyi to manage a large portion of his Jianwai Soho project in Beijing.

MTR (Beijing) Property Services is rapidly expanding its property management business across the mainland, particularly in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Shenzhen.

"We hope to increase our floor space under management from the current 700,000 square metres to over a million square metres within the year," said president Gary Lau at the signing ceremony with Soho China.

The 300,000 sqmetre commercial, office and residential Jianwai Soho project is the largest property under MTR management on the mainland. Others in Beijing include Northstar Land, a 150,000 sqmetre commercial and residential complex, and Oriental Kenzo mall, which MTR is leasing with the first right of refusal to buy.

In Shanghai, MTR manages the 150,000 sqmetre Hong Kong Metropolis shopping and residential complex.

The property management subsidiary was established as a wholly foreign-owned entity in November last year under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. Cepa allows Hong Kong companies access to mainland markets before the schedule laid out in China's World Trade Organisation accession agreement.

According to sources, MTR is also involved in bidding for a number of large-scale property development projects and has reached an agreement with the Beijing city government to build two additional subway lines in preparation for the 2008 Olympics.

MTR was awarded the contract in February for one 15.3 billion yuan subway line and has been bidding for two more. The three projects are worth an estimated 32 billion yuan.

Mr Lau refused to comment except to say that both the rail and property development sections of the company were "very busy".

Mr Pan said he picked MTR from seven or eight candidates bidding for the management rights to his development. He said there was still a gap in quality between MTR and Sci-tech, the Beijing-based property management firm responsible for the first phases of Jianwai Soho.

"I told the manager of Sci-tech that his goal is to catch up with MTR within six months," Mr Pan said.

He said sales of his properties had not been significantly affected by the government's efforts to cool the overheated property market and his company was always looking for new land to develop. "Like a dog hunting a rabbit, we're looking for public tenders to buy," he said.

At present, Soho is selecting a manager for its new Shangdu project and Mr Pan said MTR had a good chance of securing that agreement as well.

raymond_tung88

October 30th, 2005, 04:39 PM

I forget if someone mentioned this but do ALL of Hong Kong's subway stations have that glass panel/ door to prevent people from falling down into the rail? or just the new stations?

hkskyline

October 30th, 2005, 05:07 PM

^ Platform screen doors are currently being installed in all stations. New lines already have them, except the Disneyland Resort Line, which has platform gates.

hkth

October 30th, 2005, 06:33 PM

^ Platform screen doors are currently being installed in all stations. New lines already have them, except the Disneyland Resort Line, which has platform gates.

You've missed a word in your sentence, "...currently being installed in all underground stations." ;)

superchan7

October 30th, 2005, 08:56 PM

The retrofit project is almost complete, but all underground stations are also going through a climate control upgrade with new ceiling and floor trim. That is not near completion yet. Almost all the designated stations have been fitted with the screens, though.

hkia

October 31st, 2005, 01:37 AM

It would be great if the Ocean Park terminal's under a giant fish tank, where when the train pulls into the terminal, you can see fish swiming around.

superchan7

October 31st, 2005, 01:43 AM

That would require quite an investment.

hkskyline

November 1st, 2005, 12:32 AM

More rail accidents spark safety drive
1 November 2005
South China Morning Post

An MTR safety campaign will start today after an increase in the number of accidents involving escalators and train doors.

The campaign comes after a nine-year-old boy's fingers were caught in the doors when he tried to force his way out of the carriage because his mother and younger brother were still on the platform at Kowloon Tong yesterday morning.

The train had travelled 10 metres before passengers pressed the emergency stop button.

The boy was treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and discharged.

From January to September this year, 112 cases of passengers or their belongings being trapped in the train doors were reported, compared with 98 cases in the same period last year, MTR Corporation figures show.

Accidents on escalators also rose by 18 per cent in the same period compared with last year.

The MTR recorded 338 cases at the end of September, and more than 10 per cent of cases involved passengers with large items.

MTR Corp head of operations Wilfred Lau Cheuk-man blamed passengers' false belief about train doors for the increase in accidents.

"There is some misperception that train doors work like lift doors and will bounce open automatically when hitting an obstruction. Train doors can only be reopened manually by the train operator, when an indication in the driving cab tells him a set of doors has not closed completely," Mr Lau said.

He said it was safe for passengers to use the driverless train service offered on the Disneyland Resort Line.

"Though there is no train operator onboard, an operator monitors the service in a control room at Sunny Bay to handle any emergency that may occur," he said.

When asked if the MTR was planning to sack or redeploy 500 train operators and replace them with a driverless service, as reported in a newspaper yesterday, Mr Lau said: "I also want to find out the source of that information, and where the reporter concerned heard about it.

"We have no such plan in the near future. Switching to an automatic system requires a lot of research and study."

Mr Lau also reminded passengers carrying large items to use lifts to avoid accidents on escalators.

"We will also deploy 42 safety ambassadors to various MTR stations to remind passengers to be careful and not block train doors from closing or force their way onto a train," he said.

The one-month promotional campaign will feature a video, posters and stickers distributed in stations.

Meanwhile, services on the KCR Ma On Shan rail link were disrupted early yesterday after a train broke down in Tai Shui Hang Station, leaving 100 passengers stranded on the platform.

Initial investigations show a broken overhead wire which links the train to the electric cable caused the train to stop.

oberon

November 1st, 2005, 01:04 AM

The Montréal Métro newspaper has a section for the STM (Montréal Transit Commission) to put on news about the company. They also do an introduction to metros worldwide each month. This month, in its 34th installment, the story is about Hong Kong, one of my favourite metros in the world. It's usual stuff about the history of the MTR, but it also has a table comparing Montréal Métro with Hong Kong MTR, which I found pretty interesting. Hong Kong apparently handles much more passengers per station with slightly less stations than Montréal! It's noted in the article that Hong Kong has one of the highest per KM ridership in the world. I also find it interesting that the Disney trains are fast becoming the most prominent features of the MTR.

You can see the article here (French, pdf file) (http://www.stm.info/info/infostm/2005/051024.pdf)

sfgadv02

November 2nd, 2005, 01:35 AM

hkskyline

November 2nd, 2005, 02:11 AM

2012年全電腦控制列車無人駕駛
地鐵500司機等炒
31/10/2005

http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/news/20051031/img/sn08103101_big.jpg

【專案組報道】地鐵公司五百名列車司機將面對調職或失業。地鐵部署的無人駕駛計畫進入第三階段，稍後會展開無人駕駛各線列車兩年試驗計畫，○七年開始逐漸減少列車司機數目，預算在二○一二年所有列車將推行全電腦控制的「無司機駕駛」系統。受影響的司機均擔心飯碗不保，希望地鐵及早公布轉職安排及培訓計畫。

現時地鐵各線列車行車程序，無論是行車速度、入站出站的安排，以至各條車線的配合接駁，均由電腦全盤控制，列車司機需做的工作相應減少，主要是在信號系統出現問題或遇上突發事故才改為人手操作列車，形成司機的工作日漸減少。

地鐵發言人表示，現時該公司只在迪士尼線使用「無司機駕駛」列車，至於其餘的線路將來會否投入該些列車，則要留待日後公布。

自動系統從未出意外
地鐵在兩年多前經已在各個主要車站套用列車自動掉頭系統，這是研究無人駕駛列車的首階段研究，現時研究已完成並全面投入服務，在北角、荃灣、上環及杏花 等站，均全部使用無人駕駛列車自動掉頭系統，但該系統只在沒有乘客時採用。另一項成功產品是機場無人駕駛小型列車，運作至今並沒有任何問題。

無人駕駛列車第二階段由今年七月開始，系統經過多年研究，並在機場載客小列車使用後，套入現時迪士尼線使用，成為本港最大型的無人駕駛載客列車。

司機盼更多工種轉職
地鐵現正展開港九各線列車全面投入無人駕駛系統，預算用兩年時間作研究，期間部分列車在無人駕駛下，加入日常行車的運作，測試列車在該種操作下的各項準繩。地鐵預計經兩年試驗後，可取得更多數據去改善現行系統，逐步增加無人載客列車的數目，從○七年往後五年，完成整個無人駕駛計畫。

現時地鐵約有五百名列車司機，該公司會推行多項離職及再培訓計畫，讓受影響的司機參加，經訓練後調派其他工作崗位，以減少司機失業。

地鐵部分司機表示，現時該鐵路列車運作幾乎全部依靠電腦，穩定性相當高，套用無人駕駛是無可厚非，希望公司有更多工種選擇轉職以維持現有司機的就業。但新系統發展完成後，各站亦需要訓練懂得駕駛列車的車務人員，在發生突發事故時供調派人手操作列車。 http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/img/endmarker.gif

sfgadv02

November 2nd, 2005, 02:47 AM

So are they replacing the drivers with computer in 2012 or is the the article that MTR "denied"?

littlearea

November 2nd, 2005, 03:15 AM

In singapore, although the trains are driverless, but the staff have do some duty in the train for safety reason.

hkskyline

November 2nd, 2005, 03:40 AM

Convincing the public that their jam-packed trains will not have a driver may well be the next public relations disaster. Many commuters are weary of relying solely on the computer for their safety. It's always better to have a set of eyes looking at what's ahead.

vincent

November 2nd, 2005, 11:11 PM

Most accidents arent MTR's fault IMO, a person should be smart enough to know that when a train door is closing, you DO NOT rush in, trains come every 3 minutes or less so there is no need to rush into the train anyway.
especially the train doors in HK are at least 10 times more powerful than what i see in New York. You will need the strenght of at least 4 to 5 people to get that open.

sfgadv02

November 3rd, 2005, 01:36 AM

Yea, the train doors in NY are kinda weak, thats why they get broken easily....lol.

hkskyline

November 3rd, 2005, 02:48 AM

MTR derails Kowloon Bay monorail dream
Group sceptical about proposal's cost benefits and raises question on funding
Ernest Kong
3 November 2005
South China Morning Post

The MTR Corp has poured cold water on a plan to build a monorail system at the Kowloon Bay industrial area where developers are looking for a people-moving solution for the new development.

Landlords in the area, including Kerry Properties, Sino Land and Hopewell Holdings, have been looking at collaborating with MTR to build a 10km monorail to link buildings at the site.

But according to an MTR spokesman, the benefits will not justify the cost.

"It's crucial to evaluate the passenger flows in the district and how much you can charge them," he said, adding the government had not indicated that traffic flow in the area was sufficient to warrant a new transport link.

"It is also not likely that developers will wholly fund and operate the railway themselves."

According to MTR's annual report in 2003, a preliminary feasibility study on a light rail solution in the Kowloon Bay industrial area had been conducted but there had been no progress since.

The railway operator also said it had not received any formal proposals from developers.

"But we are always listening," the spokesman said, adding the value in a transit link for MTR would be in bringing more passengers to its main route.

One developer with properties in Kowloon Bay said landlords - who said increased passenger flow would boost the value of their properties - had had preliminary discussions about developing a public transport system in the area, which is undergoing a retail and commercial transformation.

"A monorail system is very suitable for the climate in Hong Kong, while a simple footbridge could be a bit too hot [for commuters] in summer," he said, adding there had been proposals to build air-conditioned footbridges with an automated carrying system similar to the escalators that linked Central with the Soho area.

He said the cost of the system was likely to be a major hurdle for developers. "Who is going to pay more is the question," he said.

A spokeswoman for Kerry, the biggest landlord in the district, said the company had studied the possibility of building a footbridge linked to the MTR station but had no plans to invest in a monorail system at the moment.

Kerry is building the Enterprise Square 5 development, which will include a 1.1 million square foot mall scheduled for completion in 2007 and will be the firm's first wholly owned shopping centre in Hong Kong.

Sino Land earlier paid $1.82 billion at an auction for a Kowloon Bay commercial site. It plans to develop the area into an office tower with a shopping podium.

kenlau13

November 4th, 2005, 11:16 AM

Sunny Bay Station

http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun05.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun03.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun08.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun06.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun10.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun01.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun02.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun13.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun04.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun12.jpg

Sourse:
http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun.htm

hkskyline

November 5th, 2005, 02:10 AM

Ma tight-lipped over date for railway merger
Tie-up queries left at the station while phase two work starts on Shenzhen line
Ken Lo
05 November 2005
South China Morning Post

No firm date has been set for the long-awaited merger of MTR Corp and Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCRC) despite assurances from the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Frederick Ma Si-hang that negotiators had agreed on several fundamental issues.

Mr Ma declined to comment on when the contentious merger might be finalised. He was attending the ground-breaking ceremony at the work site on the phase two trial section of the Shang Mei Lin Station - one of the 10 stations linked to the Shenzhen Metro Line 4 project.

