MTR

[hkskyline]

Since operations began in 1979, the MTR Railway has become one of the most important elements of Hong Kong's transportation network.

With a railway network of 87.7 kilometres route with 50 stations, the MTR carries over 2.3 million passengers a day - one of the most intensively utilized systems in the world.

To meet escalating passenger demands, the Corporation expanded its train fleet from 140 cars in 1979 to 1,050 cars in 2002 (including 88 cars for the Airport Express), 86% of which are in service to meet the daily morning peak demand.

Significant progress has been made with the construction of new lines and associated property developments. The Tseung Kwan O Extension is the newest line to be completed and commenced service in August 2002. Earlier in July 2002, the MTR was awarded both the Penny's Bay Rail Link and the Tung Chung Cable Car projects. Consultation is now in progress on the proposed South Island Line and West Island Line as a railway alternative to the transport needs of the west and south sides of Hong Kong Island.


















Tseung Kwan O Extension Project
Tseung Kwan O Extension (TKE) is the 6th operational line of the MTR Corporation, which serves Tseung Kwan O new town and Yau Tong. The TKE project features 33 major contracts, 13 for the civil works and 20 for the electrical and mechanical works. All construction works have been completed. The line was opened to the public on 18 August 2002 including five stations, namely Yau Tong, Tiu Keng Leng, Tseung Kwan O, Hang Hau and Po Lam as well as the depot in Area 86 together with the improved Quarry Bay and North Point Stations. A further station will be added to the Line at Tseung Kwan O South. Trains operate at the same speed and frequency as the other MTR urban lines (80 km/hr and ultimately 105 seconds headways)

[ailiton]

[ailiton]

PA (public address): (real player is required)

Please stand back from the doors.

Next station: Yau Tong. Interchange station for the Tseung Kwan O line towards North Point.

Next station: Wan Chai. Door will open on the left.

[Bunny]

Actually MTR is a government corporation or an individual company?

[hkskyline]

From their website : http://www.mtr.com.hk

Following the partial privatisation and public listing of the Company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in October 2000, the Hong Kong SAR Government now owns around 76% of the Company. The Government has pledged to continue to hold at least 50% shareholding in the Company for at least 20 years from the date of the listing, and to provide the same support to the Company as before the privatisation.

Despite its majority ownership by the Government, the Company is independently managed on commercial principles. It is financially independent and does not rely on any subsidy from the Government.

[hkskyline]

Tuesday August 3, 4:46 PM
HK's MTR profits surge ten-fold on property sales

HONG KONG, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Hong Kong subway operator MTR Corp said on Tuesday its first-half earnings rose ten-fold, helped by a surge in property sales but a merger with its cross-town counterpart is clouding the outlook.

MTR, which typically derives the bulk of its earnings by developing properties around and above its stations, is merging with suburban rail operator Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp. (KCRC). Both firms are controlled by the cash-strapped Hong Kong government, which wants to cut costs by combining the firms.

"We saw a steady recovery in the Hong Kong economy after SARS. A surge in tourism, improvement in the property market and consumer sentiment all impacted positively on MTR's performance," CK Chow, the firm's chief executive, said in a statement.

"Looking into the second half of 2004, we anticipate steady progress in our rail, station and property investment businesses," he added.

MTR made a net profit of HK$1.18 billion (US$151.3 million) in the first six months of 2004 compared with HK$113 million in the first half of 2003, when SARS devastated an already weak economy.

The results topped a forecast of HK$773 million, according to the average four analysts polled by Reuters, due to higher than expected revenue from the firm's property developments.

The firm's earnings from property totalled HK$1.15 billion, a 70 percent jump, largely due to proceeds from developments on the Tung Chung line, which runs from Hong Kong's central business district to the outlying island of Lantau.

In the first half, the number of passengers travelling on the firm's five subway lines rose 12 percent and travellers on the express line to the city's airport rose 32.5 percent from the first half of 2003.

For the full year, analysts expect the firm to make a net profit of HK$3.5 billion, less than 2003's HK$4.45 billion.

The firm proposed a divided of HK$0.14 a share -- the same amount paid in the first half of 2003.

MERGER LOOMS

The cash-strapped Hong Kong government has given the territory's two railway operators until the end of August to come up with a merger plan intended to remove duplication and bolster efficiency.

