LCQ2 : Light Rail as feeder service increase
Following is a question by the Hon Ho Chun-yan and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (October 27):
Question:
Since the opening of the Light Rail (LR) Tin Shui Wai Extension last December, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) has not increased the number of LR train cars, making it necessary to deploy some existing train cars to the Extension. As a result, LR services in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long have become grossly inadequate, giving rise to complaints from many residents. Although supplemental bus services are currently provided by LR in the areas concerned, they have failed to attract passengers. I have carried out an investigation in the areas concerned and found that during the morning peak hours, passengers travelling on various LR routes have to wait for a long time on the platforms before they can board trains, and that the compartments are packed with passengers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the total number of LR train cars put into service each year since the commissioning of LR, and whether it has assessed if the existing number of train cars can cope with the population growth in North-West New Territories; if it has, of the assessment results;
(b) whether it knows if KCRC will procure new train cars to solve the problem of inadequate LR services; if it will, of the details; and
(c) whether it will open up the areas served exclusively by LR to other modes of public transport, so as to solve the problem of inadequate LR services; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
The total number of Light Rail (LR) train cars in operation each year since the commissioning of LR in 1988 is shown in the Annex.
According to the assessment of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC), the travelling pattern of passengers has substantially changed with the commissioning of West Rail (WR) and Light Rail (LR) Tin Shui Wai Extension by the end of 2003. Since WR was opened, 25 per cent of long-distance routes passengers travelling between Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun had already shifted to travel via WR. In parallel, the demand for LR as a feeder service to WR also increased as WR patronage rose.
According to the statistics from KCRC, the annual average patronage for LR grew from 290,000 in 2003 to the present patronage of over 380,000. Most of them were short-distance routes passengers who interchange with WR and the growth of LR patronage is attributed mainly to patronage growth in Tin Shui Wai.
In meeting the changing traveling pattern of passengers, KCRC started its reorganisation of LR routes in phases in late 2003. In order to use resources more effectively, KCRC has restructured some of its long distance routes and increased short distance feeder routes.
Moreover, in response to the change in transport demand, KCRC introduced LR route 706, a circular route plying in Tin Shui Wai, in April this year. Half of the frequencies on LR routes 614 (Tuen Mun Ferry Pier - Yuen Long) and 615 (Tuen Mun Ferry Pier - Yuen Long) were reorganised to become short distance routes, operating in a circular mode between Siu Hong and Tuen Mun Ferry Pier.
Surveys conducted by Transport Department in June 2004 showed that LR patronage varied significantly during morning peak hours for different stations. It ranged from around 26 per cent for Siu Hong Station on route 615P to around 90 per cent for Tin Yiu Station on route 701. However, the LR services and carrying capacity provided have generally met passengers demand. In order to cope with the passenger demand when the new school term commenced in September, KCRC also extended the circular route 701 from Tin Shui Wai South to Tin Shui Wai North in late August, restructured part of the long-distance service provided by 751 (Tin Yat - Yau Oi) and introduced a short route 751P to strengthen the LR feeder service to WR. In addition, a new bus route K74 was launched in September to ply between Tin Shui and Yuen Long via Tin Tsz to relieve the heavy passenger demand at several sections in Tin Shui Wai during peak hours.
In planning its service arrangements and considering the procurement of train cars, the main consideration for KCRC is passenger demand. The overall passenger capacity of the railways in the North-west New Territories (NWNT) has been significantly increased since the commissioning of WR. Many of the long-distance route passengers travelling between Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai who used to take LR have shifted to use the more efficient service provided by WR. KCRC considers that with the procurement of a total of 20 train cars in 1997, LR train fleet is able to meet the passenger demand so far. While there is a significant increase in LR patronage after the commissioning of WR and LR Extension, the growth is yet to stabilise. KCRC will examine the need to procure additional train cars when the LR patronage turns stable.
Apart from the services provided by WR, LR and KCRC buses, residents in NWNT are served by other modes of transport, including 65 bus routes and 38 green minibus routes. The current transport arrangements have provided reasonable choices for residents. The Government will continue to monitor closely the transport services and demand in the area and consider introducing additional public transport services when necessary.
Annex
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Total Number of Light Rail Train Cars in Operation Each Year
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Year Total Number of Train Compartment
1988 to 1992 70
1992 to 1994 100
(30 were procured in 1992)
1994 to 1997 99
(One retired in 1994)
From 1997 onwards 119
(20 were procured in 1997)
Ends/Wednesday, October 27, 2004