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Following is a question by the Hon Daniel Lam and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (January 23):
Question:
It has been reported that accidents in which Light Rail (LR) passengers who are blind fell from platforms onto railway tracks had occurred time and again recently. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:
(a) at present, which LR stations have tactile guide paths installed at their platforms and the details of such facilities, and whether the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) will install such facilities at all other LR platforms; if so, of the details of the installation plan; and
(b) in addition to the above facilities and other relevant existing facilities, whether MTRCL has studied the adoption of other measures to enhance the safety of passengers, especially blind people, when awaiting or boarding trains at LR platforms?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The design of the trains, stations and platforms of the Light Rail system complies with international safety standards in order to provide a safe and reliable service to passengers.
To facilitate visually impaired passengers to use the Light Rail service, the pre-merger Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) installed tactile guide paths at parts of the platforms of 12 Light Rail stations so as to guide visually impaired passengers to wait at the first door of the first train compartment, such that train drivers can render assistance to such passengers when need arises. These 12 stations include Tuen Mun Station which was renovated to tie in with the commissioning of West Rail Line in December 2003, as well as the 11 stations along the Light Rail Tin Shui Wai Extension which was opened in December 2003. These stations are Chung Fu, Tin Fu, Tin Yat, Tin Heng, Wetland Park, Tin Sau, Tin Yuet, Ginza, Tin Wu, Tin Tsz and Tin Shui Wai Stations.
To further facilitate visually impaired passengers to use the Light Rail service more conveniently, and after consultation with the groups representing the visually impaired, MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) will carry out enhancement works at 159 platforms of the 68 Light Rail stations. In other words, all Light Rail platforms will have tactile guide paths of full platform length in future, and these tactile guide paths will also lead visually impaired passengers to await trains at the position of the first door of the first train compartment.
The above-mentioned enhancement works have commenced since 2007 and have already been completed at 3 stations, namely Tin Wing, Lung Mun and Town Centre Stations. MTRCL has indicated that while such works are scheduled to be completed by 2010, the Corporation will try to expedite the progress as far as practicable in the light of the concerns arising from the incidents involving visually impaired passengers falling onto rail tracks.
(b) Apart from tactile guide paths, the Corporation has also adopted the following measures to ensure the safety of passengers, including those who are visually impaired, at platforms and for boarding trains -
(i) yellow tactile lines have been installed at all Light Rail platforms to remind visually impaired passengers that they are close to the front edge of the platform. MTRCL has also enhanced its public announcement at Light Rail platforms to remind passengers to stand behind the yellow lines and to beware of the platform gap;
(ii) before the rail merger, KCRC already commenced works in 2005 to install plastic fillers at the edge of platforms by phases at 37 Light Rail stations with wide platform gaps so as to narrow the gap. At present, platform gap fillers have been installed at 34 such stations. Works for the remaining 3 stations are expected to be completed before the first quarter of 2008;
(iii) trains are required to operate at low speed when entering and leaving stations. Train drivers will also stay alert to monitor traffic at crossings and the situation of passengers awaiting trains at platforms and be ready to take necessary action if the need arises;
(iv) to facilitate visually impaired passengers, when a Light Rail train arrives at stations and train doors open, in-train announcement on route number and destination of the train will be broadcast. Before train doors close, a buzzing sound together with in-train announcement will be made to remind passengers that train doors are about to close and to stay away from the train doors; and
(v) Passenger Service Assistants and Traffic Regulators patrol Light Rail stations regularly and maintain close contact with the Operation Control Centre to provide assistance for passengers in need. During rush hours, the Corporation also deploys Platforms Assistants at stations with larger passenger flow to assist passengers in boarding and alighting.
MTRCL will continue to maintain regular liaison with groups representing disabled persons to listen to their views with an aim to enhancing or improving the facilities as far as practicable to meet their needs.
Ends/Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:56
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