Light Rail (MTR)

thumb|Light Rail network map

thumb|Geographically accurate map of the Light Rail network

thumb|Track layout diagram of the network in 1996

The Light Rail, also known as the Light Rail Transit (LRT) (and formerly known as KCR Light Rail until 2 December 2007), officially the North-West Railway, is a light rail system in Hong Kong, serving the northwestern New Territories, within Tuen Mun District and Yuen Long District. The system operates over track, using overhead power supply. Operated by the MTR, it was once one of four systems comprising the KCR network in Hong Kong, before the MTR–KCR merger in 2007. It has a daily ridership of about 483,000 people. The network is coloured goldenrod on the MTR map.

History

Planning and commencement

When Tuen Mun was developed in the 1970s, the Hong Kong government set aside space for the laying of rail tracks. There was uncertainty however as to which company would be chosen to build the railway. In 1982, Hong Kong Tramways showed interest in building the system and running double-decker trams on it, before abandoning the project after negotiations over land premiums for related property development failed. The government sought another builder. The Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) was "heavily indebted" at the time, and so Secretary for Transport Alan Scott invited the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) to consider the project instead. The KCRC announced they would build the system in 1984 to a budget of $1.5 billion, after investigating ways to improve commercial viability. After some research, construction commenced on 14 July 1985.

By that time, Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) had developed its own network in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long, and there were about 10 routes serving within the districts internally, most of them profitable. However, the government introduced the concept of the "Light Rail Service Area" in both districts, within which the LRT would monopolise all public transport services, forcing the KMB to withdraw all internal bus services in favour of the Light Rail. It also forced the KMB to impose boarding and alighting restrictions for external routes. It was decided that services between town centres and settlements would be provided solely by the Light Rail, while feeder buses operated by the KCRC would connect remote sites to the network, replacing KMB's equivalent services where applicable.

The system was completed and fully operational in September 1988. The first section was opened to the public on 14 September 1988, with free rides between Tuen Mun and Yuen Long; normal, all-day service began four days later, on 18 September. The system consisted of two large and three small loops serving most of the public housing estates in northern Tuen Mun. Three branches: one to On Ting Estate in the southeast, one to the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier in the southwest and another northern branch all the way into the town of Yuen Long along Castle Peak Road. It was then known as Light Rail Transit or LRT and is also called as the North-west Railway according to the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance and Mass Transit Railway (North-west Railway) Bylaw.

The transit system is the first and the only one in Hong Kong to adopt a zonal fare system. The feeder buses have fares independent of these zones, but provide discounts when passengers interchange between these buses and LRT. Seventy single-deck LRVs were manufactured in Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia by Comeng, to be shipped to Hong Kong for the seven LRT routes in the system. Three of the routes were to Yuen Long and the others were confined to Tuen Mun.

Extensions

The system's first extension came for the southern and eastern parts of Tuen Mun. The eastern extension branches off the main line south of Siu Hong stop and crosses the river that runs through Tuen Mun immediately with a flyover. The line then runs along Castle Peak Road to a road north of the town centre, where it climbs to another flyover and rejoins the main route. The northern end of this extension is still the only non-triangular junction in the entire system.

The southern extension mainly consists of a route linking On Ting and Ferry Pier, on the newly reclaimed land near the river mouth of Tuen Mun River, known as "Mouse Island" by locals. A short spur was also built from the extension to another terminus at Sam Shing Estate, located near Castle Peak Bay. Three LRT routes were diverted (route 505 was extended to Sam Shing) and one feeder bus route (route 559) discontinued as a result of these changes.

Tin Shui Wai was originally an area with numerous fish ponds, but was developed as a residential new town in the early 1990s. With the increase of internal commuter traffic demand, an LRT spur was built north of Hung Shui Kiu stop that opened in 1993, with four stops serving the initial housing areas of the town. The area was further developed in the next few years and the line was extended by two stops: Chestwood and Tin Wing stop in 1995 (Tin Shui Wai Terminus was renamed Tin Wing after the opening of West Rail line). Two LRT routes were established, route 720 (now 751) to Yau Oi and route 721 Before Changed to (761) Then changed to (761P) to Yuen Long.

West Rail

The system remained essentially unchanged until the completion of the West Rail (now Tuen Ma line) in December 2003. Many changes were made, mainly around the new railway stations. The KCRC designed most railway stations in the LRT area to interchange with the new West Rail line. The idea was to encourage passengers to use the West Rail line instead of the Light Rail for longer journeys, thereby freeing up LRT vehicles for passengers making shorter journeys. For this purpose, an interchange discount system was launched with the introduction of the West Rail line system, meaning that passengers would pay no more (and in some cases less) to travel on West Rail line instead of the LRT for the main part of their journey. Although this most recent extension is the largest ever, no new vehicles were purchased. And although rearrangements were made, some infrequent and unreliable services resulted, causing passengers to blame the lack of vehicles and poor arrangement of new services. The KCRC has since modified the inside of some vehicles to allow more standing room for passengers during peak hours. They also made several route alterations to arrange them better.