Talk of a merger between KCRC and MTR to make the territory's transport system more efficient has been a contentious issue since 2002.

MTR, which was listed in 2000 with the government retaining a majority stake, backed a merger while government-owned KCRC has consistently opposed the plan.

Asked if the MTR and KCRC were still divergent over the valuation of their assets, MTR chief executive Chow Chung-kong said there was more at stake in the negotiations than simple valuations.

"It's not simply a matter of how high or low the valuations are, what we are dealing with are the negotiations over the whole financial arrangements. Certainly, valuations are one of our concerns and we are still in talks with the government."

Mr Chow said the merger would create synergies by consolidating managerial and operational resources from both sides, and there would be room for a ticket fare cut once the merger was finalised.

The deal to build phase two of the 16km Line 4 project at an estimated cost of six billion yuan was signed in May and the line is expected to be opened in 2009.

MTR has spent heavily on the project - the first of its kind in China - through its wholly owned investment arm, MTR Corp (Shenzhen), which has the rights to build, project management, property development and future operation of the new metro line.

Line 4 phase one, a 4.5km section between Huanggang and Shaoniangong, began services in December last year.

MTR secured a similar deal in Beijing to build a subway as part of the 2008 Olympic Games preparations, but the agreement has not been sweetened with the same rights to property development that is part of the proposed merger.

According to the agreement with the Shenzhen municipality, the Shenzhen arm owns the right to develop Long Sheng, Long Tang, Hong Shan and Bai Shi Long stations, covering 80 hectares with an aggregate gross floor area of 2.9 million square metres.

The development would take about 10 years to finish, the MTR said.

Private developers from the mainland or Hong Kong were welcome to form partnerships with MTR in property projects, Mr Chow said.

hkskyline

November 5th, 2005, 07:26 AM

承認今次人為疏忽
地鐵撐培訓嚴格
05/11/2005
http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/img/endmarker.gif

【本報訊】地鐵在近半年內發生至少六宗車門夾傷乘客事故，地鐵公司承認昨日事故是車長P錯掣引致，但強調每名車長均會接受嚴格的訓練，每半年需重新接受訓練，相信今次只屬個別事件。

每半年再受訓
地鐵發言人表示，事故發生後，已即時抽調該名車長問話，地鐵了解事件後，已指示該名車長需重溫日常駕駛課程，而事件亦會作內部處理。發言人解釋，每名車長入職時均會接受連串課程訓練，包括課堂及實務兩方面，課堂訓練為期八星期，駕駛列車實務訓練則為期三星期，並需要接受考試，及格後方可成為正職車長，而每名車長更需每半年重新接受課堂訓練，更新車長的駕駛知識。

至於今次事件是否涉及人為疏忽，發言人強調是個別事件，但卻承認今次事件的確是因車長不小心P錯關門掣而導致意外，事後已該名車長加倍留心。不過，發言人卻拒絕承認過往發生的意外是否全部涉及人為疏忽，僅表示每宗意外均有不同的肇事原因，而地鐵於今年五月亦曾分別發生兩次車門夾人事件，肇事乘客的雙腳及右前臂被夾傷。

kenlau13

November 5th, 2005, 08:35 AM

Old Route map
http://www.gakei.com/mtm/mtm01.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/mtm/mtm03.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/mtm/mtm09.jpg

Sourse:http://www.gakei.com/mtm/mtm.htm

CrazyCanuck

November 5th, 2005, 09:04 AM

That Sunny Bay station is excellent, I love that train sponsored by Disney. Is it possible for the doors on the train to not line up with the doors on the platform?

ailiton

November 5th, 2005, 09:54 AM

That Sunny Bay station is excellent, I love that train sponsored by Disney. Is it possible for the doors on the train to not line up with the doors on the platform?

Yes. If the train doors are not lining up with the platform gates, the gates will not open until the train has readjusted itself to the right position.

BTW, the trains are not sponsored by Disney.

kenlau13

November 7th, 2005, 11:06 AM

MTR Disneyland Resort Line Train

http://www.gakei.com/drl/trn18.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/trn01.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/trn02.jpg

Inside Compartment

http://www.gakei.com/drl/trn03.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/trn06.jpg

http://www.gakei.com/drl/trn08.jpg

Source:http://www.gakei.com/drl/trn.htm

bs_lover_boy

November 8th, 2005, 08:25 AM

Skybean

November 8th, 2005, 08:34 AM

^^If I was still a child I would drool for that. Pretty nifty train.

The Sunny Bay station is so gorgeous! Semi-Indoor palm trees! :drool:

http://www.gakei.com/drl/sun01.jpg

hkskyline

November 9th, 2005, 04:53 PM

MTR is the envy of great cities
Property development is the secret behind the success of Hong Kong's underground railway system
8 November 2005
South China Morning Post

IT IS EASY TO forget how spoilt we have become as a result of the city's mass transit railway system. After all, three minutes spent waiting for a train is considered a long wait for Hong Kong people, whose lives are a frenzied rush all the time. But if you think a bit deeper about the state of our transport system, you will realise how blessed we are to be commuters in Hong Kong.

Our MTR system is the envy of large cities like London and New York, even though their train systems have been in place for many, many years.

While they struggle to run safe, clean and efficient underground railways, Hong Kong epitomises just that. Its system is hygienic and exceptionally punctual. Reports of breakdowns are rare and graffiti and violence are virtually unheard of. No wonder countries are looking to Hong Kong's MTR as a model of excellence.

Perhaps even more astonishing is the fact that, while overseas governments have been subsidising their inefficient rail operators for years, the MTR has not cost Hong Kong taxpayers a single cent, and remains one of the few unsubsidised rail companies.

So what exactly is the MTR Corporation doing right?

The secret of its success is its rail and property business model. It works this way: the government gives the MTR Corporation negotiated rights to develop property complexes alongside its rail stations and depots. The administration is then able to obtain full market value for the land, while the MTR Corporation develops the sites with other developers, shares the profits, and then invests back into its rail system. Clearly it is a win-win situation and it has been at work for more than two decades.

Since 1990, this model has earned the government up to $600billion in land premium, with the MTR Corporation's property developments in Hong Kong numbering more than 20 sites.

From older properties such as Telford Gardens to newer developments like the shopping complex Maritime Square in Tsing Yi, the company is as much an expert on property development and management as it is on building and running rail systems.

Its integrated properties are impressive, incorporating offices, flats and shopping malls directly above or next to stations, offering end-users convenience and efficiency.

The organisation is now looking at deploying the same successful model north of Hong Kong, particularly as key Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen have reached a stage where they cannot continue to urbanise further without the development of better mass transit rail systems.

Just look at the numbers and it becomes clear why the MTR Corporation's China future is so bright. According to chief executive Chow Chung-kong, every major Chinese city is expected to need about 450km of rail network, translating into an investment requirement of about 230 billion yuan for each city.

This is staggering potential, given that Hong Kong's fairly saturated rail system, operated by the MTR Corporation and the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, totals about 168km.

To date, the MTR Corporation has inked an agreement in principle with the Shenzhen Municipal People's government to build and operate line 4 of the city's metro system. It will also be responsible for commercial and residential developments along the route.

Further north, it is looking at a similar set-up to construct and operate the Beijing Metro Line 4, helped by funding from the Beijing Municipal People's government.

The company's ambitions go far beyond Asia though. It is also bidding with its joint-venture partner to operate railway franchises in Britain.

"The UK's rail system is quite fragmented, with no integrated knowledge chain to support it," said Mr Chow. "We have the integrated knowledge they require, all the way from town planning, railway design and construction to maintenance and development of stations."

While the corporation has and will recruit specialists to spearhead new initiatives, most of its human resources needs are likely to be met by its pool of 6,500 staff.

"The company has a very low turnover at less than 2 per cent even today. It is essentially the same group of people who have adapted to different sets of equipment, been willing to change and develop. It is tremendously satisfactory to see our people grow into these roles," Mr Chow said.

The company, which has set up a pool of talent to facilitate its overseas growth, provides training for staff who opt to join this group.

"There are about 370 people in this pool, and we have the aim of eventually deploying them overseas," Mr Chow said.

Despite its foray abroad, the company's birthplace will always be an indispensable part of operations. "Hong Kong will always remain our home," said Mr Chow.

hkth

November 10th, 2005, 09:40 AM

The Chairperson of the MTRC travels with the passengers on TKO Line this Sunday! See the Press Release (http://mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-05-095-E.pdf) for more details!

hkskyline

November 11th, 2005, 06:40 AM

Corporation aims to be a world-class champion
8 November 2005
South China Morning Post

The MTR Corporation is aiming to capitalise on the potential of advertising.

"We have revamped our advertising format and diversified our mix of retail shops to make them more attractive and give customers a bigger choice from Starbucks to cosmetics," said chief executive Chow Chung-kong.

As part of its improved marketing campaign, the corporation is trying innovative ideas: it will soon launch a 3D advertising concept in its stations, the first of its kind in the world, giving advertisers the opportunity to showcase objects such as furniture or cars to restless passengers waiting for the train to pull in.

With the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, the organisation is making the most of its tourist trade as well. Mr Chow said the Disney line offered passengers a new travel experience, from the Disney design of the train to the station's staff, who were dressed up in costumes.

The corporation is also in the process of building the Tung Chung cable car project, to be completed by early 2006.

And while Hong Kong's rail system is already comprehensive, discussions with the government on rail extensions continue. The West Island line could soon run as far as Kennedy Town via University and Sai Ying Pun. The South Island line would run from South Horizons via Lei Tung, Wong Chuk Hang and Ocean Park to Admiralty.

Listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in 2000, the MTR Corporation plans to continue concurrently developing its properties, retailing and stations as they are all integrated and supplement each other, according to Mr Chow.

"We would like the MTR to become a Hong Kong champion; an organisation that is recognised internationally but also makes people's lives better through a high-quality mass transit system and property developments," he added.

vincent

November 11th, 2005, 06:46 AM

vincent

November 11th, 2005, 06:49 AM

hkskyline

November 12th, 2005, 05:51 AM

韓地鐵夾嬰車拖行30米
港列車安全響警號
12/11/2005

地下鐵路系統的幕門及車門安全性一直惹人關注，繼近日本港接連發生多宗地鐵車門夾傷乘客意外後，連部分本地列車的原產地南韓首都首爾，日前也發生駭人的車門夾嬰兒車拖行意外。嬰兒車內的嬰孩雖及時被母親及一名女乘客救出，但慌忙中母親與女乘客的衣物被嬰兒車纏，兩人連人帶車被拖行三十米始甩脫，事件中墮地嬰孩並無大礙，母親與女乘客則頭部受輕傷。本港地鐵表示，部分列車雖然是韓製，但安全系統及標準均是自行設計，一吋厚物件被夾時就不能開車。

列車拖行乘客的駭人意外發生於周四（本月十日），當時一名母親在良才地鐵站月台推一輛嬰兒車進入車廂時，突然車門關上並把嬰兒車輪夾。列車司機沒有察覺且繼續開行。母親大驚下強行將嬰兒車拉出，但嬰兒車被列車拖行，母親立時上前捉緊嬰兒雙腳，圖將他拉出嬰兒車外，一名女乘客見狀衝上前幫忙，但兩人卻被嬰兒車絆倒，母親失去平衡，手抱的嬰兒頭部地跌在地上，兩女的衫腳及裙腳則因被嬰兒車而被列車拖行，女乘客被拖行兩米後成功脫險，而婦人的衣服卻被嬰兒車纏住，一直被拖行近三十米後，司機才知悉事件，即時煞車。

事發後，南韓電視台取得當日在月台防盜攝錄機拍得的片段公開播放，立即震驚當地，警方正調查車務員及車站職員，研究各人在安全確認上有否失職，以及地鐵車門感應系統有否出現問題。

觀塘線有韓製列車
本港地鐵亦有十三列行走觀塘線的列車是由韓國製造，地鐵發言人表示，車廂雖由韓國製造，但安全系統及標準則由地鐵自行設計。當車門夾到厚度達一吋或以上的物件，列車便不能開動，駕駛室亦有信號提醒車長車門未有關好。

環境運輸及工務局發言人謂，港府認為在鐵路運作上，乘客安全是最重要，本港鐵路系統已有嚴謹安全標準及設施。

http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/img/endmarker.gif

hkskyline

November 12th, 2005, 04:21 PM

MTR assures safety after Seoul train drama
12 November 2005
South China Morning Post

The MTR Corporation said yesterday its train door safety standards met international requirements after an incident in Seoul where a woman was dragged several metres after her clothing was caught in the doors.

