Information Paper C&WDC T&TC Paper No. 43/2019

Central & Western District Council – Traffic & Transport Committee

Temporary Service Arrangement in Relation to the Peak Tramway’s Upgrading Plan

On 2 October 2018, the Chief Executive in Council (“ExCo”) has approved, under the Peak Tramway Ordinance (Cap. 265), the grant of the second 10-year (2026 - 2035) operating right of the peak tramway to the Peak Tramways Company Limited (“PTC”) for maintaining the peak tramway as an important tourism and recreational facility.

Since early 2019, PTC has embarked on works related to the upgrading plan. At present, the progress of the upgrading plan is on schedule, and the Government will continue to closely monitor the progress of the upgrading plan carried out by PTC.

To enable District Council members to have an understanding of the latest progress of the upgrading plan and the temporary service arrangement in respect of service suspension starting from 23 April 2019 for around two to three months, the information paper prepared by PTC is attached for members’ reference.

Tourism Commission Commerce and Economic Development Bureau

4 April 2019

Information Paper

The Upgrading Plan

Following consultation with Central & Western District Council (“C&WDC”) - Traffic & Transport Committee (“T&TC”) on 12 April 2018, the Peak Tramways Company Limited’s (“PTC”) application for the second ten-year operating right, together with the upgrading plan and the proposed legislative amendments arising from the upgrading plan, was also submitted to the Legislative Council (“LegCo”) Panel of Economic Development on 25 June 2018, and the proposal gained the support of Panel members.

On 2 October 2018, ExCo’s approval was given for PTC to be granted the second ten-year operating right commencing from 1 January 2026 on the terms agreed between the Government and PTC as well as additional land for PTC’s implementation of the upgrading plan to maintain the Peak Tram as an important tourism and recreational facility.

The construction works in respect of the upgrading plan started in January 2019. The upgrading plan is scheduled to complete in 2021, with two periods of Peak Tram service suspension:

• first suspension period to shorten the rope and relocate the tram stopping position to the temporary platform location in order to maintain the Peak Tram service during the major construction works in between the two suspension periods;

• second suspension period to replace the tramcars, ropes, rails, haulage equipment and systems.

Stakeholder Engagement

PTC has undertaken extensive stakeholder engagement with immediate neighbours who might have concerns about the works, including Helena May, World Wild Fund for Nature Hong Kong, St Joseph’s College and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (“LCSD”), and with non-immediate neighbours along the tramway, travel trade partners, government

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bureaux/departments, concern groups and others. None of them have expressed objection to the proposed works.

Moreover, both the Advisory Committee on Barrier Free Access and Labour and Welfare Bureau’s Rehabilitation Advisory Committee Sub-committee on Access were consulted on 8 June 2018 and 20 June 2018 respectively, at which the arrangement of access for persons with disability had been accepted in principle.

LCSD previously expressed concerns on the Temporary Service Plan and these concerns have since been addressed through better queue arrangement and additional staff deployment.

Preservation of Trees and Environmental Impact

The existing trees along Tramway Path will be retained or replaced with semi-mature trees. PTC intends to retain these trees, subject to their health, stability and root condition to be studied at a later stage.

Potential environmental impacts during construction have been mitigated by PTC through specifying low-vibration construction methods; environmental protection during construction; and strict monitoring regimes in compliance with Antiquities and Monuments Office’s requests. There are no adverse long-term environmental impacts generated by the project.

Construction Phasing

The construction period commenced in January 2019 and will be completed in 2021, during which the Peak Tram service will be maintained as far as possible.

The first phase of construction includes the facelifting of part of Tramway Path and the building of the new alighting platform between Tramway Path and the tramway itself, with the new alighting platform used as the temporary boarding platform in the temporary service period. The works (including demolition of the old cable store, site formation and new platform construction works) have been carried out since January 2019. During this period, the Peak Tram would operate a normal service.