In addition to the reconfiguration of light rail tracks around the new West Rail stations, the system was extended to reach northern Tin Shui Wai to serve ongoing development there.

Rolling stock

thumb|Phase I LRV in KCR livery

The system's vehicles consist of four different types of LRVs. All LRVs are uni-directional with driving cab on one side only, long, and have 3 sliding doors fitted on the left side (when facing the running direction from inside). This means that island platforms (except the triangular platform at Siu Hong stop) cannot be used at all in the LRT system and the termini have to feature loops for LRVs to reverse in direction.

Phase I LRVs were built by Comeng and put in service in 1988. They are numbered 1001–1070 and accommodate 43 seated passengers and 161 standees. The driver's cab interior and exterior design was conceived for KCRC by Design Triangle in 1986. Phase III LRVs were built by UGL and entered service in 1997. They are numbered 1091–1110 and accommodate 26 seated and 212 standees. Phase IV LRVs were manufactured by UGL and CSR and entered service in December 2009. They are numbered 1111–1132 accommodate 37 seated and 248 standees. Phase I LRVs have two wheelchair positions while Phase III, IV and V LRVs have three positions. The newest Phase V LRVs were manufactured by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen and entered service on 17 November 2020. They are numbered 1133-1162/1211-1220; 1133-1162 are cab cars while 1211-1220 are cabless trailer. 30 of these replaced the unrefurbished Phase II LRVs, while the other 10 were dedicated for expansion.

Traction systems for Phase I LRVs consist of GTO chopper controls and DC traction motors provided by AEG, while those for the Phase III, IV and V LRVs consist of 2-level IGBT–VVVF inverters and asynchronous 3-phase AC traction motors provided by Mitsubishi Electric. The maximum speed for all LRVs is , although they rarely reach that speed because of the many grade crossings between stops and the close proximity between stops in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai.

From the exterior it is difficult to differentiate between the first three types of LRVs. There are, however, distinct features that one can use to tell them apart; Phase III LRVs still retain their original green electronic displays while all other LRVs have new orange electronic displays. Phase I cars also have a wide window at the rear that can be opened in case of an emergency, while Phase II cars have a door at the back. The interior of the Phase III cars has a greenish look and the doors are also green. The Phase IV LRVs have a completely different appearance in contrast to the older phase. It has a white exterior livery with olive green and purple line on the side. The shape of the front of the LRV is more streamlined than the older phases. The door opening and closing mechanism was similar to the ones from the K-class cars used in the Tseung Kwan O line and Tung Chung line. The Phase IV has 3 surveillance cameras in each vehicle. Seat belts and wheelchair positions were also available in the Phase IV. On older-generation LRVs there is a perch seat but the Phase IVs do not maintain this feature. The refurbished Phase I LRVs have rounded rectangular windows while Phase IV LRVs have square ones.

The Kawasaki Heavy Industries Phase II LRVs were not refurbished; upon the commissioning of CRRC Nanjing Puzhen's 30 Phase V LRVs, the Phase II LRVs were phased out. Withdrawals began on 28 August 2022, with the first two Phase II LRVs (1079 and 1204) removed from Tuen Mun Depot and sent to the scrapyard. On 26 February 2023, the last of the Phase II LRVs were officially withdrawn from service following a retirement ceremony. One of the retired cars now survives at the Ying Wa College and Primary School, transformed into a classroom. Meanwhile, the Phase III LRVs are expected to be rebuilt and repainted with a scheme similar to the Phase IV LRVs.

In June 2024, the MTR Corporation borrowed a hydrogen fuel cell-powered tram car from the Foshan Gaoming Tram Line 1 in China for a three-month testing program. The collected data were analyzed to support research on the potential application of hydrogen-powered transport in Hong Kong. The trials formed part of the government’s initiatives outlined in the 2024 Policy Address under The Strategy of Hydrogen Development. After completion of the testing, the vehicle was sent back to China in December 2024.

