KCR East Rail
Encyclopedia
The East Rail Line is one of ten railway lines of the Mass Transit Railway
(MTR) system in Hong Kong
. It used to be one of the three lines of the Kowloon-Canton Railway
(KCR) network. It was known as the KCR British Section (九廣鐵路英段) from 1910 to 1996, and the KCR East Rail (九廣東鐵) from 1996 to 2007.
The railway line starts at Hung Hom Station in Kowloon
and branches in the north at Sheung Shui to terminate at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau stations. Both are boundary crossing points into Shenzhen
. It was the only railway line of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
(KCRC) before the construction of KCR West Rail (now known as West Rail Line).
The same railway is used for passenger and freight services crossing the boundary to other cities, including Guangzhou
, Shanghai
and Beijing
. These longer distance passenger services (dubbed "Through Trains") start at Hung Hom
and end at their termini in the mainland. The line is generally double tracked and electrified, except for certain goods sheds. Immigration and customs facilities are available at Hung Hom (for Through Train passengers) and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau (for border interchange passengers) stations.
The railway line was operated by Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
(KCRC) prior to the MTR-KCR merger and has since been taken over by MTR Corporation
on 2 December 2007 after the merger was completed.
The line is coloured light blue on the MTR map. The distance between Hung Hom and Lo Wu stations is 34 km.
) was called the "Chinese Section", now the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway. Initially, service was only from Yau Ma Tei station to Fanling
station with a tunnel through Beacon Hill
.
After the "Chinese Section" was completed, through train service became available to Canton, through Sham Chun (now Shenzhen
). Lo Wu station also serves as a border crossing, with a bridge across the Sham Chun River
, the natural border between Hong Kong and China. Trains had to stop at Lo Wu
station after Communist
China
closed the border and suspended the through train service in 1949.
The line was generally single track, with a passing loop at each station.
The line was originally built with narrow gauge tracks, but just before opening standard gauge
track was laid and the original tracks were used to build a branch line, the Sha Tau Kok Railway
from Fanling
to Sha Tau Kok
. This branch was unsuccessful and closed on 1 April 1928 following the opening of a road that ran parallel to the tracks.
Through the years, more stations continued to be added to the line. Sheung Shui station was opened in the 1930s, and Ma Liu Shui (now University) station opened in 1955.
The development of the towns along the line began to grow immensely during the 1970s, prompting a redevelopment of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. The original Kowloon station terminus at Tsim Sha Tsui
was too small and had no room for expansion, so a new terminus site was chosen in Hung Hom, then known as Kowloon station. The new Kowloon station replaced the old one in 1974. Today, the clock tower is the only structure left from the old terminus, and is a landmark near the Cultural Centre, Space Museum and the Star Ferry pier. Some six pillars were relocated to the Urban Council Centennial Park in TST East. A big bell is stored at Ho Tung Lau
. The original Hung Hom station at Chatham Road South was also demolished.
and providing an interchange with the original MTR
network. The development finished in sections between 1982 and 1983, with new electric multiple unit
s replacing diesel locomotive
s. During the electrification, more stations were added to the line.
The 1990s saw rapid development and changes within the railway. In 1996, the first refurbished Metro Cammell
EMU
was put into service, and trains now allow passengers to traverse from one end to another (except for the first class car), when trains once ran on four three-car EMU
s. 348 of the 351 railcars were refurbished except for unit E44 (144-244-444), of which #144 was preserved at the Hong Kong Railway Museum
. Each trainset is still made up of 12 cars (with one first-class car). Prior to the rule proclaimed in 1994 which fixed the number of cars on each trainset to 12, trains were inconsistent in terms of length, ranging from six cars (two EMUs), nine cars (three EMUs) to 12 cars (four EMUs).
In addition, trains no longer have the monotonous design of having a red stripe running across the middle from the cab to the end; the doors now have a red coating, and the window panes along with the upper part are fashioned with blue paint. The design of the front – which encapsulates the driver's cab – is commonly referred to as the "Yellow-cab". It was given a modern appearance, capped with a silver coating, and digital display provided information for the train's destination.
