LCQ 4 : Broadcasts of TV news in KCRC train compartments
******************************************************** Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Cheng and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (October 26):
Question:
Since July this year, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) has arranged for broadcasts of TV news and advertisements in the train compartments of its East Rail, West Rail and Ma On Shan Rail. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the total number of complaints received so far by the relevant authorities about excessive volume of such broadcasts, and the outcome of such complaints;
(b) whether it will advise KCRC to make such broadcasts in the mute mode in order not to disturb passengers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) of KCRC's estimate of the annual revenue to be generated from such broadcasts, and the accounts in which such revenue will be reflected?
Reply:
Madam President,
In August 2005 "*", the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) introduced the "Newsline Express" service on East Rail, Ma On Shan Rail and West Rail. Audio and visual news programme and advertisement are broadcast on TV panels installed in train compartments through wireless transmission. The number of complaints received by the relevant authorities (including the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau, Transport Department, Environmental Protection Department and Transport Complaint Unit) so far is as follows:
Month Number of Complaints Received
***** *****************************
August 2005 110
September 2005 67
October 2005 27
(up to 16 October 2005)
The Government noted some passengers' comments on the sound volume of the "Newsline Express". We have relayed the passengers' concern to KCRC and requested the Corporation to put in place immediate measures to reduce the sound volume, improve the sound quality and the noise protection arrangements of Quiet Cars/Quiet Zones. We have also asked the Corporation to closely monitor passengers' feedback on the service, with a view to providing passengers with a comfortable travelling environment.
Taking into account the concerns expressed by the Government and passengers, KCRC has taken active steps to implement the following measures to address the sound problems arising from the "Newsline Express":-
(i) deploy inspection teams on board to monitor the performance of the "Newsline Express";
(ii) assess the sound quality fleet-wide through comprehensive acoustic measurements and explore appropriate measures to improve the overall performance of the "Newsline Express" in terms of sound volume and quality;
(iii) adjust the sound volume in respect of the different ambient noise of each railway, i.e. to reduce the sound volume of the "Newsline Express" for railways with lower ambient noise;
(iv) strengthen the effect of the Quiet Cars/Zones by disabling the speakers close to them. Such modification works were completed in Ma On Shan Rail in August 2005 and proved to be effective in addressing the sound volume problems. Similar modifications are being implemented in East Rail and West Rail train compartments for completion by end October 2005; and
(v) adjust the position of the speakers in the Quiet Zones in the First Class Compartments of East Rail so as to confine the audio coverage to areas in the proximity of the TV panels of the "Newsline Express". The modification works are expected to complete by end 2005.
KCRC indicated that through the above improvement measures, the sound volume of the "Newsline Express" is now at a level acceptable to most passengers. According to the findings of a passenger survey conducted by the Corporation in August 2005, amongst the 6 000 respondents, 75 per cent thereof considered the sound level of the "Newsline Express" "appropriate" or "too low". Over 90 per cent of the respondents viewed that the overall performance of the "Newsline Express" is acceptable. KCRC will continue to gauge passenger feedback on the "Newsline Express" through passenger surveys.
We have relayed to the Corporation the suggestions of broadcasting the "Newsline Express" in the mute mode. In response to this, the Corporation indicated that muting the broadcast would cause inconvenience to most passengers who wish to enjoy the "Newsline Express" service as they would be required to use radios and headphones to receive the broadcast. In addition, KCRC's partner in the "Newsline Express" service is not ready to provide news programmes equipped with captions for broadcast in the mute mode. KCRC is now liaising with its partner on the way forward in this regard. Yet since complicated technical and operational aspects are involved, further studies on this issue would be required.
KCRC understands the different needs of passengers and therefore provides Quiet Cars/Quiet Zones on trains to cater for their needs. For East Rail which is served with 12-car trains, two cars are dedicated to be Quiet Cars, and one section of the First Class Compartment is dedicated to be Quiet Zone. For West Rail and Ma On Shan Rail which are served with 7-car and 4-car trains respectively, one car is dedicated to be the Quiet Car. KCRC said that it had considered passengers' comments in making the arrangements of Quiet Cars/Zones. According to a survey conducted by KCRC in 2004 where over 2 000 passengers were interviewed, over 70 per cent thereof indicated that they were "interested" or "very interested" in the programme. Less than 20 per cent of the interviewees indicated that they preferred to travel in a Quiet Zone.
Since the "Newsline Express" service has just commenced, KCRC does not have its revenue figures at this early stage. According to KCRC, all profits generated by the "Newsline Express" will be included as non-fare revenue to benefit passengers by improving the railway services.
"*" : The "Newsline Express" service was put on trial on some trains in July 2005 but the service was not yet fully introduced in the same month.
******************************************************** Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Cheng and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (October 26):
Question:
Since July this year, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) has arranged for broadcasts of TV news and advertisements in the train compartments of its East Rail, West Rail and Ma On Shan Rail. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the total number of complaints received so far by the relevant authorities about excessive volume of such broadcasts, and the outcome of such complaints;
(b) whether it will advise KCRC to make such broadcasts in the mute mode in order not to disturb passengers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) of KCRC's estimate of the annual revenue to be generated from such broadcasts, and the accounts in which such revenue will be reflected?
Reply:
Madam President,
In August 2005 "*", the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) introduced the "Newsline Express" service on East Rail, Ma On Shan Rail and West Rail. Audio and visual news programme and advertisement are broadcast on TV panels installed in train compartments through wireless transmission. The number of complaints received by the relevant authorities (including the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau, Transport Department, Environmental Protection Department and Transport Complaint Unit) so far is as follows:
Month Number of Complaints Received
***** *****************************
August 2005 110
September 2005 67
October 2005 27
(up to 16 October 2005)
The Government noted some passengers' comments on the sound volume of the "Newsline Express". We have relayed the passengers' concern to KCRC and requested the Corporation to put in place immediate measures to reduce the sound volume, improve the sound quality and the noise protection arrangements of Quiet Cars/Quiet Zones. We have also asked the Corporation to closely monitor passengers' feedback on the service, with a view to providing passengers with a comfortable travelling environment.
Taking into account the concerns expressed by the Government and passengers, KCRC has taken active steps to implement the following measures to address the sound problems arising from the "Newsline Express":-
(i) deploy inspection teams on board to monitor the performance of the "Newsline Express";
(ii) assess the sound quality fleet-wide through comprehensive acoustic measurements and explore appropriate measures to improve the overall performance of the "Newsline Express" in terms of sound volume and quality;
(iii) adjust the sound volume in respect of the different ambient noise of each railway, i.e. to reduce the sound volume of the "Newsline Express" for railways with lower ambient noise;
(iv) strengthen the effect of the Quiet Cars/Zones by disabling the speakers close to them. Such modification works were completed in Ma On Shan Rail in August 2005 and proved to be effective in addressing the sound volume problems. Similar modifications are being implemented in East Rail and West Rail train compartments for completion by end October 2005; and
(v) adjust the position of the speakers in the Quiet Zones in the First Class Compartments of East Rail so as to confine the audio coverage to areas in the proximity of the TV panels of the "Newsline Express". The modification works are expected to complete by end 2005.
KCRC indicated that through the above improvement measures, the sound volume of the "Newsline Express" is now at a level acceptable to most passengers. According to the findings of a passenger survey conducted by the Corporation in August 2005, amongst the 6 000 respondents, 75 per cent thereof considered the sound level of the "Newsline Express" "appropriate" or "too low". Over 90 per cent of the respondents viewed that the overall performance of the "Newsline Express" is acceptable. KCRC will continue to gauge passenger feedback on the "Newsline Express" through passenger surveys.
We have relayed to the Corporation the suggestions of broadcasting the "Newsline Express" in the mute mode. In response to this, the Corporation indicated that muting the broadcast would cause inconvenience to most passengers who wish to enjoy the "Newsline Express" service as they would be required to use radios and headphones to receive the broadcast. In addition, KCRC's partner in the "Newsline Express" service is not ready to provide news programmes equipped with captions for broadcast in the mute mode. KCRC is now liaising with its partner on the way forward in this regard. Yet since complicated technical and operational aspects are involved, further studies on this issue would be required.
KCRC understands the different needs of passengers and therefore provides Quiet Cars/Quiet Zones on trains to cater for their needs. For East Rail which is served with 12-car trains, two cars are dedicated to be Quiet Cars, and one section of the First Class Compartment is dedicated to be Quiet Zone. For West Rail and Ma On Shan Rail which are served with 7-car and 4-car trains respectively, one car is dedicated to be the Quiet Car. KCRC said that it had considered passengers' comments in making the arrangements of Quiet Cars/Zones. According to a survey conducted by KCRC in 2004 where over 2 000 passengers were interviewed, over 70 per cent thereof indicated that they were "interested" or "very interested" in the programme. Less than 20 per cent of the interviewees indicated that they preferred to travel in a Quiet Zone.
Since the "Newsline Express" service has just commenced, KCRC does not have its revenue figures at this early stage. According to KCRC, all profits generated by the "Newsline Express" will be included as non-fare revenue to benefit passengers by improving the railway services.
"*" : The "Newsline Express" service was put on trial on some trains in July 2005 but the service was not yet fully introduced in the same month.
Ends/Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:04
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