The rail firms together have assets worth more than US$24 billion. No financial terms have been disclosed but MTR said it will work towards a solution that would win support of its minority shareholders.

KCRC focuses largely on the lower-return railway business and could be saddled with heavy capital demands due to new projects.

"The possible merger with KCRC remains the main risk factor -- we continue to believe a viable option would be for KCRC to be injected into MTRC in stages," J.P Morgan wrote in a client note.

MTR said it is on track to submit the proposal to the government on August 31.

While the merger with KCRC will keep MTR's focus at home, the firm is expanding overseas. That potential growth driver has helped its stock price rise 15 percent in 2004.

The stock is the fifth best performing Hong Kong blue-chip so far this year, beating a two percent slide on the benchmark Hang Seng .

In April, MTR said it had agreed to form a joint venture to build and operate a city railway line in Beijing worth 16 billion yuan (US$1.93 billion). The firm has also won a contract to build and operate a subway line in nearby Shenzhen, China.

(US$=8.28 yuan)

[mlafleur]

I'm wondering if anybody knows daily pedestrian traffic statistics for different MTR stations?

Hong Kong's public transportation system is simply amazing! I'd love to know how many people are passing through some stations. I'm sure the numbers are astonishing. If anybody knows where I can find these stats it would be greatly appreciated!

[eX.A.K.R.]

Hello, I'm a fellow forumer from Singapore and I have a question regarding two of your MTR lines.

I have read up a bit about the Ma On Shan Line and Tung Chung Line on your MTR system, and I had like to know:

1. The Ma On Shan Line was originally built and operated by the KCR, as a branch from the East Rail Line. Ex-KCR lines, from what I have read, are commuter railway lines, and KCR was also by and large a commuter railway company. However, from the maps I have seen on Wikipedia and from what I have read, the Ma On Shan Line is more akin to a rapid transit line (of the mdeium capacity variety no less). So, what sort of rail line is the Ma On Shan Line actually? It could seem a bit of an overkill to me to classify that line as a commuter railway line.

2. The Tung Chung Line is a line that had been operated by the MTR since before the MTR-KCR merger, but from the maps of the line I have seen, as well as some YouTube videos, the line appears to me to be more like a commuter railway line. In fact, on Wikipedia somewhere the Airport Express Line (which parallels the Tung Chung Line) is classified as a commuter railway line. The line also seems completely seperated from the other original MTR lines, and - with the exception of four K-Stock trains - all rolling stock on that line seems exclusively designed for that particular line. Even the K-Stock trains on that line were built new just for that line, and not transfers from elsewhere. So is the Tung Chung Line a rapid transit line that is technically part of the original MTR system, or a purpose-built commuter railway line that is considered part of the original MTR network but technically a seperate system?

[spicytimothy]

Originally Posted by eX.A.K.R.

Hello, I'm a fellow forumer from Singapore and I have a question regarding two of your MTR lines.

I have read up a bit about the Ma On Shan Line and Tung Chung Line on your MTR system, and I had like to know:

1. The Ma On Shan Line was originally built and operated by the KCR, as a branch from the East Rail Line. Ex-KCR lines, from what I have read, are commuter railway lines, and KCR was also by and large a commuter railway company. However, from the maps I have seen on Wikipedia and from what I have read, the Ma On Shan Line is more akin to a rapid transit line (of the mdeium capacity variety no less). So, what sort of rail line is the Ma On Shan Line actually? It could seem a bit of an overkill to me to classify that line as a commuter railway line.

2. The Tung Chung Line is a line that had been operated by the MTR since before the MTR-KCR merger, but from the maps of the line I have seen, as well as some YouTube videos, the line appears to me to be more like a commuter railway line. In fact, on Wikipedia somewhere the Airport Express Line (which parallels the Tung Chung Line) is classified as a commuter railway line. The line also seems completely seperated from the other original MTR lines, and - with the exception of four K-Stock trains - all rolling stock on that line seems exclusively designed for that particular line. Even the K-Stock trains on that line were built new just for that line, and not transfers from elsewhere. So is the Tung Chung Line a rapid transit line that is technically part of the original MTR system, or a purpose-built commuter railway line that is considered part of the original MTR network but technically a seperate system?