The design of the EMU was modified as well: four more sets of doors being added to each car, adding up to a total of ten sets of doors, each side with five; the introduction of new passenger information plasma display; and more standing space by rearranging seating patterns from the traditional back-to-back seating to a latitudinal design. The KCRC
had signed a contract with giant French
manufacturer GEC-Alstom
to be in charge of the refurbishment taking place at its depot at Ho Tung Lau
.
In 1998 an Automatic Train Protection
(ATP) system was installed on the line, to ensure a safe distance is maintained between trains. It also allowed an increased in train paths from 20 to 24 per hour each way. The control centre was also relocated from Kowloon Station to a new centre in the KCRC's operations headquarters building at Fo Tan.
In 2002 an automatic train operation
(ATO) system was added, which controls the speed of the train for the driver and ensures that all trains will stop when arriving at every station. Under normal circumstances, most trains are operated in ATO mode except for scenarios such as operation of operation of trains in and out of train depots, driving training, or at times when the ATO system fails to function properly.
During the construction of the Cross Harbour Tunnel, which opened in 1972, the section of tracks near Oi Man Estate, Ho Man Tin
was covered to construct the section of Princess Margaret Road
connecting to the Cross Harbour Tunnel. A new tunnel was therefore created and given the number 1A.
During the modernization of the line in the early 1980s, Tunnels 1, 3, 4 were removed by demolishing the mounds above them. Tunnel 1A already had double track width when built; a completely new Beacon Hill Tunnel (Tunnel 2) was constructed and took over the original one; and Tunnel 5 was doubled.
, manufactured by the Japan-based Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd.
. Both models share same exterior color scheme, train doors arrangement (5-pair per car except first class), as well as consisting of 12 carriages per train including a first class section. All of the East Rail Line Metro Cammell trains are being maintained at MTR Ho Tung Lau Depot in Sha Tin District
. Some of the SP1900 EMU are being maintained at MTR Pat Heung Depot of the West Rail Line after the opening of Kowloon Southern Link.
East Rail Line is the only remaining railway in Hong Kong to offer first-class
commuter service. One of the 12 cars of each train is furbished as a first-class carriage. These compartments have softer and wider seat arrangements; however, standing in the first class car is common during rush hour.
Riding on this carriage costs twice that of a standard-class journey and passengers are required to buy the first class ticket (at the vending machine on East Rail line stations or ticket counters at the other stations) or second check their Octopus card
s on the first class reader (located at the station platforms and beside the gangway door of the First class compartment itself) before entering the first-class car. Ticket Inspectors will perform random checks on train, and failing to produce a valid first class ticket or valiated Octopus Card will be liable to a surcharge of HK$500.
failed while in operation. Following examination of the train, KCRC staff detected minor cracks in the welding of mounting brackets for some underframe components. A review panel commissioned by KCRC looked into the problem from four aspects:
Since the full introduction of automatic train operation
(ATO) on the East Rail system in 2003, the rate of change of acceleration and deceleration resulting from ATO driving added stress to the underframe components. To allow a root cause investigation to be carried out, the use of the ATO system was suspended on January 15 2006, leaving the operation of trains back in the hands of the train drivers, the safety of train operation under the control of the Automatic Train Protection
system. This resulted in a decreased frequency (from 24 to 23 trains per hour) and lengthened trip time (increase by 90 seconds to 42.5 minutes). KCRC also temporarily transferred some staff from West Rail Line to cope with recent maintenance of trains.
The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau
reprimanded the KCRC for not immediately notifying the Government when it found problems with its East Rail trains in 2005. Secretary for the Bureau Dr Sarah Liao
said she has ordered the KCRC to inspect all its trains, and did not rule out suspending services if there are safety doubts. Dr Liao ordered the chairman to review the corporation's operations, including its management and overall system, and submit a report. KCRC Chairman Michael Tien
accepted responsibility for the corporation's poor judgement in not sharing the information with the public in a timely matter.
On 21 January 2006, Michael Tien stated that the safety problems of East Rail had been controlled, and the train service was expected to operate as usual, including train service in the Chinese New Year
. KCRC East Rail trains reverted to the ATO operation on 6 August 2006, after the investigation confirmed that ATO system is not a direct cause of the cracking.
at several stations (Lo Wu, Tai Wo, University, Kowloon Tong, and Mong Kok East) may be a safety concern. The KCRC has visually marked the "Gap Black Spots" on the platforms of those stations and stated that plates will be installed in the gap between the train and station. The platform gap is mainly caused by the curvature of the station and how the train enters the station area. A mechanical gap filler system, which extends the platform edge when a train is stopped at the station, has been authorized at Lo Wu station on a trial basis.