Closed-circuit cameras at a metro station in Seoul showed the woman boarding a train on Thursday morning with her child in a pram when the doors began to close, trapping the pram. The woman managed to pull the pram free with the help of a passer-by, but her clothing got caught in the doors in the process and she was dragged several metres before she managed to break free. She was slightly injured and her baby escaped unscathed.

Thirteen of the MTR's fleet of 130 trains were manufactured in South Korea, a spokeswoman for the MTR Corp said yesterday. But she could not confirm whether they were made by the same manufacturer or were the same models as those used in Seoul.

"We can't comment on the issue as we don't have information on their operations, the train design and the incident," the MTR spokeswoman said.

"Compartments for 13 of our trains were manufactured in South Korea but the safety specifications design was done by MTR staff. We have professionals who follow up and carry out quality checks.

"Our train doors have an obstacle detection device which will prevent the train from starting when objects trapped between the doors are larger than the design's tolerance."

kenlau13

November 12th, 2005, 05:44 PM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/MTR_Sheung_Wan_station_%281%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/HongKongStationMTRConcourseNight.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/MTR_Hong_Kong_station_Hong_Kong.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/MTR_Hong_Kong_M-Stock_train.JPG

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E5%9C%B0%E9%90%B5

kenlau13

November 14th, 2005, 11:43 AM

future MTR system

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/MTR_System_Map_%28in_the_future%29.PNG

source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTR

hkskyline

November 14th, 2005, 04:48 PM

MTR expected to get Beijing No.10 Subway Line
11 November 2005

MTR Corporation (MTR) is expected to reach an agreement with Beijing City Government to build the Beijing No.10 Subway Line. This is MTR's another major project in China after it has secured a subway and property development project to build the Shenzhen No.4 Metro Line.

The Beijing No.10 Subway Line has a total length of 32.9km and 28 stations. The construction will be divided into two phases. The first phase of construction, involving 24.585km of subway length, will have 22 subway stations. The second phase of construction connects the No.10 Subway Line with the No.5 Subway Line at Songjiazhuang station. Another part of the No.10 Subway Line in the second phase is a westward extension from Xitou Wanliu Station to Nanding Station.

Although details of the Beijing No.10 Subway Line is not revealed, it is believed that the No.10 Subway Line will not have property development rights attached.

Hong Kong Commercial Daily News

hkskyline

November 15th, 2005, 05:33 PM

MTR Corp Oct passengers 73.58 mln vs 71.48 mln in Sept
15 November 2005

HONG KONG (AFX) - MTR Corp Ltd said it carried 73.58 mln passengers in October, up 2.90 pct from 71.48 mln in September.

On an average weekday basis, MTR Corp carried 2.54 mln in October, up from 2.53 mln in September, according to figures published on the company's website.

The October figure for the MTR average weekday passenger traffic covers the Tsuen Wan, Island line, Kwun Tong, Tung Chung, and Tseung Kwan O lines, according to the data.

The total monthly patronage of the MTR Lines and Airport Express Line for October rose 4.01 pct year-on-year, but no comparative numbers of passengers for the period were given.

For comparative month-on-month figures, the website said Airport Express carried 754,000 passengers in October, up from the 706,000 passengers it carried in September, it said.

On an average daily basis, the Airport Express carried 24,300 people in October, against 23,500 in the preceding month.

hkskyline

November 15th, 2005, 05:34 PM

MTR looks to run Germany's S-Bahns
By ROBERT WRIGHT
14 November 2005
Financial Times

Hong Kong's MTR Corporation may bid to become the first private operator of some of Germany's intensively-used suburban train services, according to the chief executive of thecompany's European arm.

The company, which runs Hong Kong's well-regarded metro system, would also be interested in operating or participating in the refinancing of European metro systems, Jeremy Long told the Financial Times.

MTR would also make bids for a wide range of UKpassenger rail franchises due to be issued by 2007.

It would represent a major step forward for both MTR and Germany's rail market if the company were to win the right to operate one of the country's commuter railsystems, known as S-Bahns.

MTR, which is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange but controlled by Hong Kong's government, is seeking to expand outside the territory as scope for new lines runs out.

The company is helping to construct metro lines in mainland China but believes its operational expertise could prove helpful inwinning work in Europe.

While many German states have awarded concessions to run rural train services to private companies instead of Deutsche Bahn, the state-owned rail company, officials have been slower to tender out S-Bahn operations.

Mr Long, who joined MTR in May from Britain's FirstGroup, said a number ofS-Bahns would go out to tender over the next three to four years. MTR would be interested in competing for such work.

MTR announced its push to expand in Europe late last year when it launched a bid with a partner for the UK's Integrated Kent Franchise. It has since launched a bid for the Thameslink franchise and is seeking to pre-qualify to bid for the busy South Western franchise.

The company is also awaiting a decision on its bid to run Stockholm's Pendeltag local train services.

"We would look at rail, as in commuter, inter-city and regional rail," Mr Long said. "We would also very much be interested in metrosystems. One is aware that there are other majorEuropean cities that may well look to privatise their metro systems."

Only the Stockholm and Copenhagen metros are currently run by private contractors. Mr Long mentioned the Amsterdam metro,currently under construction, and Barcelona's metro as possible targets.

MTR was interested in work developing new lines, operating trains or participating in ventures such as the London Underground Public-Private Partnership, under which private companies maintain and upgrade infrastructure and trains.

Skybean

November 26th, 2005, 08:01 AM

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http://static.flickr.com/33/59396049_bec7c35467_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/27/59396209_d4bb3c3064_o.jpg

hkskyline

November 26th, 2005, 04:38 PM

MTR Press Release
23 November 2005
Gateway Concept of MTR Tung Chung Station Development Wins Planning Award

MTR Corporation has been awarded a Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) Certificate of Merit for the Master Layout Plan for Tung Chung Station Comprehensive Development Area in the HKIP Awards for 2005.

The Tung Chung Station Development now forms an integral part of Tung Chung New Town and stands as the gateway to Hong Kong for travellers flying into the nearby international airport. It comprises high-rise and low-rise housing, offices, retail space and hotel facilities covering a total area of 21.7 hectares, linked up by an elevated walkway system for pedestrians.

The HKIP Awards Panel praised the scheme as a well-articulated project, noting the ‘gateway’ concept, the priority accorded to pedestrians and the integration with the MTR system. The scheme also strived to address the environmental and spatial constraints imposed by the strategic highway to the airport.

“It is very encouraging that our effort to fully integrate property development with railway construction to build new communities for sustainable living has been recognized,” said Steve Yiu, Chief Manager – Town Planning of MTR Corporation.

“We will continue to apply this successful integrated development model in Hong Kong and in cities in the Mainland to create communities of high quality city living along new railway lines,” he added.

The Corporation’s master plan for a rail-based and pedestrian community in Tung Chung was approved by Government in 1994 and continuously improved as the design and development progressed.

The vision of promoting convenient living with full amenities and facilities, an environmentally friendly and economically active town and a spacious and healthy living environment was gradually realized, as visitors to the largely completed project can see.

The HKIP Awards have been given annually since 1993 in recognition of outstanding achievements in town planning.

hkskyline

November 27th, 2005, 06:13 AM

Accused arsonist is removed from court
Man facing MTR fire charges disrupts trial
25 November 2005
South China Morning Post

An unemployed man accused of starting a fire on a MTR train was forcibly removed from a courtroom three times yesterday after he disrupted the proceedings with frequent outbursts.

The trial judge told the Court of First Instance jury he was considering putting Yim Kam-chung in a separate room with video links to the court room so that the trial could continue without disturbance.

Yim, 68, who has pleaded not guilty to arson and is representing himself without a lawyer, protested repeatedly that he was being treated unfairly.

Mr Justice Louis Tong Po-sun had to speak through a microphone linked to an amplifier so that he could be heard over Yim's interruptions.

Yim refused to be quiet or leave the court room and he was carried out three times by two Correctional Service Department officers but brought back each time.

Yim claimed the jury selection was unfair because he was denied the opportunity to examine the cards drawn by a law clerk in picking jurors. Prosecutor Arthur Luk SC told the jury that a fire broke out about 9am on January 5 last year in the first carriage of a MTR train shortly after it left the Tsim Sha Tsui station for Admiralty station.

Passengers in the first carriage scrambled to the second carriage.

No one was injured or killed in the fire. The flames were put out when the train arrived at the Admiralty station.

Yim was arrested after the Correctional Services Department received a letter the following day containing details of the alleged arson attack.

Yim told police under caution he was the arsonist, Mr Luk said.

"Since the government confiscated six of my vehicles, I decided to cause a tragedy at the Admiralty MTR station," Yim said.

Mr Luk said Yim was pointed out by two witnesses at an identification parade.

The trial continues today.

hkskyline

November 29th, 2005, 12:46 AM

MTRC offers developers premium aid

MTR Corp, which is seeking developers for its housing project atop Tseung Kwan O station, is offering to lend half the estimated HK$7 billion land premium for the site to boost interest.

Raymond Wang
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, November 29, 2005

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/newsimage/20051129/dreamcity.jpg

MTR Corp, which is seeking developers for its housing project atop Tseung Kwan O station, is offering to lend half the estimated HK$7 billion land premium for the site to boost interest.

Government-controlled subway operator MTRC has set a Friday deadline for "expressions of interest" in the HK$15 billion Dream City Phase 2, which will include 4,272 apartments in 10 towers, with a potential gross floor area of 3.33 million square feet. Tenders will then be sought and a winning bid is expected to be chosen early next year, the company said.

Nine shortlisted companies lost interest in a similar project by Kowloon- Canton Railway Corp last week, when a higher-than-expected land premium of HK$3,600 per square foot left only one tender, from Cheung Kong (Holdings), for the development above West Rail's Tuen Mun station. Developers are required to pay the premium to convert the site's land use. The Dream City Phase 2 land premium may be as much as HK$7 billion, according to Centaline Surveyors senior associate director James Cheung, or at HK$2,000 psf an almost 30 percent increase on the HK$1,540 psf first-phase premium paid early this year by Cheung Kong. Phase 2 construction and other costs could come to about HK$8 billion, he said.

The winning Phase 2 bidder will be paid half the land premium cost, which the developer is required to repay without interest, the subway operator said. Details will depend on the premium asked by the government next month.

Small developers may shy away from the Tseung Kwan O project given its scale, which is more affordable for larger competitors such as Cheung Kong, Henderson Land and Sun Hung Kai Properties, Cheung said.

When completed in about 10 years, Dream City will have 50 towers and 21,500 apartments. In January, Cheung Kong won rights to the estimated HK$5 billion first phase development, including land premium and construction cost, involving 2,096 flats in five towers and scheduled for sale by 2008-09.

MTRC shares rose 0.64 percent Monday to close at HK$15.70.

sfgadv02

November 29th, 2005, 01:57 AM

So when is the TKO South station going to be open?

bs_lover_boy

November 29th, 2005, 12:15 PM

So when is the TKO South station going to be open?

Not anytime soon, maybe at least two or three years the fastest. Also, Tseung Kwan O South station area will be like Telford & Kowloon station style combined (at least that is the looks which I am expecting to see).

hkskyline

November 29th, 2005, 05:04 PM

Lawmakers step up drive for new MTR island lines
Wendy Leung
29 November 2005
Hong Kong Standard

Legislators have urged the government to help fund MTR lines through western and southern Hong Kong Island to serve the area's residents and to ensure the success of Ocean Park's planned HK$5.55 billion overhaul.

But the government said it has not decided whether the MTR network should be extended to the relatively sparsely populated region although Ocean Park officials insist it will be fundamental to the redevelopment project's success.

``How can the government build a Disney resort line to serve just one theme park and yet refuse to do the same for an entire district?'' Democratic Party chairman Lee Wing-tat asked at a Legislative Council economic panel meeting Monday to discuss funding for the Aberdeen park's redevelopment. ``It's unfair to the residents.''

The Executive Council last week gave the go-ahead for a five-year overhaul of Ocean Park, which pulled in a record number of visitors and profits this past fiscal year.

The MTR Corp estimates that for lines covering the southern and western districts of the island to be financially feasible, nearly half of the funding for the construction will need to come from the public purse.

Generally, the government funds MTR construction though land grants to the company. But to help finance the HK$2 billion Disneyland Resort line, the government waived its right to HK$798 million in dividends from the MTR _ a publicly-listed company that is majority owned by the city.

Deputy Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Thomas Chow said Monday the government still needs to review the overall development of the area and that Ocean Park is only one of the factors to be taken into consideration.