1. They are in fact exactly the same as all other MTR lines, except the stations are generally a bit further apart than in the city proper. Also, It's a commute in the sense they go far into the suburbs. Ma On Shan is quite far by Hong Kong standards.

2. Not sure about the this one, but Tung Chung line shares the same track w/ the airport express, which may explain why they're uniquely designed due to different specifications for the Airport Express.

[Kaitak747]

港鐵高清屏幕廣告 多賺3倍






【明報專訊】港鐵2008年的廣告收入逾7億元，較07年上升11%，但面對金融海嘯衝擊，港鐵承認今年廣告經營相當具挑戰，需加強拓展收益較高的電子廣告，保持收入。港鐵今周會推出可播放3D動畫的新式數碼相連廣告屏幕，預計每對屏幕賺取的收入，較一般燈箱廣告多2至3倍。

這類數碼相連廣告屏幕明天起在中環、金鐘、太古、尖沙嘴及旺角站率先設置，待5月會推廣至灣仔、銅鑼灣等另外5個車站，屆時10個車站共裝置60對相連屏幕。港鐵媒體及業務發展高級經理關敏怡表示，每對屏幕都是以兩組65吋高清等離子屏幕組成，除可播放錄像及動畫，亦可讓畫面連貫地在屏幕中顯示，加強設計及創意空間。

去年廣告收益增11％

她透露，現時已有分別來自美容、物流、旅行社及電子產品公司等4至5個客戶訂購兩周服務，費用為每周13萬元。廣告會在全線30對屏幕中播放，但需和另外3家客戶均分19小時的播放時段。另外還可每天更改內容3次，讓廣告客戶在不同時段提供合時信息。

關敏怡指有關系統已試行3個月，有信心產品可回本。現時港鐵全線共有4萬個燈箱及平面廣告位置，電子模式廣告數量約佔全線廣告20%。港鐵在08年的廣告收入達7.41億元，較07年兩鐵的總廣告收入6.66億元上升11%。關敏怡解釋，去年上半年港鐵廣告市非常好，但下半年金融海嘯爆發，業務即時下滑；公司管理層相信今年廣告市道相當富挑戰，所以會繼續發展電子模式廣告策略。

[HSBC]

That's really nice!

[EricIsHim]

Wiring thieves strike at MTR

Diana Lee

Monday, June 08, 2009

Thirty meters of electrical wiring were stolen from the MTR tracks last week but passengers were never in danger, the corporation said yesterday.

The wiring was stolen from the tunnel connecting Tsing Yi and Sunny Bay stations last Tuesday and Wednesday, with a third instance of theft on Thursday from the Tsing Yi station area itself.

"The wires were discovered to be missing after operating hours during routine checks by MTR maintenance staff. The situation was immediately addressed and train services were not affected," a spokeswoman said.

The corporation would not speculate on the motive behind the theft, though the cost runs into thousands of dollars.

Police said MTR staff had reported early on Tuesday and again on Wednesday that 15 meters of electric wiring at the Tsing Yi tunnel valued at HK$21,000 was missing.

On Thursday, a further 18 meters of wires were cut away. The cost has yet to be ascertained.

Police have classified the case as theft and the Kwai Tsing District Crime Investigation Team has taken over the case. No arrests have been made as yet.

District Councillor Leung Chi-shing, himself an MTR train captain, said the removal of cables is easily detected by the central operator and would not affect train safety.

It is unlikely to have been an inside job, he added.

"Every MTR employee knows very well the railway is under surveillance 24 hours a day. Not only permanent staff but also the outsourced workers should understand the consequences of committing crimes of such a nature," he said.

Source: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_d...=20090608&fc=1

[Blackraven]

Well for the sake and security of people using the train services, I do hope that these thieves will be brought to justice (as their actions can put others at grave risk).

Anyways, where were we, oh yes:


Hmm........I only taught that Kwun Tong line (aka Green Line) had a few stations which don't have doors/gates till this very day (Kowloon Bay, Ngau Tau Kok and Kwun Tong). So I guess there are a few train stations (aside from the Green Line) that don't have these yet

Anyways, while we're on the subject of train stations without doors/gates, I found something interesting.




It's abandoned and looks kinda "haunted". Dunno where this is though but it is quite mysterious.

