PR075/20 15 November 2020

New Light Rail Vehicles and Real-time Service Information Usher in Enhanced Customer Experience with Smart Features

The MTR Corporation has been enhancing Light Rail facilities to provide customers in the Northwest New Territories with a convenient and high-quality public transport service. The Corporation is delighted to announce today (15 November 2020) that the new generation of Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) will come into service from 17 November 2020 (Tuesday).

The brand new “Phase 5” LRV inherits the concise exterior design as well as the white, green and purple colour scheme of the previous generations with sleek front and rear ends, while the driving cabin will provide a wider sightline for Light Rail captains. To further enhance customer experience, the new LRVs features several enhancements, including an improved LED lighting system to enhance the ambiance of the train saloons, and improved handrail and straphanger arrangements, etc.

The first two new LRVs have passed the safety and performance tests and obtained approval from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. They are now under final preparation and will be deployed to serve Routes 610 and 751 in coupled set at the initial stage. Customers are welcomed to take the routes and experience the service of new LRVs. As for another new LRV, which is under testing and commission, the engineering team has installed solar photovoltaic panels at the top of the vehicle as a trial to use clean and renewable energy to provide electricity to the in-compartment lighting system, hoping to make journeys on new LRVs even greener.

The Corporation ordered a total of 40 new LRVs in 2016, among which 30 LRVs will replace existing Phase 2 LRVs while the rest will help to expand the Light Rail fleet size. The overall journey time and schedule of the Light Rail network has been fine-tuned for a more flexible deployment of LRVs and a better coordination of overlapping and long-haul routes. We will continue to work closely with relevant departments to optimize the configuration and design of Light Rail junctions for smooth rail operations as well.

The Corporation has been promoting smart mobility, riding on the recently-enhanced MTR Mobile App and the “Next Train” function has been further extended to the Light Rail network. By tapping into the “Next Train” function of the latest version of MTR Mobile, customers can check the real-time estimated time of arrival of up to five routes at each platform of any Light Rail stop. It is more informative compared to the current Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) at Light Rail stops.

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The LRVs share the roads with other road users and train arrivals are subject to road traffic conditions. The “Next Train” function for Light Rail is frequently updated automatically to facilitate more convenient journey planning with real-time information.

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About MTR Corporation

Every day, MTR connects people and communities. As a recognised world-class operator of sustainable rail transport services, we are a leader in safety, reliability, customer service and efficiency.

MTR has extensive end-to-end railway expertise with more than 40 years of railway projects experience from design to planning and construction through to commissioning, maintenance and operations. Going beyond railway delivery and operation, MTR also creates and manages dynamic communities around its network through seamless integration of rail, commercial and property development.

With more than 40,000 dedicated staff*, MTR carries over 13 million passenger journeys worldwide every weekday in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and the Mainland of China. MTR strives to grow and connect communities for a better future.

For more information about MTR Corporation, please visit www.mtr.com.hk. *includes our subsidiaries and associates in Hong Kong and worldwide

Photo caption:

1. The new LRV features several enhancements to enhance customer experience, including an improved LED lighting system to enhance the ambiance of the train saloons, and improved handrail and straphanger arrangements which facilitate easy access to the multi-purpose areas for wheelchair passengers.

Saloon of Phase 5 LRV

Saloon of existing Phase 2 LRV

Phase 5 LRV Phase 2 LRV

2. Solar photovoltaic panels are installed at the top of one of the Phase 5 LRVs as a trial to use clean and renewable energy to provide electricity to the in-compartment lighting system, hoping to make journeys on new LRVs even greener.

3. The “Next Train” function has been further extended to the Light Rail network. Passengers can check the real-time information of estimated time of arrival for up to 5 routes at each platform of any Light Rail stop.