Notes
* Proposed
# Under construction
^ Planning in progress
1 Mong Kok East Station and Mong Kok Station ( and ), are not interconnected stations. There is pedestrian transfer by a footbridge, the journey time is approx. 10–15 minutes on foot.
2 Fo Tan and Racecourse are parallel stations. Racecourse Station is only open when horseracing or a special event is held at Sha Tin Racecourse
.
3 Kwu Tung, Chau Tau and Lok Ma Chau are stations on the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line
, a branch from Sheung Shui Station of the , with solely the latter constructed.
In the latest Sha Tin to Central Link proposal, the East Rail Line will extend southwards across the Victoria Harbour
, and have two more stations on Hong Kong Island
: Exhibition and Admiralty
.
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
(MTR) system in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. It used to be one of the three lines of the Kowloon-Canton Railway
Kowloon-Canton Railway
The Kowloon–Canton Railway refers to a railway network in Hong Kong which is now combined with the MTR railway system, comprising rapid transit services, a light rail system and feeder bus routes within Hong Kong, and intercity passenger and freight train services to the rest of China...
(KCR) network. It was known as the KCR British Section (九廣鐵路英段) from 1910 to 1996, and the KCR East Rail (九廣東鐵) from 1996 to 2007.
The railway line starts at Hung Hom Station in Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
and branches in the north at Sheung Shui to terminate at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau stations. Both are boundary crossing points into Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
. It was the only railway line of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation was established in 1982 under the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance for the purposes of operating the Kowloon–Canton Railway , and to construct and operate other new railways...
(KCRC) before the construction of KCR West Rail (now known as West Rail Line).
The same railway is used for passenger and freight services crossing the boundary to other cities, including Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. These longer distance passenger services (dubbed "Through Trains") start at Hung Hom
Hung Hom
Hung Hom is an area of Kowloon, in Hong Kong, administratively part of the Kowloon City District, with a portion west of the railway in the Yau Tsim Mong District. Hung Hom serves mainly residential purposes though is mixed with some industrial buildings in the north.-Geography:Hung Hom is located...
and end at their termini in the mainland. The line is generally double tracked and electrified, except for certain goods sheds. Immigration and customs facilities are available at Hung Hom (for Through Train passengers) and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau (for border interchange passengers) stations.
The railway line was operated by Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation was established in 1982 under the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance for the purposes of operating the Kowloon–Canton Railway , and to construct and operate other new railways...
(KCRC) prior to the MTR-KCR merger and has since been taken over by MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation Limited is a company listed on the Hong Kong Exchange and included in the Hang Seng Index. MTR owns and runs the Hong Kong MTR metro system, and is also a major property developer and landlord in Hong Kong...
on 2 December 2007 after the merger was completed.
The line is coloured light blue on the MTR map. The distance between Hung Hom and Lo Wu stations is 34 km.
Pre-electrification era
East Rail, now East Rail Line was opened for passenger services on 1 October 1910, as the then Kowloon-Canton Railway (British Section). The remaining section from Lo Wu to Canton (now GuangzhouGuangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
) was called the "Chinese Section", now the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway. Initially, service was only from Yau Ma Tei station to Fanling
Fanling Station
Fanling Station is a station on Hong Kong's East Rail Line. It is next to Fanling Town Centre, and is only a short walk away from Fung Ying Seen Koon, a well-known Taoist temple. The Fanling Highway was built from 1983 to 1987 directly adjacent to the station...
station with a tunnel through Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill, Hong Kong
Beacon Hill is a hill in the Kowloon Tong area of Hong Kong's Kowloon peninsula. It is the 65th highest hill of Hong Kong. It is 457 m tall.Beacon Hill is located within the Lion Rock Country Park.-Name:...
.
After the "Chinese Section" was completed, through train service became available to Canton, through Sham Chun (now Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
). Lo Wu station also serves as a border crossing, with a bridge across the Sham Chun River
Sham Chun River
Sham Chun River serves as the natural border between Hong Kong and Mainland China, together with the Sha Tau Kok River....
