PR070/16 6 August 2016

Secretary for Transport and Housing Visits Station of MTR Extension

The Secretary for Transport and Housing Professor Anthony Cheung today (6 August 2016) had a first-hand look at the latest progress and operational readiness of the MTR (KTE) during a visit to the newly built Ho Man Tin Station. Together with , and a series of pedestrian link facilities to the surrounding community, the Kwun Tong Line Extension will soon bring more convenience to the travelling public of and to the residents nearby. Ho Man Tin Station will also serve as the largest interchange station in the MTR network between the Kwun Tong Line and the future Shatin to Central Link (SCL).

“Passenger service of the KTE is expected to commence in October this year, extending MTR’s convenient, reliable and efficient railway service to serve commuters living in and travelling to the Ho Man Tin and Whampoa areas,” said Mr Lincoln Leong, Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation, during today’s visit. ”Upon the commissioning of the KTE, it will take only about 5 minutes for customers to travel between Yau Ma Tei and Whampoa,” he added.

Professor Cheung is pleased to learn that the KTE project is getting close to completion which marks an important milestone in Hong Kong’s railway network extension. He believes that other than providing an alternate means of public transport to commuters, the new line will also strengthen connectivity among districts and alleviate road traffic congestion.

Following the recent completion of statutory inspections for the new railway extension by relevant government departments, trial operations including stress tests of railway systems and station facilities such as platform screen doors, ticket machines and gates will be carried out with a view to ensuring smooth and reliable station operations.

In addition, starting from today, non-passenger trains on the Kwun Tong Line will enter the KTE tunnels during traffic hours to conduct test runs to and from Whampoa Station; while later this month, passenger trains will enter Ho Man Tin and Whampoa stations after stopping at Yau Ma Tei terminus for the test runs. Additional station staff will be deployed at to provide assistance at the platform and ensure that all passengers have alighted from the trains before departure for Whampoa. The arrangements will also be stated in notices and conveyed through public announcements at Yau Ma Tei Station and on trains.

“While trial operations of trains and stress tests for various railway systems and station facilities and systems are being carried out, Operations staffs are going through various drills and exercises on overall Operations management and new train service. Some of these drills and exercises will involve relevant government departments such as Transport Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Fire Services Department and Hong Kong Police,” said Mr Adi Lau, Operations Director of MTR Corporation.

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When KTE service begins, Whampoa Station will become the new terminus of the Kwun Tong Line. Due to physical constraint in the Whampoa area, a single platform design was adopted. In order to maintain train frequency of Kwun Tong Line as a whole, trains will terminate alternatively at Ho Man Tin and Whampoa Station. During peak hours on weekdays, the train frequency for Ho Man Tin Station will be approximately 2 minutes while that for Whampoa Station will be approximately 4 minutes.

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About MTR Corporation

MTR Corporation is regarded as one of the world’s leading railway operators for safety, reliability, customer service and cost efficiency. In its home base of Hong Kong, the Corporation operates nine commuter railway lines, a Light Rail network and a high-speed Airport Express link on which more than 5.5 million passenger trips are made on a normal week day. Another 5 million passenger trips are made on the rail services it operates outside Hong Kong in the Mainland of China, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Australia. In addition, the Corporation is involved in a range of railway construction projects as well as railway consultancy and contracting services around the world. Leveraging on its railway expertise, the Corporation is involved in the development of transit-related residential and commercial property projects, property management, shopping malls leasing and management, advertising media and telecommunication services.

For more information about MTR Corporation, please visit www..com.hk.

Photo Caption:

1. (From left) General Manager – Kwun Tong Line Extension of MTR Corporation Mr James Chow, Operations Director of MTR Corporation Mr Adi Lau, The Secretary for Transport and Housing Professor Anthony Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation Mr Lincoln Leong, Projects Director of MTR Corporation Dr Philco Wong, and Head of Operating-South Region of MTR Corporation Mr Alan Cheng tour around the Kwun Tong Line platform of Ho Man Tin Station.

2. The Secretary for Transport and Housing Professor Anthony Cheung is briefed on the design and facilities of Ho Man Tin Station.

3. The Kwun Tong Line Extension (KTE) project is a 2.6-kilometre underground extension of the existing Kwun Tong Line from Yau Ma Tei to Whampoa, with an intermediate station at Ho Man Tin.