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The Chief Executive-in-Council has authorised a proposal to extend the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system to Tin Shui Wai (TSW) Reserve Zone to meet the transport needs for the growing population of TSW and the Northwest New Territories and to provide a feeder service between the TSW Reserve Zone and the West Rail.

A government spokesman said today (December 15) that the Extension allowed the Light Rail loop to cater for the travelling needs of 300,000 residents in TSW town and also fed passengers to the West Rail, which would be opened by the end of 2003.

Situated at the northern side of TSW town, the Reserve Zone will be developed mainly for residential purposes with an international wetland park. The LRT system will become one of the major modes of public transport in the area.

The Extension was based on a consultancy study conducted by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) in 1997-98 which concluded that there would be a rapid increase in patronage for the Light Rail system generated by the West Rail, and the future growth in the Northwest New Territories.

The spokesman said: "On the basis of the study, KCRC proposed to extend the existing network to the TSW Reserve Zone so as to satisfy public transport requirements in the Reserve Zone, in particular, the need to feed passengers to the West Rail with its TSW station at the southern end of the existing town."

West Rail's estimates showed that about 47 per cent of its TSW Station passengers would be fed to it by the Light Rail. The population of TSW would also increase by the existing 130,000 to about 300,000 by the end of 2003.

The total project cost for the construction of the proposed LRT Extension is $545 million in money-of-the-day prices and the KCRC has undertaken to meet all costs for the project.

The Extension will provide approximately 2.7 kilometres long electrified double-track railway system in the Reserve Zone for the provision of domestic passenger service. It will involve the construction of railway facilities, six Light Rail stops, one Light Rail terminus and two rectifier stations. The stops will be located near major housing estates to provide convenient access for residents.

The spokesman said that construction of the extension is set for commencement in early 2001 and for completion by the end of 2003.

End/Friday, December 15, 2000

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