, the natural border between Hong Kong and China. Trains had to stop at Lo Wu
Lo Wu
Lo Wu or Lowu is an area in North District, New Territories, Hong Kong. It lies on the borders between Hong Kong and mainland China, specifically the Luohu District of Shenzhen in mainland China. The area is most notable as the location of the most heavily used immigration control point for...
station after Communist
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
closed the border and suspended the through train service in 1949.
The line was generally single track, with a passing loop at each station.
The line was originally built with narrow gauge tracks, but just before opening standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
track was laid and the original tracks were used to build a branch line, the Sha Tau Kok Railway
Sha Tau Kok Railway
The Sha Tau Kok Railway was a gauge narrow gauge railway running from Fanling to Sha Tau Kok in the northern New Territories of Hong Kong. The line began service on 1st April 1912. It was built with the narrow gauge tracks of the Kowloon-Canton Railway when the latter was converted to standard...
from Fanling
Fanling Station
Fanling Station is a station on Hong Kong's East Rail Line. It is next to Fanling Town Centre, and is only a short walk away from Fung Ying Seen Koon, a well-known Taoist temple. The Fanling Highway was built from 1983 to 1987 directly adjacent to the station...
to Sha Tau Kok
Sha Tau Kok
Sha Tau Kok or Shataukok or Sathewkok is a town in the northeastern corner of Hong Kong. Located on the border with mainland China, there is another town of same Chinese name, Shatoujiao, romanized using Hanyu Pinyin, across the Sham Chun River-defined border in Shenzhen of mainland...
. This branch was unsuccessful and closed on 1 April 1928 following the opening of a road that ran parallel to the tracks.
Through the years, more stations continued to be added to the line. Sheung Shui station was opened in the 1930s, and Ma Liu Shui (now University) station opened in 1955.
The development of the towns along the line began to grow immensely during the 1970s, prompting a redevelopment of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. The original Kowloon station terminus at Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui , often abbreviated as TST, is an urbanized area in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area is administratively part of the Yau Tsim Mong District. Tsim Sha Tsui East is a piece of land reclaimed from the Hung Hom Bay now east of Tsim Sha Tsui...
was too small and had no room for expansion, so a new terminus site was chosen in Hung Hom, then known as Kowloon station. The new Kowloon station replaced the old one in 1974. Today, the clock tower is the only structure left from the old terminus, and is a landmark near the Cultural Centre, Space Museum and the Star Ferry pier. Some six pillars were relocated to the Urban Council Centennial Park in TST East. A big bell is stored at Ho Tung Lau
Ho Tung Lau
Ho Tung Lau is a place northeast of Lok Lo Ha in Sha Tin, near the MTR and on the former shore of Sha Tin Hoi, in the New Territories...
. The original Hung Hom station at Chatham Road South was also demolished.
Post-1980s modernisation
The line was entirely duplicated and electrified. This work involved building a new tunnel through Beacon HillBeacon Hill, Hong Kong
Beacon Hill is a hill in the Kowloon Tong area of Hong Kong's Kowloon peninsula. It is the 65th highest hill of Hong Kong. It is 457 m tall.Beacon Hill is located within the Lion Rock Country Park.-Name:...
and providing an interchange with the original MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
network. The development finished in sections between 1982 and 1983, with new electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s replacing diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
s. During the electrification, more stations were added to the line.
The 1990s saw rapid development and changes within the railway. In 1996, the first refurbished Metro Cammell
Metro Cammell
The Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company was a Birmingham, England based manufacturer of railway carriages and wagons, based in Saltley and subsequently Washwood Heath....
EMU
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
was put into service, and trains now allow passengers to traverse from one end to another (except for the first class car), when trains once ran on four three-car EMU
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s. 348 of the 351 railcars were refurbished except for unit E44 (144-244-444), of which #144 was preserved at the Hong Kong Railway Museum
Hong Kong Railway Museum
Hong Kong Railway Museum is a railway museum in Tai Po, Hong Kong. It is now under the management of the Leisure and Cultural Service Department. Opened in 1985, it is located at the site where the Old Tai Po Market Railway Station was built in 1913...
. Each trainset is still made up of 12 cars (with one first-class car). Prior to the rule proclaimed in 1994 which fixed the number of cars on each trainset to 12, trains were inconsistent in terms of length, ranging from six cars (two EMUs), nine cars (three EMUs) to 12 cars (four EMUs).