``Is the MTR the best choice for us?'' asked Chow. ``We still need to deliberate further.''

He said the government will make a final decision in the spring _ something the MTR Corp found to be confusing.

``It [the government] had said earlier it would decide by the end of this year,'' MTR spokeswoman Daphne Mak said.

Besides Ocean Park, the government has slated the island's south coast for other tourism projects, including new hotels and a fishermen's wharf.

``There'll be a heavy traffic load for southern Hong Kong Island,'' warned Yeung Sum, who supports paying for new rail lines to the district.

Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman, the leading architect of the attraction's redevelopment, asked the legislators to `` please push the government on this.''

Last year, the MTRC proposed building two lines to hook the south and west of the island into the mass transport rail network at a cost of HK$15 billion. The plan has since changed, but the company will not release updated estimates.

One line will go from Admiralty to South Horizons that will pass Ocean Park before linking up at Wong Chuk Hang with the south island west line.

hkth

November 29th, 2005, 05:36 PM

MTR Disneyland Resort Line 1-Day Pass Available at All MTR and Airport Express Customer Services Centres (http://mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-05-103-E.pdf)

hkskyline

November 29th, 2005, 08:35 PM

Face to face with accused MTR arsonist
29 November 2005
South China Morning Post

An MTR passenger recalled yesterday how he had been little more than a metre away when he caught a glimpse of the man accused of starting a fire on a train.

Fung Kwong-chung, an engineer travelling on the Admiralty-bound train, said he saw the right side of the man's face for one second in the crowded train after another passenger had yelled at the man not to ignite a bottle.

"I was only one and a half feet away from him," Mr Fung told the Court of First Instance. He identified the man as Yim Kam-chung, who is accused of starting the fire on January 5 last year shortly after the train left Tsim Sha Tsui.

Yim, who has pleaded not guilty to arson, is representing himself.

Mr Fung said after the first carriage became engulfed in fire and thick smoke, he and other passengers scrambled to carriages further away. He said the carriage was so noisy he could hardly hear announcements by the train's driver.

Kwai Sze-kit, another passenger, told the court last Friday that he saw Yim using a lighter to ignite a bottle wrapped in a towel. He said he immediately shouted at him not to light a fire. He also tried to extinguish the burning bottle by stepping on it, to no avail.

Mr Fung said he offered police his assistance with the investigation and attended identity parades the next day and on January 7. On the second occasion he identified Yim.

No one was injured in the blaze, which was put out at Admiralty.

Yim was arrested after the Correctional Service Department received a letter the following day containing details of the alleged arson attack. He told police under caution he was the arsonist.

Detective Chief Inspector Lau Tat-keung told the jury he immediately sent a team of plain-clothes police officers to Admiralty MTR station upon learning of the fire. He also asked the accident and emergency units of public hospitals to be on the lookout for patients with burns who could not explain their injuries.

The case continues today before Mr Justice Louis Tong Po-sun.

hkskyline

November 30th, 2005, 09:36 PM

Central Station by "Icefox" from a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://www.aeroplux.com/temp_post/DHL_01.jpg

http://www.aeroplux.com/temp_post/DHL_02.jpg

http://www.aeroplux.com/temp_post/DHL_03.jpg

http://www.aeroplux.com/temp_post/DHL_04.jpg

http://www.aeroplux.com/temp_post/DHL_05.jpg

http://www.aeroplux.com/temp_post/DHL_06.jpg

sfgadv02

December 1st, 2005, 01:36 AM

Thats quite interesting.

hkskyline

December 2nd, 2005, 05:15 AM

MTR chief says future lies offshore - Returns seen balancing stagnant, controlled market at home
30 November 2005
South China Morning Post

After 27 years with the company, outgoing MTR Corp managing director Phil Gaffney has told the corporation the future for its international investments lies on the mainland and in Europe.

One of the architects of the subway service who joined the company in 1977 as a signalling engineer, Mr Gaffney said a balanced strategy in its international investments would allow the partially privatised corporation to ride out a stagnant home market.

He said the stagnant market for MTR in Hong Kong had been caused by political roadblocks to raising fares and expanding the network and the demise of the rail-plus-property model which foundered during the property slump between 1998 and last year.

However, in China the MTR has tried to replicate the model, playing investor and operator.

He said in Europe the MTR would instead be a manager of railways.

"The nature of opportunities in Europe is more about operating franchises with shorter-term contracts - say five to seven years. Thus projects involve limited capital expenditure and offer a quite tight operating margin," he said.

"In China, our approach is very different {hellip} heavy in capital investments and assets."

With a 100 per cent stake, the corporation is investing six billion yuan in a subway project in Shenzhen, its biggest overseas investment so far. It will be a test case of its rail-and-property model, using profits from property development along subway lines to recover the hefty investment on rail infrastructure.

Mr Gaffney said he was not concerned about the viability of the business model across the border, saying he believed the key challenge would be the transfer of experience and know-how.

The MTR, however, faces further uncertainty over a possible merger with the government-owned Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp.

"I have no regrets about leaving before a decision has been made because [MTR chief executive Chow Chung-kong] and his team will work out a deal to the benefit of the company, minority shareholders, passengers and staff," he said.

Nevertheless, he could not hide his disillusionment at the MTR's ill-fated bid for the Sha Tin-Central rail link. "It is a big disappointment to me even now," he said, pointing to the idled platforms at Sheung Wan MTR terminus previously reserved for the rail project.

The rail line, which the government awarded to the KCRC in 2003 despite the fact it had been on the MTR drawing boards since the 1980s, is still up in the air pending a government decision on the rail merger.

Mr Gaffney, who plans to settle in Ireland as a non-executive director of state-owned Irish Railways, will retain an advisory role on MTR's European developments.

The managing director's role at MTR will be split into two, with Hong Kong operations to be overseen by his deputy Andrew McCusker and Francois Lung Ka-kui as MTR's China and international business director.

Skybean

December 2nd, 2005, 05:36 AM

http://static.flickr.com/24/53246036_1408c2f1ec_b.jpg

hkskyline

December 2nd, 2005, 05:14 PM

Accused MTR arsonist says he wanted to be a media star
30 November 2005
South China Morning Post

An elderly man accused of starting a fire on an MTR train told police he was responsible for the blaze because he wanted to become a media star, the Court of First Instance heard yesterday.

Yim Kam-chung, 68, said in a videotaped interview shown to the jury that, as a figure in the news, he would have the opportunity to draw public attention to what he called the government's persecution of him. Yim told police when arrested that he was the arsonist.

"Since the government confiscated six of my vehicles, I decided to cause a tragedy at the Admiralty MTR station," he said at the time.

"Because my name is Yim Kam-chung [the Chinese characters of the name Kam-chung mean Admiralty], I picked Admiralty MTR station," he added.

Yim is accused of starting a fire on January 5 last year, shortly after the train left Tsim Sha Tsui for Admiralty. He has pleaded not guilty to arson, and is representing himself.

The prosecution said no one was injured in the blaze, which was put out at Admiralty station.

Yim was arrested after the Correctional Services Department received a letter the following day containing details of the blaze.

Fung Kwong-chung, an engineer travelling on the Admiralty-bound train on that day, told the court on Monday he had caught a glimpse of Yim, who was only half a metre from him.

He said he had seen the right side of Yim's face for one second.

Kwai Sze-kit, another passenger, told the court last Friday that he had seen Yim using a lighter to set fire to a bottle wrapped in a towel. He said he immediately shouted at him not to light a fire. He also tried in vain to extinguish the burning bottle.

The case continues today before Mr Justice Louis Tong Po-sun.

sfgadv02

December 3rd, 2005, 03:19 AM

Why isnt he charged? There must be justice!

hkskyline

December 3rd, 2005, 05:45 AM

Hong Kong's MTRC says 14 developers to bid for Tseung Kwan O housing project
2 December 2005
AFX Asia

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Rail service operator MTR Corp has received expressions of interest from 14 property developers for its Dream City Phase 2 housing project at its Tseung Kwan O Area 86, a company spokesman said.

The spokesman said MTRC will seek tenders this month, and the winning bid is expected to be chosen at the year-end or early next year.

According to other sources, major developers including Cheung Kong(Holdings), Sun Hung Kai Properties, Henderson Land, Sino Land, Wharf Holdings, New World Development were among those which have submitted expressions of interest.

The construction of Dream City phase two, which will have 4,272 apartments in 10 towers, with a gross floor area of 3.33 mln square feet, is expected to be completed in 2009.

The winning bidder will be lent half the land premium cost, which the developer will be required to repay without interest.

Cheung Kong (Holdings) in January won the tender for Dream City Phase 1 project, which involves the construction of 2,096 flats in five residential blocks over a site area of 14,266 square meters.

Premium for the use of Phase 1 was 2.3 bln hkd, with MTR and Cheung Kong (Holdings) each sharing half the cost.

hkskyline

December 3rd, 2005, 07:13 AM

Press Release
30 November 2005
Two More Green Minibus Routes Offer Discount With MTR

Starting tomorrow (1 December 2005), MTR passengers will be able to enjoy Bus Interchange Discounts on two more Green Minibus (GMB) routes. They are: Route 49M serving Tin Hau Station and Route 50 serving Sai Wan Ho Station.

Adult Octopus Card users who transfer between the MTR and one of the two GMB routes will be able to save $0.5 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 two routes, a total of 20 GMB routes now offer Bus Interchange Discounts with the MTR. Details are summarised as follows:
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-05-104-E.pdf

hkskyline

December 4th, 2005, 07:53 PM

'Bomb' ads to be removed for WTO Drug company gives ground over MTR campaign branded insensitive by critics
4 December 2005
South China Morning Post

Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline has expressed regret over an advertising campaign in MTR stations featuring pictures of people with explosives and timers strapped to their waists.

Posters advertising the prescription drug Zeffix for hepatitis B sufferers feature images aimed at highlighting the hidden "time bomb" of Hong Kong parents passing the disease to their children. The company has been accused of insensitivity towards victims of terrorism.

A spokeswoman for the firm said: "We are sorry to learn that the ad has created unrest and upset to some commuters. We appreciate their comments and will take serious review with regard to our future communication materials."

An MTR Corporation spokeswoman said: "The MTR is concerned with the incident and aware of the sensitive social issues the adverts are associated with."

She said the firm had confirmed the ads would not be posted in stations during the WTO meeting.

The campaign, drawn up by the company's Hong Kong marketing department, comes five months after suicide bombers killed 52 other people and injured 700 on buses and the London underground network.

Hong Kong-based British teacher Justin Hayward, 38, said he was horrified at the posters and had complained to the company and to the Broadcasting Authority about the posters.

"How would relatives of people who died in the London bombings feel if they saw these posters on an underground network? It is hugely insensitive. I can't believe they have allowed these kinds of posters to go up in a mass transit system after what happened in London, especially with the World Trade Organisation meeting [and the fear of possible terrorism] coming up.

"With the WTO meeting, it is going to make us look as if we are completely out of touch with what is happening in the outside world."

Mr Hayward said he lodged a complaint with the Broadcasting Authority, which phoned him to say it did not consider the campaign to be offensive.

But a GlaxoSmithKline spokeswoman said the campaign would not be withdrawn.

"This health problem is largely caused by parents transmitting it to their children. There is no other implication apart from this single message," she said.

Meanwhile, Group of Seven finance ministers have warned that the Hong Kong talks must make "significant progress" on global trade liberalisation.

At the end of a two-day meeting in London yesterday, the G7 said the world's richest nations must improve developing nations' access to markets in agriculture, industrial products and services.

The group also said "further flexible implementation" of Beijing's yuan policy would improve the global economy.

Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse

kenlau13

December 6th, 2005, 09:54 AM

wow

hkskyline

December 8th, 2005, 04:30 AM

Press Release
7 December 2005
20 December Opening Date For Airport Express AsiaWorld-Expo Station

The new in-venue station at AsiaWorld-Expo will be in operation on 20 December 2005, prior to the official opening of Hong Kong’s newest and largest exhibition and event centre. The new Airport Express AsiaWorld-Expo Station is a two-level above–ground structure. A single platform is located at ground level whereas the station concourse is one level up. The concourse is integrated with AsiaWorld-Expo, providing the venue with direct access to convenient railway service.