Heh, more like a train station to and from "the netherworld"

[StanleyJ]

Originally Posted by Blackraven

Anyways, where were we, oh yes:


Hmm........I only taught that Kwun Tong line (aka Green Line) had a few stations which don't have doors/gates till this very day (Kowloon Bay, Ngau Tau Kok and Kwun Tong). So I guess there are a few train stations (aside from the Green Line) that don't have these yet

The station is Causeway Bay, with the photo taken quite a number of years ago, before the installation of platform screen doors.

Originally Posted by Blackraven

Anyways, while we're on the subject of train stations without doors/gates, I found something interesting.




It's abandoned and looks kinda "haunted". Dunno where this is though but it is quite mysterious.

Heh, more like a train station to and from "the netherworld"

This is the ghost platform at Sheung Wan (Exit E?) which was reserved for the never built East Kowloon line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:19...te_map_eng.png). If the MTR ever builds the Shatin-Central link, I personally think it'd be a good idea to resurrect this platform for East Rail (would be North South Line) as opposed to making Admiralty an "Ultra Interchange" (Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, East Rail, South Island Line (East Section)).

[EricIsHim]

Originally Posted by Blackraven

Well for the sake and security of people using the train services, I do hope that these thieves will be brought to justice (as their actions can put others at grave risk).

Anyways, where were we, oh yes:


Hmm........I only taught that Kwun Tong line (aka Green Line) had a few stations which don't have doors/gates till this very day (Kowloon Bay, Ngau Tau Kok and Kwun Tong). So I guess there are a few train stations (aside from the Green Line) that don't have these yet

That's Causeway Bay station. The picture was taken long time ago before the screen doors were installed, but the doors have been in operation for years now.

Here is a more recent picture.
image hosted on flickr

Source: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/...13ed7abc_b.jpg

But you are still correct all the above ground stations along the Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong and Island Lines still don't have platform screen doors yet.

Originally Posted by Blackraven

Anyways, while we're on the subject of train stations without doors/gates, I found something interesting.




It's abandoned and looks kinda "haunted". Dunno where this is though but it is quite mysterious.

Heh, more like a train station to and from "the netherworld"

That's Sheung Wan. When the station was built in the early 80s, it was built and reserved as the platforms for the future "North Island Line," but the line has never been constructed, and the new North Island Line alignment will no longer pass through this stations. Therefore, it is more likely to be abandoned forever.

[HK-City]

My favorite Station is Kowloon Station (Exit C) Union Square

[EricIsHim]

MTR LOHAS Park Station Opens for Passenger Service on 26 July

LOHAS Park Station on the MTR Tseung Kwan O Line will officially open for passenger service on 26 July 2009, marking the full completion of Tseung Kwan O Line and bringing passenger rail service to a growing new community.

To celebrate the imminent opening of LOHAS Park Station, students from the Pok Oi Hospital Chan Kwok Wai Primary School and Po Leung Kuk Wong Wing Shu Primary School created 15 colourful pieces of art which are now on display at the concourse of Tseung Kwan O Station. The artwork serves as a visual representation of the new 3+1 train service arrangement to be introduced on the Tseung Kwan O Line later this month.

“We are pleased that LOHAS Park Station is already being welcomed by the local community through creative and inspiring artwork,” said Head of operating of the MTR Corporation Mr TT Choi. “Starting today, this exhibition and a series of advertisements,
posters, and leaflets will help passengers prepare for the new train service arrangement on the Tseung Kwan O Line.”

The new 3+1 train service arrangement will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase beginning on 20 July. During morning and afternoon peak periods, the frequency of trains running between Tseung Kwan O Station and North Point Station will be enhanced from the existing 2 minute 40 seconds to 2 minute 30 seconds. For trains departing from North Point Station, three will head for Po Lam Station while the fourth train will terminate at Tseung Kwan O Station. Passengers on board trains that terminate at Tseung Kwan O
Station can alight and wait for the next Po Lam-bound train. Phase two will start on 27 July after LOHAS Park Station has opened for passenger service. At that time, this fourth train will continue on to LOHAS Park Station.

Similarly, during non-peak periods, a shuttle train service between Tiu Keng Leng and LOHAS Park stations will be introduced in two phases. In phase one from 19 to 25 July, the shuttle train will service only Tiu Keng Leng and Tseung Kwan O stations at 12 minute intervals. In phase two, starting on 26 July, the shuttle train service will be extended to serve Tiu Keng Leng, Tseung Kwan O and LOHAS Park stations.