In addition, trains no longer have the monotonous design of having a red stripe running across the middle from the cab to the end; the doors now have a red coating, and the window panes along with the upper part are fashioned with blue paint. The design of the front – which encapsulates the driver's cab – is commonly referred to as the "Yellow-cab". It was given a modern appearance, capped with a silver coating, and digital display provided information for the train's destination.
The design of the EMU was modified as well: four more sets of doors being added to each car, adding up to a total of ten sets of doors, each side with five; the introduction of new passenger information plasma display; and more standing space by rearranging seating patterns from the traditional back-to-back seating to a latitudinal design. The KCRC
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation was established in 1982 under the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance for the purposes of operating the Kowloon–Canton Railway , and to construct and operate other new railways...
had signed a contract with giant French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
manufacturer GEC-Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
to be in charge of the refurbishment taking place at its depot at Ho Tung Lau
Ho Tung Lau
Ho Tung Lau is a place northeast of Lok Lo Ha in Sha Tin, near the MTR and on the former shore of Sha Tin Hoi, in the New Territories...
.
In 1998 an Automatic Train Protection
Automatic Train Protection
Automatic Train Protection in Great Britain refers to either of two implementations of a train protection system installed in some trains in order to help prevent collisions through a driver's failure to observe a signal or speed restriction...
(ATP) system was installed on the line, to ensure a safe distance is maintained between trains. It also allowed an increased in train paths from 20 to 24 per hour each way. The control centre was also relocated from Kowloon Station to a new centre in the KCRC's operations headquarters building at Fo Tan.
In 2002 an automatic train operation
Automatic train operation
Automatic train operation ensures partial or complete automatic train piloting and driverless functions.Most systems elect to maintain a driver to mitigate risks associated with failures or emergencies....
(ATO) system was added, which controls the speed of the train for the driver and ensures that all trains will stop when arriving at every station. Under normal circumstances, most trains are operated in ATO mode except for scenarios such as operation of operation of trains in and out of train depots, driving training, or at times when the ATO system fails to function properly.
Recent developments
- In 2004, the railway was extended in tunnel to a new southern terminus at East Tsim Sha Tsui Station.
- On 28 December 2004 a branch to the East Rail, the Ma On Shan Rail was added, with an interchange at Tai Wai.
- On 15 August 2007, an extension from Sheung Shui station northwest through a tunnel to Lok Ma Chau Station was opened. This provides a second border crossing between Hong Kong SARHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and mainland ChinaMainland ChinaMainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
. - On 16 August 2009, Hung Hom became the southern terminus of both East Rail Line and West Rail Line after the completion of the Kowloon Southern Link. East Tsim Sha Tsui was previously the southern terminus on East Rail Line, and is a current intermediate station on West Rail Line.
Tunnels
Tunnels on the East Rail Line have numbers assigned to them. When the railway was first opened, there were five tunnels:- North of today's Mong Kok East Station
- Beacon Hill TunnelBeacon Hill TunnelBeacon Hill Tunnel is a tunnel in Hong Kong, China on the original Kowloon-Canton Railway from Kowloon to Canton, linking Kowloon Tong to its south and Sha Tin to its north, between Kowloon Tong and Tai Wai stations. Services through the tunnel are provided by MTR.-History:A team of surveyors were...
- South of where University StationUniversity StationUniversity Station may refer to any of the following railway stations:* University railway station in Birmingham, England...
stands today - North of the station
- At Tai Po KauTai Po KauTai Po Kau is an area south of the town of Tai Po in Hong Kong. There was the former Tai Po Kau Station of Kowloon-Canton Railway erected in the area. It is located at the estuary of rivers and Tai Po Hoi.-See also:* Tai Po Kau Special Area...
During the construction of the Cross Harbour Tunnel, which opened in 1972, the section of tracks near Oi Man Estate, Ho Man Tin
Ho Man Tin
Ho Man Tin is a mostly residential area in Kowloon, Hong Kong, part of the Kowloon City District.-History:The original area of Ho Man Tin was quite different from the present-day one. It was located in the heart of nowaday Mong Kok. With cultivated lands,...
was covered to construct the section of Princess Margaret Road
Princess Margaret Road
Princess Margaret Road is a road in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It starts from the northern King's Park, at the junction with Wylie Road, Chi Man Street and Hong Chong Road, cuts through the hills east of proper Ho Man Tin and reaches the intersection of Argyle Street and Waterloo Road.Depicted in the...
connecting to the Cross Harbour Tunnel. A new tunnel was therefore created and given the number 1A.