Starting from 23 April 2019, there will be a short period of service suspension

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for around 2 to 3 months. Apart from the construction of the temporary boarding and alighting platforms, the existing Peak Tram system will be modified to match with the relocated Lower Terminus stopping position, and the installation of signage and queue management facilities for temporary service arrangement will be carried out during the period.

After completion of the above works, the Peak Tram service will be resumed and maintained while the existing Lower Terminus including ticket hall, waiting area, and the existing platforms in St. John’s Building will undergo construction/renovation. This temporary platform will be in operation for around 12 to 15 months from Q3 2019 to late 2020. The second period of service suspension is expected in Q3 2020 (for around 4 - 5 months) when the existing tramcars, systems and haulage equipment will be replaced with new ones.

Temporary Service Plan for the Lower Terminus Platform

PTC has worked out a comprehensive proposal for the continuous provision of the Peak Tram service during the works of the upgrading plan. It is necessary to implement the Temporary Service Plan to vacate the area for the construction of the new Lower Terminus, which will in turn largely reduce the total service suspension time for the upgrading plan and the impact on Peak Tram users and tourism industry. The Temporary Service Plan has been comprehensively planned with professional consultant architects, engineers and traffic planners. The Temporary Service Plan maintains all existing thoroughfares and access points, as well as maintains the current frequency and capacity of the Peak Tram service with systematically segregated and managed temporary queueing to cater for more passengers at the Lower Terminus during the peak period.

PTC has also submitted a Traffic Impact Assessment (“TIA”) Report for the Lower Terminus upgrade project, covering both the temporary and permanent platform arrangements. After the meeting of T&TC held on 12 April 2018, the TIA has been revised to address C&WDC members’ comments. Subsequent to the completion of the TIA, PTC and its consultants, the Transport Department and (“NWFB”) have already met and reviewed the provision of alternative public transport services during Peak Tram service suspension period.

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Transport Arrangement during Service Suspension Period

Starting from 23 April 2019, there will be a short period of service suspension for around 2 to 3 months. Before the service suspension, PTC will broadly disseminate relevant information to stakeholders through the mass media. During the suspension period, PTC and the government departments will maintain close liaison with public transport operators to ensure sufficient provision of alternative public transport services. In view of possible heavy traffic to and from the Peak area during the suspension period of the Peak Tram service, passengers to the Peak are advised to take public transport services as far as possible.

Currently, passengers can take the following public transport services to the Peak: • NWFB route no. 15 (Central (Central Ferry Piers) / Exchange Square – the Peak); • NWFB route no. 15B (Wan Chai (Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Extension) – the Peak) (service on Sundays and Public Holidays only); • Green Minibus route no. 1 (Central ( Public Transport Interchange) – the Peak); or • Taxi.

For the first period of service suspension starting from 23 April 2019, NWFB route no. 15C (Central Ferry Piers (Pier 8)) – Garden Road (Lower Peak Tram Station)) will be suspended. Meanwhile, NWFB will operate a special bus route no. X15 (Admiralty (West) Bus Terminus (near Admiralty Station Exit B) - the Peak) to facilitate passengers travelling directly between Admiralty Station and the Peak. Passengers at the Peak Tram Lower Terminus can take bus route nos. 12A, 12M, 23, 40 or 40M from St John’s Cathedral bus stop on Garden Road (see Location Map) to Admiralty and interchange for the special route no. X15 to the Peak. PTC will arrange staff at the Peak Tram Lower Terminus to advise passengers to take the concerned bus routes at St John’s Cathedral bus stop to Admiralty and interchange for the special bus route no. X15 to the Peak.

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(Location Map)

During service suspension period, the public transport operators concerned will also enhance services to meet passenger demand when necessary.

Moreover, PTC will put up a large quantity of the Peak Tram service suspension notices with alternative public transport information in Central and Admiralty areas to notify tourists.

Submitted by: Peak Tramways Company Limited

4 April 2019

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