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Revision as of 23:44, 22 December 2004 by Mailer diablo (talk | contribs) (lead section)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)This article is about MTR as a metro system. For MTR as a Corporation, see MTR Corporation Limited
MTR or Mass Transit Railway is the metro system of Hong Kong. With trains first running from 1979, it is currently operated by MTR Corporation Limited (地鐵有限公司) and the network has expanded since to six lines and 50 stations. It is an affordable mode of public transport in Hong Kong, and an average of 2.45 million journeys are recorded each day on the MTR.
MTR lines
- Kwun Tong Line: between Yau Ma Tei and Tiu Keng Leng
- Tsuen Wan Line: between Tsuen Wan and Central
- Island Line: between Sheung Wan and Chai Wan
- Tseung Kwan O Line: between Po Lam and North Point
- Tung Chung Line: between Tung Chung and Hong Kong
- Airport Express: between Airport and Hong Kong
System map
History of the MTR
During the 1960s, the government of Hong Kong felt a need to accommodate increasing road traffic predicted for future as Hong Kong's economy continued to grow strongly, and appointed British transport consultants Freeman, Fox, Wilbur Smith & Associates to study the transport system of Hong Kong, releasing the "Hong Kong Mass Transport Study" in September 1967, which proposed the construction of an underground mass transit system in Hong Kong.
In 1970, a network of underground system with four lines was laid out and planned. The four lines were to be the Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line, and East Kowloon Line. However, the lines that were constructed were slightly different in many ways than the lines that were propsed by the "Hong Kong Mass Transport Study," and in 1972, the Hong Kong government authorised the construction of the Kwun Tong Line, in turn became the first part of the system to open.
In 1973 the government slightly reduced the size of the system, which stopped the construction of the East Kowloon Line, and renamed it the Modified Initial System. The Hong Kong government also set up the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC, which was in turn succeeded by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTR) in 30 June 2000) to replace the Mass Transport Provisional Authority to supervise the whole construction, and on 1 October 1979 the MTR was partially opened, with trains running from Shek Kip Mei to Kwun Tong.
The Tsuen Wan Line started service in 1982, which was followed by the opening of the Island Line in 1985.
In October 1989, a new international airport was to be constructed at Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island to replace the overcrowded Kai Tak International Airport. The government invited the MTR to build a train line to the airport called the Lantau Airport Railway, which construction did not begin until the Chinese and the British government settled financial and land disagreements in November 1994.
The Lantau Airport Railway turned into two MTR lines, the Tung Chung Line as well as the Airport Express. The Airport Express opened service on 6 July 1998, along with the new Hong Kong International Airport. The Tung Chung Line was officially opened on 21 June 1998 by Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, and service commenced the next day.
The construction of the Tseung Kwan O Line to serve new housing towns was approved in 18 August 1998. Construction began in 24 April 1999, and the line officially opened in 2002. It took over the train tracks running through the Eastern Cross Harbour Tunnel from the Kwun Tong Line. Subsequently, the Kwun Tong Line was diverted to Tiu Keng Leng station on the new line.
Safety on the MTR
Various actions are taken to help ensure that the MTR is a safe system to travel on. Poster campaigns such as escalator safety are a common sight in all MTR stations, and common announcements are made as a reminder to travelling passengers.
In August 2002, MTR Corporation Limited made a decision to install platform screen doors on all stations. These doors prevent people from falling into the rails, and separate the stations from the tunnels allowing substantial energy savings on station air-conditioning and tunnel ventilation. As of current, works are still ongoing a few remaining stations to have these doors installed.
Bylaws have been recently introduced to deter potentially dangerous actions on the MTR, such as the ban on flammable goods on the MTR and rushing into trains when the doors are closing. Penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment have been imposed for such offenses.
Station facilities
With the high level of passenger traffic daily, facilities of MTR stations are built with durabilty and accessibility in mind. The elevators and escalators in stations are heavy duty, installed by Otis Elevator Company/Fujitec and Constructions Industrielles de la Mediterranee/Otis Elevator Company respectively.
The MTR system in general is disabled-friendly - the trains have dedicated wheelchair space, the stations have special tiles to guide the blind safely on the platform and have extra wide entry/exit gates for wheelchairs to pass through.
Fares & tickets
Currently, there are two different fare classes on the MTR: Adult and concessionary. Only children below the age of 12, senior citizens 65 years or older, or full-time Hong Kong students between the ages of 12 and 25 qualify for the concessionary rate.
Unlike some metro systems, where a flat fare is paid no matter the distance travelled, there is an additional surcharge for every station between the initial station and destination station on the Hong Kong MTR. Adult fares range from HK$4 to $26. Concessionary fares are usually half the adult fare, and range from HK$3 to $13.
A trip on the Airport Express from Hong Kong station to the Airport station costs HK$100, $50 concessionary rate.
Single journey ticket
The magnetic farecard system is used for single journey tickets. These tickets are pre-paid for between pre-determined stations, and are good for only one trip. Except the Airport Express, the fares are slightly higher than when an Octopus card is otherwise used.
Octopus cards
Main Article - Octopus card
The Octopus card is a rechargeable contactless smart card used in an electronic payment system in Hong Kong. It was launched in September 1997 for use on both the MTR and the KCR and now is the most widely used electronic cash system for transactions in Hong Kong.
The Octopus card uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology so that users need only hold the card in close proximity of the reader. Physical contact is not required. The Octopus card was so popular that Singapore and London have adopted the idea launched their own version of smart cards, EZ-link and Oyster card respectively.
Tourist pass
There are two types of the tourist pass. The first type allows unlimited rides for a single day (at HK$50) only. The other type allows three day unlimited rides on the MTR, with a stored value of HK20, refundable deposit of HK$50 and choice of (HK$220) single or (HK$300) return trip on the Airport Express.
Tourists are required to produce proof of tourist status (i.e. passport) when purchasing the pass, and whenever requested by a ticket inspector during apot-checks.
MTR rolling stock
Main Article - Trains on the MTR
Four variations of rolling stock operate on the MTR on 1.5kV overhead electrification. Airport Express and Tung Chung Line uses trains that are dedicated specifically to their respective lines. These two variations are built jointly by Adtranz (now Bombardier Transportations)/CAF, and are equipped with ATC and ATP
The other lines are operated by the mixture of the other two variations, known as the "M-Stock" and the "K-Stock". The "M-Stock" are the oldest trains on the MTR, built originally by Metro Cammell and refurbished by United Goninan. It is the only variation that uses sliding doors, as opposed to others which use plug-doors. The "K-Stock" are built jointly by Mitsubishi and ROTEM.
Future expansion
Discussion is underway between the Hong Kong Government and the MTR Corporation Limited about the proposal on the West Island Line & South Island Line.
See also
- Transportation in Hong Kong
- MRT Corporation Limited
- Trains on the MTR
- List of Hong Kong MTR stations
External links
- The MTR's Website
- Map of the Hong Kong MTR
- Maritime Square Website
- Paradise Mall Website
- Luk Yeung Galleria Website
- Telford Plaza Website
- Information on Octopus Cards
- Website of the Hong Kong Metro Newspaper
- Hong Kong MTR Fortune Telling Game
- Journey time and Fare Information
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