During the modernization of the line in the early 1980s, Tunnels 1, 3, 4 were removed by demolishing the mounds above them. Tunnel 1A already had double track width when built; a completely new Beacon Hill Tunnel (Tunnel 2) was constructed and took over the original one; and Tunnel 5 was doubled.
Rolling stock
Currently there are two types of commuter trains running on the East Rail Line. 29 sets of the forementioned Metro Cammell EMU. In 2003 they are joined with 8 sets of SP1900 EMU trainsMTR EMU SP1900
MTR EMU SP1900 is the second model of electric multiple unit rolling stock of Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation , preceded by the Metro Cammell EMU...
, manufactured by the Japan-based Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd.
Kinki Sharyo
is an Osaka, Japan-based manufacturer of railroad vehicles. It is an affiliate company of Kintetsu Corporation.In business since 1920 and renamed The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd in 1945...
. Both models share same exterior color scheme, train doors arrangement (5-pair per car except first class), as well as consisting of 12 carriages per train including a first class section. All of the East Rail Line Metro Cammell trains are being maintained at MTR Ho Tung Lau Depot in Sha Tin District
Sha Tin District
Sha Tin District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. One of the 9 districts located in the New Territories, it covers the areas of Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Ma On Shan, Fo Tan, Siu Lek Yuen and Ma Liu Shui . The district has the highest population...
. Some of the SP1900 EMU are being maintained at MTR Pat Heung Depot of the West Rail Line after the opening of Kowloon Southern Link.
First class
First class travel
First class is the most luxurious class of accommodation on a train, passenger ship, airplane, or other conveyance. It is usually much more expensive than business class and economy class, and offers the best amenities.-Aviation:...
commuter service. One of the 12 cars of each train is furbished as a first-class carriage. These compartments have softer and wider seat arrangements; however, standing in the first class car is common during rush hour.
Riding on this carriage costs twice that of a standard-class journey and passengers are required to buy the first class ticket (at the vending machine on East Rail line stations or ticket counters at the other stations) or second check their Octopus card
Octopus card
The Octopus card is a rechargeable contactless stored value smart card used to transfer electronic payments in online or offline systems in Hong Kong...
s on the first class reader (located at the station platforms and beside the gangway door of the First class compartment itself) before entering the first-class car. Ticket Inspectors will perform random checks on train, and failing to produce a valid first class ticket or valiated Octopus Card will be liable to a surcharge of HK$500.
Train accidents
On 25 November 1984, a train derailed between Sheung Shui and Lo Wu station. The incident occurred when the driver, preparing to back the train up to Sheung Shui station, failed to follow a speed/stop signal while the train was exceeding the speed limit. The train crashed into a boulder buffer with the first two cars piling on top of each other. The degree of damage was so extensive that the cars never returned to service. Passengers were unloaded prior to the crash while the driver sustained only minor injuries. However, the accident caused train services to be suspended for the rest of the day and the incident spurred a series of public outcries concerning railway safety.Underframe cracking
On 21 December 2005, an East Rail Line Metro Cammell EMUEast Rail Line Metro Cammell EMU
East Rail Line Metro Cammell EMU is an electric multiple unit owned by and originally operated by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation , now operated by MTR after merger of both companies. Rolling stock of this model are currently serving on the East Rail Line in Hong Kong...
failed while in operation. Following examination of the train, KCRC staff detected minor cracks in the welding of mounting brackets for some underframe components. A review panel commissioned by KCRC looked into the problem from four aspects:
- the rate of change of the acceleration and deceleration of trains
- the welding of components' mounting brackets
- the profile of the track and train wheels
- suspension system
Since the full introduction of automatic train operation
Automatic train operation
Automatic train operation ensures partial or complete automatic train piloting and driverless functions.Most systems elect to maintain a driver to mitigate risks associated with failures or emergencies....
(ATO) on the East Rail system in 2003, the rate of change of acceleration and deceleration resulting from ATO driving added stress to the underframe components. To allow a root cause investigation to be carried out, the use of the ATO system was suspended on January 15 2006, leaving the operation of trains back in the hands of the train drivers, the safety of train operation under the control of the Automatic Train Protection
Automatic Train Protection
Automatic Train Protection in Great Britain refers to either of two implementations of a train protection system installed in some trains in order to help prevent collisions through a driver's failure to observe a signal or speed restriction...
system. This resulted in a decreased frequency (from 24 to 23 trains per hour) and lengthened trip time (increase by 90 seconds to 42.5 minutes). KCRC also temporarily transferred some staff from West Rail Line to cope with recent maintenance of trains.
The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau
Environment, Transport and Works Bureau
Environment, Transport and Works Bureau was formerly a policy bureau of the Government of Hong Kong. It was responsible for:*Environmental protection*Transport*Public works*Waste management...
reprimanded the KCRC for not immediately notifying the Government when it found problems with its East Rail trains in 2005. Secretary for the Bureau Dr Sarah Liao
Sarah Liao
Dr. Sarah Liao Sau-tung, GBS, MBE, JP, FRSC was former Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and a member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong 2002...
said she has ordered the KCRC to inspect all its trains, and did not rule out suspending services if there are safety doubts. Dr Liao ordered the chairman to review the corporation's operations, including its management and overall system, and submit a report. KCRC Chairman Michael Tien
Michael Tien
Michael Puk Sun Tien is deputy chairman of New People's Party, and the member of Tsuen Wan District Council. He is founder of The G2000 Group and the former chairman of the board of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation . He joined the Liberal Party in 2008, a party led by his elder brother,...
accepted responsibility for the corporation's poor judgement in not sharing the information with the public in a timely matter.
On 21 January 2006, Michael Tien stated that the safety problems of East Rail had been controlled, and the train service was expected to operate as usual, including train service in the Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
. KCRC East Rail trains reverted to the ATO operation on 6 August 2006, after the investigation confirmed that ATO system is not a direct cause of the cracking.
Platform gaps
The platform gapMind the gap
"Mind the gap" is a warning to train passengers to take caution while crossing the gap between the train door and the station platform. It was introduced in 1969 on the London Underground...
at several stations (Lo Wu, Tai Wo, University, Kowloon Tong, and Mong Kok East) may be a safety concern. The KCRC has visually marked the "Gap Black Spots" on the platforms of those stations and stated that plates will be installed in the gap between the train and station. The platform gap is mainly caused by the curvature of the station and how the train enters the station area. A mechanical gap filler system, which extends the platform edge when a train is stopped at the station, has been authorized at Lo Wu station on a trial basis.
Stations
All the station platforms on East Rail Line, are on/above ground and open air. Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau are part of closed areas and cannot be entered by anyone without a permit or a passport and visa to Mainland China. In May, 2008, MTR announced plans to renew these stations, most of which have been in service for over half a century. Refurbishment is not expected to be fully completed until 2016 at the earliest. The stations providing local commuter service on this line are listed blow:| Livery Livery A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in... and Name |
District Districts of Hong Kong The Districts of Hong Kong are the 18 political areas by which Hong Kong is geographically divided. Each district has a district council, which was formerly known as a district board. The districts were established in the early 1980s, when Hong Kong was under British rule... |
Connections | Opened | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Rail Line | ||||
| Hung Hom formerly Kowloon |
Yau Tsim Mong Yau Tsim Mong District Yau Tsim Mong District is one of 18 districts of Hong Kong, located on western Kowloon peninsula. It is the core urban area of Kowloon. The district has the third highest population density of all districts... / Kowloon City Kowloon City Kowloon City is an area in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is named after the Kowloon Walled City, and is administratively part of Kowloon City District.... |
Intercity services outside of Hong Kong. |
November 30, 1974 | |
| Mong Kok East formerly Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok |
Nil 1 | opened 1910, relocated 1968 |
||
| Kowloon Tong | Sham Shui Po Sham Shui Po District Sham Shui Po District is one of 18 districts of Hong Kong. It covers the Shek Kip Mei, Sham Shui Po, Cheung Sha Wan, Lai Chi Kok and Yau Yat Chuen areas of New Kowloon, and Stonecutter's Island of Kowloon... / Kowloon City Kowloon City Kowloon City is an area in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is named after the Kowloon Walled City, and is administratively part of Kowloon City District.... |
May 4, 1982 | ||
| Tai Wai | Sha Tin Sha Tin District Sha Tin District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. One of the 9 districts located in the New Territories, it covers the areas of Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Ma On Shan, Fo Tan, Siu Lek Yuen and Ma Liu Shui . The district has the highest population... |
August 15, 1983 | ||
| Sha Tin | October 1, 1910 | |||
| Fo Tan2 | February 15, 1985 | |||
| Racecourse2 | October 1, 1983 | |||
| University formerly Ma Liu Shui |
September 24, 1956 | |||
| - | Science Park* | |||
| Tai Po Tai Po Tai Po is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong. It refers to the vicinity of the traditional market towns in the area presently known as Tai Po Old Market or Tai Po Kau Hui and the Tai Wo Town on the other side of the Lam Tsuen River, near the old Tai Po Market Station of the... |
||||
| Tai Po Market | opened 1910, relocated 1983 |
|||
| Tai Wo | May 9, 1989 | |||
| Fanling Fanling Station Fanling Station is a station on Hong Kong's East Rail Line. It is next to Fanling Town Centre, and is only a short walk away from Fung Ying Seen Koon, a well-known Taoist temple. The Fanling Highway was built from 1983 to 1987 directly adjacent to the station... |
North North District, Hong Kong North District is the northernmost district of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the northwestern part of the New Territories. The new town of Fanling-Sheung Shui is within this district. It had a population of 298,657 in 2001. The district has the second lowest population density.It... |
October 1, 1910 | ||
| Sheung Shui | 1930 | |||
| Lo Wu | Luohu Station for Line 1 of the Shenzhen Metro Shenzhen Metro The Shenzhen Metro is the subway or underground system for the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong province, China. The system opened on 28 December 2004, making Shenzhen the seventh city in mainland China to have a subway after Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian, and Wuhan. The Shenzhen... (through border check) |
October 14, 1949 | ||
| - | Kwu Tung^3 | |||
| - | Chau Tau^3 | Northern Link | ||
| Yuen Long Yuen Long Yuen Long , formerly Un Long, is an area and town located in the northwest of Hong Kong, on the Yuen Long Plain. To its west lie Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen, to the south Shap Pat Heung and Tai Tong, to the east Au Tau and Kam Tin, and to the north Nam Sang Wai.-Name:The Cantonese name Yuen Long 元朗... |
||||
| Lok Ma Chau3 | Futiankouan Station for Line 4 of the Shenzhen Metro Shenzhen Metro The Shenzhen Metro is the subway or underground system for the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong province, China. The system opened on 28 December 2004, making Shenzhen the seventh city in mainland China to have a subway after Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian, and Wuhan. The Shenzhen... (through border check) |
August 15, 2007 | ||
Notes
# Under construction
^ Planning in progress
1 Mong Kok East Station and Mong Kok Station ( and ), are not interconnected stations. There is pedestrian transfer by a footbridge, the journey time is approx. 10–15 minutes on foot.
2 Fo Tan and Racecourse are parallel stations. Racecourse Station is only open when horseracing or a special event is held at Sha Tin Racecourse
Sha Tin Racecourse
Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club.Penfold Park is encircled by the track.-History:...
.
3 Kwu Tung, Chau Tau and Lok Ma Chau are stations on the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line
Lok Ma Chau Spur line
The Lok Ma Chau Spur Line is the second railway link between Hong Kong and Mainland China, relieving passenger congestion at Lo Wu Station. The alignment branches off the existing MTR East Rail Line north of Sheung Shui Station and then runs to the Lok Ma Chau Station where customs and...
, a branch from Sheung Shui Station of the , with solely the latter constructed.
- Full station list of MTR lines
Future development
The Northern Link will go from Kam Sheung Road Station to Lok Ma Chau Station, and to Sheung Shui Station via Chau Tau Station.In the latest Sha Tin to Central Link proposal, the East Rail Line will extend southwards across the Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on the South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony and its subsequent...
, and have two more stations on Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
: Exhibition and Admiralty
Admiralty (MTR)
Admiralty station is an MTR station located on Hong Kong Island, in an area often referred to as Admiralty. The station's livery is dodger blue...
.