“AsiaWorld-Expo Station is just a one-minute train ride from the Airport, making it convenient for visitors and exhibitors to go there directly after arriving at Hong Kong,” said Mr. Wilfred Lau, Head of Operations of MTR Corporation. “The high-speed and comfortable Airport Express with trains departing every 12 minutes is also the fastest and most convenient mode of transport between AsiaWorld-Expo and the city centre.” An attractive discount will be offered to passengers using Octopus cards from Hong Kong, Kowloon and Tsing Yi Station to AsiaWorld-Expo Station and staying at the exhibition centre for two hours or more before returning to town. Passengers are also entitled to a free MTR connection to any destinations when they use their Octopus cards to travel on Airport Express.

Single journey fares to and from AsiaWorld-Expo Station are the same as those to and from the Airport. The adult single journey fare between Airport Station and AsiaWorld-Expo Station is HK$5.

littlearea

December 12th, 2005, 03:41 PM

http://thechau.com/files/MTR_Song.mp3

kenlau13

December 15th, 2005, 10:58 AM

http://hk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=AniqzKie4BXtKJl70FL7id..ygt.;_ylu=X3oDMTA4NDgyNWN0BHNlYwNwcm9m/SIG=11vvqpkci/**http%3a//de.geocities.com/m_hong_kong/hongkg-kowloonbay1.jpg

sourse:http://de.geocities.com/m_hong_kong/hongkg-kowloonbay1.jpg

http://de.geocities.com/m_hong_kong/hk112.JPG

http://de.geocities.com/m_hong_kong/hk84.JPG

http://de.geocities.com/m_hong_kong/hk65.JPG

http://de.geocities.com/m_hong_kong/hk50.jpg

http://de.geocities.com/m_hong_kong/hong-kong2.jpg

sourse:http://de.geocities.com/m_hong_kong/hk-photos.htm

hkskyline

December 15th, 2005, 07:15 PM

Hong Kong's MTR Corp Nov passengers 72.65 mln vs 73.58 mln in Oct
15 December 2005
AFX

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - MTR Corp Ltd said it carried 72.65 mln passengers in November, down 1.26 pct from 73.58 mln in October.

On an average weekday basis, MTR Corp carried 2.52 mln in November, down from 2.54 mln in the month earlier, according to figures published on the company's website.

The November figure for the MTR average weekday passenger traffic covers the Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Tung Chung, Tseung Kwan O and the island lines.

The total monthly patronage of the MTR Lines and Airport Express Line for October rose 2.72 pct year-on-year, but no comparative numbers of passengers for the period were given.

For comparative month-on-month figures, Airport Express carried 729,000 passengers in November, down 3.3 pct from the 754,000 passengers it carried in October, the company said.

On an average daily basis, the Airport Express carried 24,300 people in November, unchanged from the preceding month, it added.

hkskyline

December 21st, 2005, 04:15 PM

HK's MTRC invites developers to submit bids for Tseung Kwan O housing project
20 December 2005
AFX Asia

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - MTR Corp said it has asked the 14 property developers who have expressed interest in Dream City phase two project in Tseung Kwan O to submit formal bids for the project.

An MTRC spokesman said the tender will close on January 9.

MTR Corp and the government have agreed on the price of the land premium, the spokesman said, but he refused to disclose the price.

Earlier this month MTR Corp said it has received expressions of interest from 14 property developers, among which were Cheung Kong(Holdings), Sun Hung Kai Properties, Henderson Land, Sino Land, Wharf Holdings, and New World Development.

The construction of Dream City phase two, which will have 4,272 apartments in 10 towers, with a gross floor area of 3.33 mln square feet, is expected to be completed in 2009.

The winning bidder will be lent half the land premium cost, which the developer will be required to repay without interest.

hkskyline

December 22nd, 2005, 07:57 AM

MTR Corp venture in running for UK rail bid

A joint venture in which MTR Corp owns a 50 percent stake was named a finalist in the bidding for a license to run trains in the southwest of England starting in 2007, according to the UK's Transport Department.

Gladys Tang
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, December 21, 2005

A joint venture in which MTR Corp owns a 50 percent stake was named a finalist in the bidding for a license to run trains in the southwest of England starting in 2007, according to the UK's Transport Department.

Great South Western Railway Company, a joint venture between Hong Kong's subway operator and GNER Holdings, is matched against four other competitors: Arriva Trains South West, First South Western, Trafalgar Trains and Stagecoach Group's South Western Trains.

The bidders must now submit detailed proposals to the government. An invitation to tender will be sent to them at the end of March, 2006.

The license to run South West Trains and Island Line, which is currently held by Stagecoach, expires on February 4, 2007. A new 10-year franchise will be awarded next fall, and take effect on February 4, 2007. The last three years of the contract will be contingent on whether preset performance criteria are met.

MTRC made its first foray outside Hong Kong in 2004 with a roughly six billion yuan (HK$5.76 billion) investment in the Shenzhen Metro project.

The railway operator has been on the lookout for projects in European countries including Sweden, Germany and Italy in a bid to diversify its business away from Hong Kong where railway expansion options are limited.

Shares of MTRC climbed 10 HK cents to HK$15.55 Tuesday. They have gained 25 percent since the beginning of this year.

Manila-X

December 22nd, 2005, 08:10 AM

With all that new projects going one, till now The MTR hasn't extend it's Island Line to the western districts of HK Island like Sai Ying Pun or Kennedy Town.

xeror

December 22nd, 2005, 09:56 AM

With all that new projects going one, till now The MTR hasn't extend it's Island Line to the western districts of HK Island like Sai Ying Pun or Kennedy Town.
MTR Corporation has already planned the extension since 2000 (see West Island Line Project (http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/extensions/sil-westislandline.htm)) but left aside until recently it has gotten the green light to build the West Island Line by 2010.

Manila-X

December 22nd, 2005, 10:08 AM

Still have 5 years to go before that happens!

hkskyline

December 22nd, 2005, 06:38 PM

MTR Expected to Participate in Wuhan Subway Operation
21 December 2005

WUHAN, December 21, SinoCast -- Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, Central China, wants to invite Hong Kong's subway operator Mass Transit Railway Corp. (MTR)to participate in investment, construction and operation of Wuhan Subway as the first phase project of the No.1 Line of Wuhan Railway Traffic has to suffer a huge loss of CNY 350,000.

Wuhan completed construction of Phase I project of the No.1 Line of the light rail with a total length of 10 kilometers in July 2004 and planned to reach daily passenger throughput of 210,000 people time.

However, daily passenger throughput reaches just more than 10,000 people time every day. Total costs on operation of Phase I project of the No.1 Line of the light rail are approximately CNY 550,000. Phase II project of the No.1 Line of the light rail started construction on December 15, 2005.

MTR, the world's only profitable subway operator, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Wuhan Municipal Government this May and has spent CNY 15 million on early-stage market research.

The Wuhan subway project, with a total investment of more than CNY 26 billion, has been agreed by the State Development and Reform Commission, China's macro-economy regulator, and is now waiting for the approval from the State Council, the country's cabinet.

Yin Zengtao, vice secretary of Wuhan Municipal Committee, told journalists that No.2 Line of the Wuhan Subway through the Yangtze River would start construction firstly.

Wuhan obtained fiscal revenues of over CNY 30 billion in 2004 and its fiscal revenues cannot support subway construction. Demands for investments in urban infrastructure construction sharply rise in recent years. Investments in urban infrastructure construction reached CNY 3.8 billion in 2003 and CNY 10 billion in 2004 and are expected to arrive at CNY 1.3 billion.

The city started construction of more than 400 projects in 2004 and investments in the Tianxingzhou Bridge and cross-river tunnels hit over CNY 1 billion.

China's subway construction is now in full swing. The Chinese government plans to build 5000-kilometer subway lines with total investments of more than CNY 800 billion in 25 cities.

Currently, ten cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen own already-built subways throughout the country. China Development Bank has extended loans to domestic cities to support their subway construction. The bank has promised to provide loans of more than CNY 60 billion and had extended loans of over CNY 40 billion by the end of this November.

Urban railway traffic such as light rail vehicles is commonweal facilities not intended to earn money and needs huge investments. Industry analysts suggested that domestic subway construction should learn from Hong Kong subway construction and operation.

MTR reached an agreement on January 15, 2004 to build and operate Shenzhen Phase II of the No.4 Line for 30 years. The 20.5-kilometer No.4 Line will run from Huanggang, on the boundary between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, to the center of Longhua New Town.

The test segment of the second phase project of Shenzhen Subway No.4 Line started construction on November 4, 2005. The No.4 Line is a north-to-south line with 15 stations will be a main route between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in the future. MTR makes a total investment of CNY 6 billion in the Phase II project.

(USD 1 = CNY 8.0730)

sfgadv02

December 22nd, 2005, 06:38 PM

Wait, arent the stations like already built or something since 1970s.

hkskyline

December 23rd, 2005, 12:59 AM

Publisher scraps MTR deal
19 December 2005
South China Morning Post

The MTR Corp is selecting a new publisher for its free Chinese entertainment magazine distributed to commuters every Thursday.

Hui Kai Guide, published by In express Media, has terminated the agreement giving it exclusive rights to be distributed throughout the MTR network since November 2001. The MTR has now invited publishers to bid for a new contract starting next month.

Market sources said the magazine struggled to survive on advertising revenue alone in a competitive market with high production costs.

An MTR spokeswoman confirmed the magazine had asked to terminate its contract last month.

She said Hui Kai Guide had originally signed a three-year agreement with the option of a further three years.

It is understood at least three publishing groups have expressed an interest in the contract, with Metro, the publisher of the free newspaper distributed on the MTR network, favourite to succeed.

A Metro spokesperson declined to comment. In express Media managing director Leung Chung-pun also refused to comment, although sources close to the magazine said the contract had expired and was not terminated.

hkskyline

December 24th, 2005, 08:54 AM

將軍澳56區批建住宅酒店商廈
12月 24日星期六 05:05 更新

【明報專訊】地鐵（0066）將軍澳56區純商業發展項目，終獲城規會通過，可轉作住宅、酒店及寫字樓發展，計劃興建4幢住宅大廈，連同兩幢酒店及寫字樓，附設商場，將提供1150個單位，以及1290個酒店房間。

將軍澳56區位於將軍澳地鐵站上蓋及毗鄰地皮，劃為「商業發展連公共交通交匯處」，原只可作純商業發展。

然而，地鐵認為區內對寫字樓需求不大，在2003年申請轉作住宅及商業發展，兩度遭城規會否決後，昨天終獲得通過。

該地皮佔地約43萬方呎，計劃在3層高商場平台上興建4幢42至45層高住宅大廈、1幢36層高酒店及1幢36層高酒店連寫字樓，住宅樓面約86萬方呎，酒店樓面約62.6萬方呎，商舖樓面約21.5萬方呎，寫字樓樓面約5.4萬方呎。地鐵同時承諾會在地盤範圍內興建公園。

九倉油塘申建40層高住宅

另外，九倉（0004）持有的油塘東源街5號住宅發展項目，申請作輕微修改，將興建兩幢40層高商住大廈，單位數目約256個，總樓面近25.6萬方呎。

sfgadv02

December 28th, 2005, 07:03 AM

Manila-X

December 28th, 2005, 07:23 AM

Hey guys, this was the original plan back in 1967....looks interesting. :)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Freeman%2C_Fox%2C_Wilbur_%26_Associates_-_Mass_Transportation_Study_%281967%29.PNG/800px-Freeman%2C_Fox%2C_Wilbur_%26_Associates_-_Mass_Transportation_Study_%281967%29.PNG

Dope! Except the East Kowloon line never went to effect and some of the stations were changed! Also, the western stations of HK Island are still being planned!

Interesting is the Kong Kow Line which later on is part of the Tsuen Wan Line!

sfgadv02

December 28th, 2005, 08:07 PM

mopc

December 28th, 2005, 09:05 PM

HK system looks good!

superchan7

December 29th, 2005, 03:26 AM

I wish they kept the name "Lap Sap Wan." That would've been awesome ("Rubbish Bay").

hkskyline

December 29th, 2005, 07:43 AM

緊急掣故障欣澳月台無職員
地鐵懶理暈倒孕婦
27/12/2005
http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/img/endmarker.gif

【本報訊】懷孕婦人昨晨在地鐵欣澳站不適暈倒，丈夫按緊急掣求援，緊急掣卻發生故障，月台上又無職員，幸其他乘客協助通知職員，但職員又「袖手旁觀」，遲遲未有召救護車，幸孕婦其後毋須送院。夫婦質疑

地鐵設施及職員態度有問題，決定向地鐵追究。

投訴地鐵的男子姓林（二十八歲），從事貿易生意，與妻（二十四歲）居於元朗，妻子懷有四個月身孕，為第一胎。昨晨十時許，兩人趁假期到迪士尼樂園遊玩。兩人抵達欣澳站時，林妻感到頭暈不適，下車後更暈

倒失去知覺。林大驚失色，立即按動月台上的「召喚專線」，並透過對講機呼救，豈料全無回應，他連試多次，弄致右手傷亦無結果。當時月台上乘客已全離開，又無職員在場，他急如熱鍋上的螞蟻。

夫決發律師信追究
幸好一對情侶到達月台，聞訊後跑往上層代為求助，但十五分鐘後一名男職員才趕至，但只是站在旁邊觀察。林催促他召救護車，職員卻表示：「我想了解清楚，唔可以即時叫白車。」未幾林妻回復清醒，到辦公

室休息。一名系統控制主任解釋「召喚專線」發生故障，並稱會調查。林見妻子無大礙，致電徵詢家庭醫生意見後，最終未有召救護車就離去。他質疑地鐵沒有在故障的設備貼上告示，亦無職員在月台上當值。他

表示，幸妻子無恙，但職員沒有即時提供協助，決發出律師信作追究。

地鐵發言人表示，當時有月台助理巡查見發生事故即通知站長，站長及一名女職員在兩分鐘內趕至，立即帶該對夫婦入室內休息，亦有代召喚救護車，不過孕婦不欲入院。

Manila-X

December 29th, 2005, 08:35 AM

Also what's interesting is that isnt the East Kowloon line something that the KCR is looking at right now?? It was also a good idea to merge the Kong Kow line into one....why have 2 lines when you can have 1 fast trip....;)

What I'm looking forward to is seeing this in effect sometime in the near future :)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a41/hkwanch/URaT_MTR2018.jpg

sfgadv02

December 30th, 2005, 03:11 AM

I dont know if all of those are accurate though. Lol....wheres the Asia-Expo station? Also, is MTR still proposing for that extension to the Kwun Tong line where it extends from Yau Ma Tai --> Ho Man Tin --> Whampoa??

ailiton

December 30th, 2005, 05:18 AM

hkskyline

December 30th, 2005, 07:02 PM

December 28, 2005
Government Press Release
Record number take MTR on Dec 23

The MTRC recorded 2.81 million passenger trips on December 23, the highest the railway has recorded on a single, regular 19-hour service day.

Previously, the highest number recorded for a regular service day was 2.76 million passenger trips on September 30.

A total of 3.1 million passenger trips were taken on December 24 when MTR's overnight service was provided. The railway will also run round the clock on New Year's Eve for festive revellers.

ailiton

January 1st, 2006, 11:42 PM

AsiaWorld-Expo Station: (from rail discussion board)

http://www.bvehk.net/files/dscf1814.jpg

http://www.bvehk.net/files/dscf1835.jpg

http://www.bvehk.net/files/dscf1816.jpg

http://www.bvehk.net/files/dscf1817.jpg

http://www.bvehk.net/files/dscf1818.jpg

http://www.bvehk.net/files/dscf1819.jpg

http://www.bvehk.net/files/dscf1826.jpg

http://www.bvehk.net/files/dscf1828.jpg

http://www.bvehk.net/files/dscf1836.jpg

http://www.bvehk.net/files/img_9339.jpg

http://www.bvehk.net/files/img_9498.jpg

http://www.sp1900.net/photo/resize/AWExpo/AWE3.jpg

http://www.sp1900.net/photo/resize/AWExpo/AWE4.jpg

http://hk.msnusers.com/_Secure/0RgAAAAgU!KKKSYZg4KXvGTkoc7AqJZnkmkHT9HlwPzowxAvCYKeVx5mVtR7CYQjGjJzEGHv3Mmvsk6CNqUawA9ydkuhacC7jRcJjksY3uHo/P1010199.JPG?dc=4675552573998845683

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04166.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04174.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04181.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04188.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04194.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04239.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04347.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04294.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04260.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04262.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04278.jpg

pookgai

January 2nd, 2006, 04:42 AM

very nice! Looks like the MTR has done an excellent job.

sfgadv02

January 2nd, 2006, 07:15 AM

Interesting. I wonder why they didnt use the other platform screen-doors style, as those doors are the one that are used when they build new stations.

ignoramus

January 2nd, 2006, 07:20 AM

Maybe the design, features and methods of construction for the new doors when stations are constructed don't really go well with stations that are being retrofitted. After all, stations being retrofitted are full of complications. I don't think the new doors were designed to be put in stations that are being retrofitted because of a lack of a lot of proper infrastructure and other constraints??? :)

sfgadv02

January 2nd, 2006, 07:27 AM

Hmmm, but these doors are the ones that are retroffited version.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04188.jpg

While these doors are usually the one that are added when a new station is built.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/kennis_1122/DSC04278.jpg

ignoramus

January 2nd, 2006, 08:00 AM

haha BEATS ME!!! BTW those retrofitted ones look great. Dark glass plus large glass area plus clean lines. Better than the new ones, with those ugly horizontal lines at the base.

ignoramus

January 2nd, 2006, 08:05 AM

Oh could it be due to WHO won the bid for the PSD tender for the AWE station? Are the PSDs by different companies? Maybe the tender winner for the retrofitted doors won the tender for PSD in this new station.

In Singapore, things like plasma displays to ticketing machines differ slightly in design on some lines due to the different winning bidders. The winner with the second lowest bid on one line may have had the lowest bid on another line, hence two different companies supply two slightly different products on different lines.

ailiton

January 2nd, 2006, 08:12 AM

Interesting. I wonder why they didnt use the other platform screen-doors style, as those doors are the one that are used when they build new stations.

Since the retrofitting program is still going on, I suspect that it would be much easier to get doors from the PSD company that is responsible for constucting doors for old stations.

hkskyline

January 2nd, 2006, 08:28 AM

Platform Screen Door Project
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/extensions/inprogress_hongkong_e.htm#5

The project is being undertaken in stages and different contracts are awarded to retrofit 60 stations.

ailiton

January 2nd, 2006, 08:36 AM

The contract for the station lift was awarded to Kone Elevator (HK) Ltd while the contract for Platform Screen Doors was awarded to Kaba Gilgen AG as an extension to their current PSD retrofit contract.

Ha ha I think I'm right.

sfgadv02

January 2nd, 2006, 07:26 PM

Thx for the read, but IMO those PSD are nicer looking. :)

ailiton

January 2nd, 2006, 11:52 PM

Videos of AWE station:

http://www.bvehk.net/viewtopic.php?t=8258&sid=2acd78d421bb297ea73f50e495f227ee

hkskyline

January 8th, 2006, 02:32 AM

MTR arson trial nears end

The trial of a suspected MTR arsonist is drawing to a close after the only defense witness - the defendant himself - completed his testimony in the High Court.

Albert Wong
Hong Kong Standard
Friday, January 06, 2006

The trial of a suspected MTR arsonist is drawing to a close after the only defense witness - the defendant himself - completed his testimony in the High Court.

Yim Kam-chung, 68, is alleged to have carried out the attack on the morning of January 5, 2004, sending peak hour commuters fleeing in panic.

The prosecution claims he sent a letter to the Correctional Services Department referring to the incident a day later and that in an interview with the police the next day, he said: "The government took away six of my vehicles. I taught them a lesson with a disaster. My name is Yim Kam-chung. So I did it at Kam Chung [Admiralty MTR station]."

The police found a strand of hair matching Yim's DNA at the scene, as well as firebomb making materials and an MTR ticket for around the time of the incident.

Witnesses had earlier told the court the MTR station that morning was a scene of chaos and panic after an explosion rocked one of the train carriages, sparking a fire.

Kwai Sze-kit, a passenger in the front carriage, testified he saw Yim carrying a backpack.

The witness said he had a clear view of Yim, who was expressionless at the time, as he set fire to a cylindrical object with a lighter. Kwai tried but failed to put out the fire.

The train driver told the trial the front carriage was filled with thick smoke and that as he was leaving, he had to dodge a canister as it exploded on the platform.

"There was chaos and confusion. Shoes, clothes, accessories and bags were strewn all over the place."

The trial, which began in mid- November, has been an unusually raucous affair, with the judge at first requiring an amplifier to speak as Yim chanted slogans. The defendant alleges the police, the Department of Justice and the Judiciary are corrupt and complicit in conducting scam trials.

Representing himself, Yim claims he did not leave home on the day of the incident, is semi-crippled, could not have escaped and was not found with any burns.

"Look at me, any eight or 10 year old could catch me, but of course, you wouldn't have caught me, because I wasn't even there," Yim said Thursday.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Arthur Luk SC told Yim Thursday no one had said the suspect "ran away" or was pursued in a chase. Luk also said no witness in the proceedings had said the arsonist was burnt.

"You're lying. You're lying. Mr Kwai had said it. I remember," Yim shouted back.

Final submissions will be made to the jury today.

hkskyline

January 9th, 2006, 05:50 PM

Hong Kong's MTRC says 5 developers bid for Tseung Kwan O housing project
9 January 2006
AFX

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Rail service operator MTR Corp said it has received tenders from five property developers for its Dream City Phase 2 housing project at its Tseung Kwan O Area 86.

Major developers Cheung Kong (Holdings), Hung Lung Properties, Sino Land, Wharf Holdings and New World Development said they have all submitted separate tenders for the project.

MTRC property director Thomas Ho Hang-kwong said the developers' response was in accordance with the company's expectations.

Ho said the company will announce the winning bid as soon as possible.

Last month, MTR Corp asked the 14 property developers who had previously expressed interest in Dream City Phase 2 housing project in Tseung Kwan O to submit formal bids.

The construction of Dream City Phase 2, which will have 4,272 apartments in 10 towers, with a gross floor area of 3.33 mln square feet, is expected to be completed in 2009.

The winning bidder will be lent half the land premium cost, which the developer will be allowed to repay without interest.

Surveyors estimated that the Dream City Phase 2 land premium may be as much as 8.0 bln hkd, and the construction and other costs are estimated at 8. 0 bln hkd.

Separately, Ho also announced that MTRC will launch 2-3 more property projects in the second half, including Dream City phases 3 and 4, and the Tseung Kwan O area 56 project, which will provide approximately 5,000 housing units.

hkskyline

January 11th, 2006, 12:12 AM

LegCo to debate motion on expediting construction of MTR South Island Line
Government Press Release
Monday, January 9, 2006

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (January 11) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on expediting the construction of the MTR South Island Line.

The motion, to be proposed by Hon Howard YOUNG, says: "That, given the successive completion of the Ocean Park's Redevelopment Plans from 2008 onwards and that works on the new tourism projects will be launched in Southern District, which are expected to further aggravate the already very heavy traffic in the district, to alleviate traffic congestion, complement tourism development and give impetus to the local economy, this Council urges the Government to expedite the construction of the MTR South Island Line, but should study in parallel how vicious competition of the new line with other public transport such as minibuses or buses can be avoided, thereby protecting the public's right to choose and their interests."

Dr Hon YEUNG Sum will move an amendment to Hon Howard YOUNG's motion.

Members will also debate a motion on comprehensive review of labour legislation. The motion, to be moved by Hon WONG Kwok-hing, states: "That, as the economic pattern and labour relations in Hong Kong have changed, the existing labour legislation cannot keep abreast of the times and fails to improve the protection of workers' rights and benefits, this Council urges the Administration to expeditiously conduct a comprehensive review of various legislation relating to labour matters."

Hon LEE Cheuk-yan, Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung and Hon Andrew CHENG will move separate amendments to Hon WONG Kwok-hing's motion.

Meanwhile, Hon TSANG Yok-sing will move a resolution under the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China to amend the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

On bills, Members will resume Second Reading debates on the Employment (Increase in Penalty for Offences under Section 63C) Bill 2005 and the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill 2005. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Readings, they will then go through the Committee Stage and be read the third time.

During the meeting, Members will also ask the Administration 20 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.

The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the Legislative Council InfoFax Service (Tel: 2869 9568) or the Legislative Council web site (http://www.legco.gov.hk).

Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Legislative Council Chamber. They may reserve seats by calling 2869 9399 during office hours. Seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

hkskyline

January 11th, 2006, 03:21 AM

South Island in line for smaller trains

The MTR Corp wants a smaller four- car railway for its planned South Island line because demand will be less intense than on the Hong Kong and Kowloon lines, a company official said.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Hong Kong Standard

The MTR Corp wants a smaller four-car railway for its planned South Island line because demand will be less intense than on the Hong Kong and Kowloon lines, a company official said.
MTRC chief design manager Malcolm Gibson told RTHK's Backchat program Tuesday that the company has yet to decide on the specific rail technology it will use to service an area that includes Ap Lei Chau, which, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the world's most densely populated island.

Options available to the company include conventional steel wheel rolling stock, a rubber tire system like those found on the Airport Express trains, or a magnetic levitation train.

The underused and problem- plagued Shanghai-Pudong airport train that came into service last year is a maglev type of train. Plans for the South Island line are still awaiting government approval, even though MTRC submitted them in 2004.

The corporation also filed plans to start construction in 2005 after a lengthy consultation process.

A Legco meeting today will allow legislators to thrash out when the building program can begin.

superchan7

January 11th, 2006, 10:00 AM

Airport Express has rubber tires? That's kinda hard to believe considering it runs on conventional rails.

hkskyline

January 11th, 2006, 04:19 PM

MTR plans futuristic upgrades for its stations
10 January 2006
South China Morning Post

MTR stations are to be turned into futuristic-looking centres in coming years, offering services including foot massages, clinics and even learning centres.

These are among the things commuters have told the MTR Corporation they want as it carries out a far-reaching station upgrade.

"We will revamp stations along the Tung Chung line this year, adding new stores and realigning old ones to make shopping easier," the corporation's marketing and station business manager, Jeny Yeung Mei-chun, said. "Opinions from our clients' will definitely be taken into consideration."

A survey carried out by the corporation last year found that cafeterias topped a commuters' wish list, followed by foot massage parlours, clinics, learning centres and audio-visual product stores.

Nineteen stations, including Causeway Bay, Admiralty and Central, were redecorated last year. One hundred new shops were introduced and advertising income in 2005 enjoyed a double-digit growth from the previous year.

Interiors are being redesigned with a theme, to give each an individual identity.

Causeway Bay, which handles 240,000 travellers a day, had a $14 million facelift last year in which four shops were added.

"The ceiling was reconstructed into rings, which give an impression of a spaceship," Ms Yeung said. "The whole idea was to give the station a modern, sophisticated feel."

"Our next targets are North Point and Tung Chung stations."

She said the former had become a hub for mainland travellers, while the latter catered to tourists using Disneyland.

hkskyline

January 11th, 2006, 04:20 PM

MTR arsonist screams insults at judge after conviction
11 January 2006
South China Morning Post

A man who screamed insults at the judge yesterday after being convicted of an arson attack on an MTR train was warned he could also face contempt of court charges.

Yim Kam-chung, 68, was forcibly removed from the court when he screamed, "The judge is a devil. Bandit, robber, ruled without reasons" after Court of First Instance judge Louis Tong Po-sun found him guilty.

At an earlier hearing, Yim was removed from court three times when his interruptions forced Mr Justice Tong to address the court through a microphone.

Yesterday, the judge warned Yim, who represented himself, that his actions could constitute contempt. He advised him to consider having a duty lawyer, who sat through the trial, to help in mitigation.

The judge also doubled the jurors' daily allowance to $560 and gave them a five-year exemption from further service, saying "the defendant's reaction was not easy to handle at times".

Sentencing was adjourned to January 25 pending two psychiatric reports.

More than 40 witnesses testified in the 20-day trial, during which Yim repeatedly protested that he was being treated unfairly.

The former electrical mechanic was accused of starting a fire on January 5 last year, soon after the train left Tsim Sha Tsui for Admiralty.

"Since the government confiscated six of my vehicles, I decided to cause a tragedy at the Admiralty MTR Station," he said. "Because my name is Yim Kam-chung I picked Admiralty MTR station."

The Chinese characters of the name Kam-chung are the same as those for Admiralty.

He claimed he had gone through five unfair trials between 1981 and 2004, in which he was convicted, fined and jailed.

Yim was arrested after the Correctional Services Department received a letter the day after the attack containing details of the arson.

The court heard Yim was pointed out by two passenger witnesses who said the arsonist wore a fisherman's hat and carried a trolley. One of them saw a man use a lighter to ignite a bottle wrapped in a towel.

A fisherman's hat, found by DNA tests to contain Yim's hair and skin tissue, was found at the scene.

Several items used in the firebombs were found at Yim's Tuen Mun public housing estate flat.

Defending himself, Yim said he had not left his flat on the day of the fire, he had no burn injuries and therefore he was innocent.

hkskyline

January 12th, 2006, 02:15 AM

Cautious approach on new rail line
Michael Ng
12 January 2006
Hong Kong Standard

The government will decide whether to approve the HK$7 billion South Island Line only after the completion of a study assessing its viability, says Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao.

She was speaking Wednesday ahead of a Legislative Council vote passing a non-binding motion that ``urges the government to expedite the construction of the MTR South Island Line'' to meet increased transport needs arising from the planned development of a series of tourism projects in the area, especially Ocean Park.

Liao said during the motion debate that the government had learned its lesson about the need to study the viability of proposed rail lines from the Kowloon-Canton Railway's West Rail project which, after two years of operation, attracts just half the 400,000 daily passengers initially estimated.

``We will walk with our eyes wide open and consider it carefully,'' Liao said of the proposed South Island line.

``The government does not want passengers and the public to be left responsible for the financial implications after an expensive rail line is constructed.''

To that end, Liao said her bureau is waiting to see the planning department's report on population growth in Southern District, which was scheduled to be completed late last year.

But motion-raiser and tourism- sector legislator Howard Young of the Liberal Party contended that planned tourism projects would quickly swell traffic in Southern District, further congesting Aberdeen Tunnel.

He cited Fisherman's Wharf in Aberdeen and Ocean Park _ the latter of which estimates its redevelopment will be completed in 2010 _ as boosting annual visitor numbers by 25 percent to five million.

``The problem can only be solved if the South Island Line is built,'' Young said.

The proposed line, which the Mass Transit Railway Corporation first officially tabled in 2002, will have two branches _ a western section starting at Hong Kong University station and running via Cyberport and Aberdeen to Wong Chuk Hang, and an eastern extension from Admiralty, via Ocean Park to South Horizons at Ap Lei Chau.

The MTRC is counting on the government to pay half the HK$7 billion construction cost.

But Democratic Party legislator Yeung Sum - whose amendment requesting the project be built by 2012 was also passed - argued that the government should not use public revenues to finance a project by a publicly listed corporation.

hkskyline

January 14th, 2006, 04:40 AM

Hong Kong's MTR Corp targets double-digit increase in rents
6 January 2006
(c) 2006, AFX Asia. All rights reserved.

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - MTR Corp is aiming for a double-digit increase this year in rents at shopping malls it operates, the Standard reported, citing Chan Ka-ming, chief of shopping center management at MTR Property Management.

The leases to be renewed this year were signed in 2003, when rents slumped amid the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, the newspaper said.

MTR Corp has 150 shops in line to renew their leases. MTR Corp has a total of 500 shops in five shopping malls -- Telford Plaza, Maritime Square, Paradise Mall, Luk Yeung Galleria and The Lane.

In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, MTR Corp will spend about 10 mln hkd on decorations and promotions at Telford Plaza and Maritime Square.

ailiton

January 14th, 2006, 08:07 AM

Airport Express has rubber tires? That's kinda hard to believe considering it runs on conventional rails.

Yeah I think the newspaper made a mistake. Maybe it's referring to the APM at the airport.

hkskyline

January 18th, 2006, 05:31 AM

Free leisure magazine puts the brakes on its MTR deal
18 January 2006
South China Morning Post

Stop the train! Hui Kai Guide, the free leisure and lifestyle magazine distributed through the mass transit railway network on Thursdays, is getting off tomorrow after losing its contract with the rail corporation.

But whether this edition of the magazine will be the last to be clutched in the free hand of Hong Kong's straphangers remains to be seen since it is believed to be among the bidders for the new contract, along with Metro Publishing and Sing Tao News Corp.

Hui Kai Guide, in the second three-year term of its contract with the MTR Corp, is said to have pulled the emergency brake in the second half of last year, leaving the corporation to invite interested parties to submit contract bids by the end of November.

"We are still considering all the submissions and no decision has been made," an MTR spokesperson said.

However, a market source said Metro Publishing, the publisher of Hong Kong's largest free newspaper and holder of the exclusive distribution rights at MTR stations, was rumoured to have won the bid.

"Metro is going down the right track to secure the deal due to its long-term relationship with MTR. However, Sing Tao seems to have aggressively built up ties with MTR to pave the way for the entrance of its free Headline Daily to the MTR network," an industry watcher said.

With the MTR taking a cut of the revenue, the publisher has to secure as much advertising as possible to meet all costs and make a profit.

"Leisure magazines sell at $10 to $20 a copy, with over 100,000 copies a week (Hui Kai Guide reportedly distributed 160,000 copies each issue). However, the MTR one does not have this circulation revenue, making the business much harder," the industry watcher said.

As publishers point out, the newspaper and magazine markets are totally different.

Metro has certainly proved this as the newspaper turned in a profit through its exclusive arrangement with MTR.

Hui Kai Guide, meanwhile, seems to have jumped the tracks.
per cent.

hkskyline

January 19th, 2006, 03:26 AM

'Dream' contract for Cheung Kong
Foster Wong
19 January 2006
South China Morning Post

Cheung Kong (Holdings) yesterday beat four other developers to win the contract for the second phase of the MTR Corp's huge residential-retail development in Tseung Kwan O, expected to cost up to $15 billion.

It is the second tender the firm has won in the project - at the future Tseung Kwan O South Station - which has been dubbed Dreamcity.

Last year, MTR gave Cheung Kong the go-ahead to build the smaller first phase of Dreamcity - 2,096 flats in five blocks with a total floor area of 1.5 million square feet.

Analysts said the phase two contract made Cheung Kong, also developing the Metro Town project at Tiu Keng Leng Station, one of Tseung Kwan O's biggest landlords.

Cheung Kong executive director Grace Woo yesterday said 10 blocks in Dreamcity's second stage would provide about 4,300 flats with a floor area of 3.33 million sq ft by 2010.

The firm's investment in the project would be $10 billion to $15 billion, including a land premium to be paid to the government, Ms Woo said.

Cheung Kong outbid Hang Lung Properties, New World Development, Sino Land and Wharf (Holdings).

The second phase will command a land premium of about $8 billion, or $2,417 per square foot - 56 per cent higher than the $1,546 per square foot charged for the initial phase.

Ms Woo predicted that home prices in Tseung Kwan O would rise 8 per cent to 10 per cent this year. But not everyone shared her confidence in the district.

"Starting in 2008, there will be a lot of new flat supply in Tseung Kwan O," said Adrian Ngan Wai-hung, the head of research at BNP Paribas Peregrine, adding that it could hit prices in the area.

Core Pacific-Yamaichi analyst Andy So Cheuk-yin said the key to the project's success was Cheung Kong's profit split with MTR.

When MTR opened the second phase tender on January 9, it offered a new profit-share arrangement, taking flats and shopping space instead of sharing cash earnings with the winning bidder.

Ms Woo declined to reveal how much floor space would be shared with MTR but said the scheme would not increase investment risk.

James Cheung King-tat, a senior associate director of Centaline Surveyors, said Dreamcity prices would be $4,000 to $4,500 per square foot.

hkth

January 20th, 2006, 05:56 PM

News from Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK):
1000 passengers affected by MTRC signaling glitch
2006-01-20 HKT 22:57

Around a thousand MTRC passengers were affected by a signaling glitch on the railway's Tiu Keng Leng line during rush hour earlier this evening. The passengers were forced to switch to another train at Kowloon Tong station, and wait out a 10-minute delay. The MTRC says the faulty train has been sent to the depot, and normal services have resumed.

Rational Plan

January 21st, 2006, 12:34 AM

In reference to the rubber tyre issue, maybe they mean the airport transit system inside the terminal itself.

ailiton

January 21st, 2006, 01:40 AM

sfgadv02

January 21st, 2006, 02:39 AM

There's no Tiu Keng Leng Line.

RTHK...

Lol, yea....its Kwun Tong line....:rolleyes:

hkth

January 24th, 2006, 06:21 PM

Chinese paintings in Tseung Kwan O Station:
Page 2 of The Green Green Grass Of Tseung Kwan O In Chinese Watercolour (http://mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-06-006-E.pdf)

Enhanced MTR Train Service For Lunar New Year Holiday (http://mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-06-005-E.pdf). Please notice the first photo on Page 3! :|

hkskyline

January 26th, 2006, 03:13 AM

MTR train arsonist gets maximum life term for grudge attack
26 January 2006
South China Morning Post

Screaming "release me! I'm not guilty!", an elderly man was sentenced to life in prison yesterday for setting fire to an MTR train.

Because of his repeated disruptions of proceedings in the Court of First Instance, Yim Kam-chung, 68, was held in a separate room, linked by video, to hear Mr Justice Louis Tong Po-sun hand down the maximum sentence for arson.

The judge said Yim's action in igniting a bottle of solvent in a train carriage had been premeditated and "extremely dangerous".

But he added there was a need for society to take better care of elderly people living alone, such as Yim, whose isolation may have prompted him to "think radically". The judge also praised passengers who had helped others escape without regard for their own safety.

The court heard reports from two psychiatrists, one of whom said Yim was free of any delusional or personality disorders, and one who said he did have such problems and that hospital confinement would be appropriate.

As had happened often during the trial, Yim was moved to the separate room after repeatedly screaming: "I didn't leave my house on the day, I didn't set the fire! Release me! I'm not guilty!"

The sentence will be reviewed after 10 years. Prosecutor Arthur Luk SC said he was not aware of any previous arson cases in which the person convicted had been sentenced to life.

Commenting on the sentence, barrister Albert Luk said it was reasonable as the fire could have caused serious injury or death. Another barrister, James Chandler, said setting a fire in such a confined area causing the public to panic could be the worst kind of arson.

Mr Justice Tong said Yim bore grudges against law-enforcement units and had committed the offence "with premeditation and planning to cause serious damage". Noting that Yim was "a lone elderly [person] without people to take care of him, and {hellip} to talk to", the judge said: "We have lots of lonely elderly around us, but sometimes it seems that society has not been attentive enough to their needs. I hope every one of us can spare no effort to offer help and support to them in the future."

Mr Justice Tong also said he had been touched to hear from witnesses how passengers had helped each other to escape despite the risk to their own lives. "The sense of civic responsibility of passengers, and the efficient and professional work carried out by police and related departments helped to prevent the event turning into a disaster."

The court had heard that Yim started the fire at about 9am on January 5 last year in the first carriage of a train shortly after it left Tsim Sha Tsui station for Admiralty. In a caution statement to police he had said that because the government had confiscated six of his vehicles he decided to "cause a tragedy" at Admiralty, because the Chinese characters for the station were similar to his name, Kam-chung.

Gavin Kwai Sze-kit, who won awards for heroism for alerting passengers then stamping on the burning bottle, said: "Sentencing of the case has already been handed down. What else could I possibly say?"

hkskyline

January 31st, 2006, 02:36 AM

Signal failure hits Airport Express train

Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Nearly 100 holiday travelers were forced to take shuttle buses to the airport after MTR Corp's Airport Express was hit by a signaling failure.

This comes as the government is set to investigate as early as this month the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp's equipment and reporting failures sparked by the discovery of cracks in the undercarriages of many of its trains.

The MTR's failure in the signaling system - which relays messages from the railway's traffic control computers to the train - occurred Monday morning near Hong Kong Station during a quiet traveling patch in the bustling Lunar New Year, when more than 6.5 million people are expected to arrive or depart from the SAR.

Investment banker Emily Sim, on her way to visit her family in Kuala Lumpur, was one of the passengers hit by the disruption, which nearly caused her to miss her flight.

"It was very confusing - nobody knew what was happening," Sim said, describing the early morning scene at Hong Kong Station when the 8am train failed to appear.

Like the other estimated 90 passengers at the station then, she soon was shunted on to one of a slew of shuttle buses. "It took much longer than the train," she complained. "When we got to the airport, I needed to run to the gate, and got there just before it closed. I should have taken a taxi."

Describing the glitch as "a small problem," an MTR spokeswoman said once the problem was discovered just before 8am, airport services at the station were immediately moved upstairs to the Tung Chung platform, but that people waiting at the regular platform were not told this because they would not have been able to move in time to catch the train anyway.

She added that at no time was anybody in any danger and that by 9am, the Airport Express was running from its normal platform.

hkskyline

January 31st, 2006, 03:29 AM

油麻地站隧道冒煙起火
封往調景嶺方向月台服務幸無影響
31- 01- 2006

http://www.singpao.com/20060131/photos/m807707SP.jpg

http://www.singpao.com/20060131/photos/m807708SP.jpg

http://www.singpao.com/20060131/photos/m807709SP.jpg

　地鐵和機鐵車站昨天接連發生事故，其中油麻地地鐵站附近的列車隧道，昨天清晨有電纜突然起火，不斷冒出濃煙，地鐵公司事後要封閉其中一個往調景嶺方向的月台，幸消防員接報到場後迅速把火撲熄，期間未造成傷亡，亦沒有令地鐵服務受影響。記者陳永武報道

　事件發生在昨天清晨5時54分，當時由油麻地站開往調景嶺方向的列車仍未開始服務，而據了解，地鐵公司在每天收車後，職員就會把隧道內的一切電源關掉，直至翌日開車前才會重新通電。但昨晨當油麻地站職員把觀塘線三號月台的隧道電源打開後不久，卻發現跳掣，未幾即有濃煙從隧道湧出，懷疑發生火警。站長見狀，即報警求助。
三號月台隧道電源跳掣

　三分鐘後，大批消防員趕到，立即把火升為二級。據九龍消防南區指揮官張趣強稱，當局共派出11輛消防車和60名消防員到場灌救，同時派出兩隊煙帽隊帶同熱能探測器進入隧道尋找火源，同時出動一條消防喉及一條化學泡沫喉戒備。

　後來消防員在距離月台大約400米的側線隧道內，發現三條離地約兩呎的直流牽引電纜中，有一條的其中25米正不斷冒煙，惟沒有火光，於是用四個乾粉減火筒將把煙撲滅。事件中未有任何人受傷或不適。

　事後消防員經過初步了解，起火的直流牽引電纜主要是供應列車電力，每條的直徑大約一公分，有1500伏電壓，但電纜為何起火冒煙，則有待地鐵公司進行調查。而據地鐵發言人稱，由於出事隧道屬於側線，也即是隧道的盡頭，只用於列車調動，所以未對列車運作造成影響，職員稍後已安排所有列車在三號月台對面的四號月台上下客。直至中午12時許，被封閉六個多小時的三號月台亦告重開。

機鐵香港站有信號故障

　另外，機鐵香港站昨晨8時出現信號故障，事後工作人員要安排機場快線列車改停地鐵東涌線的香港站四號月台，直至一小時後信號故障修復，機鐵列車服務才回復正常，期間影響輕微。

2004 Sing Pao Newspaper Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.　成報

sfgadv02

January 31st, 2006, 05:05 AM

Glad no one was hurt.

February 8th, 2006, 09:10 AM

Video I sneakily took on the MTR (56k warning): http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5039699678564540781

Yes, I spelt Tsuen Wan wrong twice!

sfgadv02

February 9th, 2006, 02:48 AM

Lol, is that male voice those plasma ads??

superchan7

February 9th, 2006, 03:27 AM

Why is it sneaky? I've taken countless videos in the MTR...

sfgadv02

February 9th, 2006, 05:07 AM

I heard its legal to take/shoot photos/videos on the MTR, but only without interferring with the operation of the subway.

Manila-X

February 9th, 2006, 06:12 AM

It is legal compared to those in Manila.

hkth

February 9th, 2006, 05:17 PM

I heard its legal to take/shoot photos/videos on the MTR, but only without interferring with the operation of the subway.

It is legal but you can't use flash, as it interfere the train operator. :|

sfgadv02

February 10th, 2006, 01:54 AM

It is legal but you can't use flash, as it interfere the train operator. :|

Isnt that what I said...?

sfgadv02

February 10th, 2006, 02:00 AM

It is legal but you can't use flash, as it interfere the train operator. :|

Isnt that what I said??

Manila-X

February 10th, 2006, 11:11 AM

It is legal but you can't use flash, as it interfere the train operator. :|

I'm a bit confused, doesn't the train operator see you taking pictures of the inside.

hkskyline

February 10th, 2006, 05:27 PM

MTR Corp rats out snacking passengers
Rail operator urges travellers to eat outside after rodents are reported at a Tung Chung line station
5 February 2006
South China Morning Post

The MTR Corporation is worried about the "extremely high" number of passengers eating on its trains - amid a report of rats foraging through leftovers at one station.

A staff patrol has spotted 822 people eating on trains or in ticketed areas of the station over nine of the past 18 days.

"This is quite serious," a spokeswoman said. "We want to appeal to passengers again to keep the MTR trains clean."

The 10-member team has been instructed to try to gently persuade offending customers to eat outside. She said that previously a prosecution team could fine passengers caught eating on trains, but the company decided to adopt a softer approach to convince people of the need to keep trains clean.

The company said the patrolling team also spotted hundreds of other incidents of inappropriate behaviour on trains, including people blocking passages and passengers rushing to board trains.

MTR by-laws prohibit eating inside a ticketed area or train, with offenders subject to a maximum fine of $2,000.

Some 1,183 verbal warnings were issued in 2004, more than triple the number in 2003, but only four fines levied. Last year's figures were not available.

A newspaper ran a front-page story last month saying rats were seen scouring through leftover food at the Olympic station on the Tung Chung line.

The spokeswoman said staff had not found any rats at the station in Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, and the report was the first it had heard of such an incident.

Nevertheless, staff put down rat poison at the station and stepped up daily cleaning at all stations. The company has also told cleaners to routinely check that trains and platforms are kept clean.

The spokeswoman did not comment directly on a link between passengers eating and discarding food and possible rat problems.

"[Cleanliness in the MTR] is still our responsibility and we won't shirk it," she said. "But we have already appealed to the passengers through broadcasts and promotions not to eat on trains."

She also dismissed suggestions passengers were eating because they had to wait relatively longer for trains on the Tung Chung line than on others.

"It's a matter of whether they have broken a by-law," she said. "Waiting time is not an excuse."

Regarding the issue of passengers rushing to get through closing doors, the rail operator said last week it was synchronising the closing of the train and platform screen doors. There is currently a split-second delay. The work began in mid-December and will be completed by the end of April.

MTR Corp head of operations Wilfred Lau Cheuk-man said rushing closing doors could be dangerous to both the person doing it and other passengers.

Mr Lau warned passengers that the train doors did not reopen automatically like lift doors if someone was caught.

hkth

February 10th, 2006, 07:44 PM

I'm a bit confused, doesn't the train operator see you taking pictures of the inside.

Inside the concourse, of course! ;)

hkth

February 10th, 2006, 07:46 PM

MTR Press Release:
MTR Draws On Popular Children's Game To Promote Train Door Safety (http://mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-06-011-E.pdf)

hkskyline

February 12th, 2006, 08:41 AM

By ATE1@LCK from a Hong Kong transport forum :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/ate1/mefMTR_01.jpg

hkskyline

February 14th, 2006, 04:33 PM

14 February 2006
Prime Minister of The Republic of Korea Takes a Train Ride on The Airport Express
MTR Press Release

During a half-day visit to Hong Kong today (14 February), the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Lee Hae-chan led a delegation of over 40 officials to take the Airport Express. They were received at Airport Station by Mr Andrew McCusker, Operations Director of MTR Corporation, who accompanied them for a 21-minute journey to Airport Express Kowloon Station.

Prime Minister Lee said the Airport Express is internationally recognised as being safe, comfortable and efficient. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to experience the well-known Airport Express service first hand. It certainly lives up to its reputation of being the fastest link to the city,” Prime Minister Lee added.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to show the Prime Minister our system and share with him our approach to operating the premium Airport Express service as well as our busy MTR network on which 2.5 million passenger journeys are made each day,” said Mr Andrew McCusker, Operations Director of MTR Corporation.

hkth

February 14th, 2006, 07:13 PM

sfgadv02

February 15th, 2006, 01:34 AM

As if their airport doesnt doesnt look like HK's already....

hkskyline

February 15th, 2006, 06:22 PM

Hong Kong's MTR Corp Jan passengers 72.90 mln vs 76.98 mln in Dec
15 February 2006
AFX Asia

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - MTR Corp Ltd said it carried 72.90 mln passengers in January, down from 76.98 mln in December.

On an average weekday basis, MTR Corp carried 2.58 mln in January, unchanged from December, according to figures published on the company's website.

The January figure for the MTR's average weekday passenger traffic covers the Tsuen Wan, Island, Kwun Tong, Tung Chung and Tseung Kwan O lines, according to the data.

The total monthly patronage of the MTR Lines and Airport Express Line for January rose 1.29 pct year-on-year, but no comparative figures were given.

As for month-on-month figures, the website said the Airport Express carried 771,000 passengers in January, up from the 779,000 passengers in December.

On an average daily basis, the Airport Express carried 24,900 people in January, against 25,100 in the preceding month.

vincent

February 15th, 2006, 09:17 PM

sfgadv02

February 16th, 2006, 01:32 AM