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LCQ8: Train services of KCRC
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    Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Cheng and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow (in the absence of the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works), at the Legislative Council meeting today (May 30) :

Question:

     Regarding the train services of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC), will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:

(a)  as the two monthly ticket schemes, namely West Rail One-Month Pass and the East Rail One-Month Pass, will expire on June 30, 2007 and September 30, 2007 respectively, whether KCRC has any plan to extend these two schemes, and whether KCRC will consider implementing them on a long-term basis; if so, of the relevant details and the timetable; if not, the reasons for that;  

(b)  the current respective maximum carrying capacity per hour of the East Rail, West Rail and Ma On Shan (MOS) Rail; and

(c)  whether KCRC has plans to increase the number of train cars running on the East Rail, West Rail and MOS Rail upon the commissioning of Kowloon Southern Link, which connects the East Rail and West Rail; if so, of the details of its plan, including the resultant increase in the maximum carrying capacity per hour of each rail line?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a)  To meet the need of different passengers, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) from time to time introduces various promotional fare concessions, taking into account the Corporation's own operating situation, the economic climate and the market condition.  At present, both East Rail and West Rail offer "One Month Pass".  Passengers holding an East Rail or West Rail "One Month Pass" are entitled to unlimited rides on the respective railway network and on specified feeder services during the validity period of the Pass.  "One Month Pass" is one of the various promotional ticket types offered by KCRC.  The Corporation currently has no plan to convert the Pass into a regular ticket type.  The promotional period of the West Rail "One Month Pass" will be extended from June 30, to December 31, 2007.  KCRC will announce in due course the arrangement for the East Rail "One Month Pass" which will expire on September 30, 2007.

(b)  The maximum carrying capacity of East Rail, Ma On Shan Rail and West Rail is as follows:

              Number of trains      
Rail               per hour       Carrying Capacity
              (single direction)  (single direction)
****          ******************  ******************
East Rail        22 trains        82,500 passengers
Ma On Shan Rail  20 trains        26,800 passengers
West Rail        18 trains        42,210 passengers

(c)  According to KCRC's estimate at this stage, the existing train arrangements of the respective railway networks would be able to cater for the changes in patronage upon the commissioning of the Kowloon Southern Link.  Trains of East Rail, Ma On Shan Rail and West Rail networks will continue to operate in 12-car, 4-car and 7-car respectively. The maximum carrying capacity of the respective network will also remain unchanged.  Nevertheless, KCRC will closely monitor the actual ridership and make adjustments to the service arrangements as appropriate.

Ends/Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:14

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