Source: http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/...R-09-078-E.pdf

[Rachmaninov]

Some information that I heard on the future HKCEC Station:

There will be 5 exits (3 on street level, going to parking lots and bus station and 2 on podium level)

4 platforms on 2 levels, each level having 2 platforms for cross-platform interchange between extended Tung Chung Line and Shatin-Central Link

[EricIsHim]

No firm opening date yet, but it's within two to three months from now.

PR080/09
10 July 2009

Kowloon Southern Link to open in third quarter 2009

MTR travel will be more convenient than ever when the Kowloon Southern Link opens for service in the third quarter of this year to link up the East Rail Line with the West Rail Line, forming a major East-West rail artery.

“The 3.8-kilometre Kowloon Southern Link project extends the West Rail Line from its existing terminus at Nam Cheong Station to Hung Hom Station, with stops at the new Austin Station and East Tsim Sha Tsui Station,” said Mr TT Choi, Head of Operating of MTR Corporation.

“Residents of Tuen Mun, Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long will enjoy faster and more direct travel to and from urban Kowloon as the rail extension will reduce the existing journey times between the Northwest New Territories and the Tsim Sha Tsui area by about 20 minutes.”

West Rail Line service will also be enhanced during peak periods, with trains departing every 3 minutes compared to the current frequency of 3.5 minutes.

Hung Hom Station will become the interchange station between West Rail Line and the East Rail Line. The change paves the way for the station’s development into a major transport hub under the Shatin-to-Central Link project, which will ultimately extend the East Rail Line across the harbour to Hong Kong Island via Hung Hom.

The new Austin Station at the junction of Jordan Road and Canton Road is strategically located adjacent to the Canton Road Government Offices, the West Kowloon Cultural District and the future terminus of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou – Shenzhen – Hong Kong Express Rail Link. The station is conveniently linked up with the existing Austin Road Subway, Jordan Road Subway and Jordan Road Footbridge, making the
nearby Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal, Airport Express/Tung Chung Line Kowloon Station and Elements Shopping Centre just a short walk away.

Fares to and from Austin Station are set according to the existing MTR are structure and will be the same as those for Kowloon Station. (Examples in table attached.)

“To promote use of the new rail extension, we will be introducing a new ’Tuen Mun – Hung Hom Monthly Pass’ which will allow unlimited rides on the line for one month at the price of $470,” said Ms Jeny Yeung, General Manager – Marketing & Station Commercial of the MTR Corporation. For consistency, the names of the existing West Rail Line Monthly Pass and East Rail Line Monthly Pass will be changed to “Tuen Mun - Nam Cheong Monthly Pass” and “Sheung Shui - East Tsim Sha Tsui Monthly Pass” respectively. All three monthly pass promotions will be valid until 30 June 2010.

With the Kowloon Southern Link providing a direct rail connection between the East Rail Line and West Rail Line, the role of the existing K16 feeder bus service in linking the two lines has become redundant. As such, the current MTR-K16 free connection promotion will no longer apply when the new rail extension commences service and the bus route
will no longer be operated after one month.

For the convenience of passengers requiring bus service to other parts of Sham Shui Po and Tsim Sha Tsui, KMB bus route 12, which has a similar routing as K16, will expand its area of coverage and enhance service. At the same time, the Corporation and KMB will jointly offer a six-month MTR-bus interchange discount promotion to passengers transferring to or from KMB bus route 12 at Nam Cheong, Austin and East Tsim Sha Tsui Stations. The discount will be $1 for Adult Octopus card holders and those using Personalised Octopus with student status and $0.5 for Elder and Child Octopus card holders. (Not applicable for Monthly Pass users.)
It should also be noted that as Hung Hom Station will become the new terminus for the East Rail Line, therefore there will no longer be a first class service between Hung Hom and East Tsim Sha Tsui Stations

Click in the source site to view additional pictures and fare table.

Source: http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/...R-09-080-E.pdf

[Blackraven]

Yup, lots of neat things happening in the railway network for 2009 (TKO extension to LOHAS park, KSL West rail-East rail linkup).

Indeed a superb year

P.S.
Btw:
I've been visiting Hong Kong for more than five times now (after the Handover) and have been using MTR trains for.......many times.

Yet it was only now that I've noticed this: