CONNECTING RAILWAY LINES TO PROMOTE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

The railway network now covers all 18 districts of Hong Kong with the successive opening of the West Island Line, the Kwun Tong Line Extension and the South Island Line (East). It not only enhances our daily travel but fosters social development. Behind the successful opening of each new railway line was the close collaboration of six government departments. Their teams worked together closely throughout the process from strategy development, design implementation, construction, statutory inspections and commissioning to operation to ensure the safety, reliability and efficiency of the new railway lines.

UNIQUE DESIGN TO TACKLE CHALLENGES

The team always had the needs of the public in mind during the design process. For example, more entrances, exits and passageways were incorporated in each station, and more passenger lifts were installed. Some of the entrances / exits in Sai Ying Pun Station, Hong Kong University Station and Lei Tung Station are located high above the concourse. In case of fire, passengers have to climb more than 10 flights of stairs to reach the ground level unless they use the lift. After careful studies, the team came up with a special solution. If a fire breaks out, the smoke curtains on the level will be lowered to block smoke from the lifts and the lift shafts. Passengers can then proceed to the pressurised refuge lift lobby on the next level and take the lift to the ground floor. Moreover, the team made reference to the operational experience of the existing railway lines in the design of the new ones, adding people-oriented facilities such as restrooms in the stations and extra noise barriers along the railways.

In terms of train control, the South Island Line (East) adopts a fully automatic system to facilitate more flexible and reliable deployment of trains and enhancement of service quality.

RACING AGAINST TIME TO CONNECT THE DISTRICTS

Safety is the top priority in railway operation. The team therefore maintains close communication and attaches great importance to staff training. Targeted training, joint drill exercises and stress tests are arranged to ensure swift concerted response during emergencies. To maintain law and order, the police patrol the railway stations, conduct anti-crime operations, and implement crowd control measures during large-scale events.

The new railway project involved complex construction with successive statutory inspections running on a tight schedule. The Kwun Tong Line Extension and the South Island Line (East) were scheduled for completion in the same year. To avoid affecting the railway operation, the team had to work many late nights to tackle different issues. With the prime concern of safety in mind, they conducted the statutory inspections and commissioning by phase to ensure the opening of the new railway lines on schedule.

The new railway lines have been well received by the public since their opening. They not only reduce travelling time and link up the districts, but also unleash the development potential of the areas along the lines, bringing about substantial economic and social benefits to society.