File:LRT 761P Ping Shan.jpg|Comeng Phase I LRV car 1042

File:LRT1016 615P.JPG|Comeng Phase I LRV refurbished car 1016

File:Kcr lrt 1090+1205.jpg|Kawasaki Phase II LRV cab car 1090 and trailer 1205

File:LRT 615 Hung Shui Kiu.jpg|A. Goninan Phase III LRV car 1102

File:Lrt p41111.jpg|A. Goninan (UGL)/CSR Phase IV Light Rail vehicle 1111

CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Phase V LRV (No.1135).jpg |CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Phase V LRV cab car 1135 and a trailer behind

File:Interior_mtr_lightrail1.jpg|Interior of an unrefurbished MTR Light Rail vehicle (presumably a Phase II)

File:LRT Vehicle Phase 1 Interior (After renew).jpg|Interior of a refurbished MTR Light Rail vehicle

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Stops and routes

Stops

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! data-sort-type="text" | Fare zone

! Name

! Routes

! District

! Connections

! data-sort-type="date" | Opened

! Code

| rowspan=10 style="background:#F3CED4;color:#ED316A;" | 1

| Lung Mun

| rowspan="4" | 610, 615, 615P

| rowspan="43" | Tuen Mun

| rowspan=2 | MTR Bus Route 506, K52A, K52S

| rowspan=5 | 18 September 1988

| 030

| Light Rail Depot

| 020

| Butterfly

| rowspan=2 | MTR Bus Route 506, K52, K52A, K52S

| 015

| Melody Garden

| 010

| Tuen Mun Ferry Pier

| 507, 610, 614, 614P, 615, 615P

| MTR Bus Route 506, K52

| 001

| Siu Hei

| rowspan="3" | 507, 614, 614P

| rowspan=3 |

| rowspan=4 | 17 November 1991

| 240

| Tuen Mun Swimming Pool

| 250

| Goodview Garden

| 260

| Siu Lun

| 505, 507, 614, 614P

| MTR Bus Route 506

| 265

| Sam Shing

| 505

| MTR Bus Route 506, K51, K51A, K52, K53, K58

| 2 February 1992

| 920

| rowspan=21 style="background:#F0F3B1;color:#FBD014;" | 2

| Tsing Shan Tsuen

| rowspan="2" | 610, 615, 615P

| rowspan=2 | MTR Bus Route 506, K52A, K52S

| rowspan=10 | 18 September 1988

| 040

| Tsing Wun

| 050

| Ming Kum

| 505 (to Sam Shing), 610, 615, 615P

| rowspan=2 | MTR Bus Route K58

| 200

| Shek Pai

| 505, 610, 615, 615P

| 170

| Ngan Wai

| rowspan="3" | 507, 610

| rowspan=2 |

| 230

| Tai Hing (South)

| 220

| Tai Hing (North)

| MTR Bus Route K58

| 212

| Affluence

| 610, 751

| rowspan=2 |

| 080

| Choy Yee Bridge

| rowspan="2" | 507, 751

| 075

| Ho Tin

| Tuen Ma line Tuen Mun station

| 070

| Tuen Mun

| 505, 507, 751

| Tuen Ma line Tuen Mun station, MTR Bus Route 506, K51, K51A, K52, 52A, K52S, K53, K58

| 23 September 1988

| 295

| Yau Oi

| 751

| rowspan=4 | 18 September 1988

| 275

| On Ting

| 505, 507, 614, 614P, 751 (to Tin Yat)

| MTR Bus Route 506

| 270

| Town Centre

| 505, 507, 614, 614P, 751

| MTR Bus Route 506, K51, K51A, K52, K53, K54, K58

| 280

| Kin On

| 505

| MTR Bus Route 506, K52A, K52S, K58

| 060

| Shan King (South)

| rowspan="2" | 505 (to Siu Hong)

| rowspan=5 |

| rowspan=2 | 24 September 1988

| 190

| Shan King (North)

| 180

| Pui To

| rowspan="4" | 614, 614P

| rowspan=4 | 2 February 1992

| 300

| Hoh Fuk Tong

| 310

| San Hui

| 320

| Prime View

| MTR Bus Route K51, K51A

| 330

| rowspan=12 style="background:#BFDDDD;color:#2AA4BD;" | 3

| Kei Lun

| 505 (to Siu Hong), 615P

| rowspan=6 | MTR Bus Route K58

| 18 September 1988

| 110

| Ching Chung

| rowspan="2" | 505, 615, 615P

| rowspan=5 | 24 September 1988

| 120

| Kin Sang

| 130

| Tin King

| rowspan="3" | 505, 507, 615, 615P

| 140

| Leung King

| 150

| San Wai

| 160

| Tuen Mun Hospital

| 610, 751

| 18 September 1988

| 090

| Fung Tei

| 614, 614P

| MTR Bus Route K51, K51A

| 2 February 1992

| 340

| Siu Hong

| 505, 610, 614, 614P, 615, 615P, 751

| Tuen Ma line Siu Hong station, MTR Bus Route K51, K51A, K54, K58

| rowspan="7" | 18 September 1988

| 100

| Lam Tei

| rowspan="4" | 610, 614, 615, 751

| rowspan=3 |

| 350

| Nai Wai

| 360

| Chung Uk Tsuen

| 370

| rowspan=13 style="background:#D9E9B8;color:#8CC12B;" | 4

| Hung Shui Kiu

| rowspan="26" | Yuen Long

| MTR Bus Route K75A, K75P

| 380

| Ping Shan

| rowspan="2" | 610, 614, 615, 761P

| MTR Bus Route K65

| 400

| Tong Fong Tsuen

| 390

| Hang Mei Tsuen

| 751, 761P

| MTR Bus Route K65, K65A

| rowspan=4 | 10 January 1993

| 425

| Tin Yiu

| rowspan="3" | 705, 706, 761P

| Tuen Ma line Tin Shui Wai station, MTR Bus Route K75A, K75P, K75S

| 445

| Locwood

| MTR Bus Route K75P

| 448

| Tin Shui

| MTR Bus Route K74, K75P

| 460

| Tin Shui Wai

| rowspan="5" | 705, 706, 751

| Tuen Ma line Tin Shui Wai station, MTR Bus Route K65, K65A, K75A, K75S, K76, K76S

| rowspan=4 | 7 December 2003

| 430

| Tin Wu

| 450

| Tin Tsz

| MTR Bus Route K73, K74

| 435

| Ginza

| MTR Bus Route K73

| 455

| Tin Wing

| MTR Bus Route K74

| rowspan=2 | 26 March 1995

| 500

| Chestwood

| 751

| 490

| rowspan=7 style="background:#F1D9A7;color:#F37E16;" | 5A

| Chung Fu

| rowspan="3" | 705, 706, 751, 761P

| MTR Bus Route K74, K76, K76S

| rowspan=7 | 7 December 2003

| 468

| Tin Fu

| MTR Bus Route K76, K76S

| 480

| Tin Yat

| rowspan=2 | MTR Bus Route K73, K76, K76S

| 550

| Tin Heng

| rowspan="4" | 705, 706

| 540

| Wetland Park

| MTR Bus Route K76S

| 530

| Tin Sau

| MTR Bus Route K73

| 520

| Tin Yuet

| MTR Bus Route K74

| 510

| rowspan=5 style="background:#CABDCF;color:#6F57A1;" | 5

| Shui Pin Wai

| rowspan="5" | 610, 614, 615, 761P

| MTR Bus Route K65

| rowspan="6" | 18 September 1988

| 560

| Fung Nin Road

| MTR Bus Route K65, K66, K66A, K68, K73, K74

| 570

| Hong Lok Road

| MTR Bus Route K65, K74

| 580

| Tai Tong Road

| MTR Bus Route K65, K66, K74

| 590

| Yuen Long

| Tuen Ma line Yuen Long station, MTR Bus Route K65, K74

| 600

|Hung Tin Road Emergency Platform

|when service fails, a temporary terminal stop for

610, 614, 615, 751, 761P

|385

Notes

Routes

There are currently eleven normal routes in the Light Rail system.

Route 505 runs between Siu Hong and Sam Shing via Kin On. The route was created in 1988 and extended from On Ting to Sam Shing in 1992. On 14 July 2002, due to the Light Rail grade separation works on Pui To Road being done as part of the Light Rail's integration with the then-under construction West Rail, route 505 was diverted to operate via Ngan Wai, and service to Shan King (North), Shan King (South) and Kin On was replaced by a temporary bus also numbered 505. The prior service was restored on 30 August 2003, following the completion of the grade separation works.
runs between Tuen Mun Ferry Pier and Tin King via Ngan Wai. It was created on 4 June 1989 and was extended from On Ting to Tuen Mun Ferry Pier in 1991.
runs between Tuen Mun Ferry Pier and Yuen Long via Ngan Wai and Ming Kum. It was created when the light rail first opened on 18 September 1988.
runs between Tuen Mun Ferry Pier and Yuen Long via Pui To. It was created in 1992 and replaced route 611, which ran between Tuen Mun Ferry Pier and Yuen Long via Ho Tin and Kin On from opening in 1988 to 1992.
runs between Tuen Mun Ferry Pier and Yuen Long via Tin King and Lung Mun. It was created in 1993 and is the longest route in the system. It also has highest interval (up to 20 minutes per train) and lowest 2-car train ratios in the entire system as well.
Routes and were created on 4 April 2004, and operate a circular service between Tuen Mun Ferry Pier and Siu Hong. The routes were created as a result of the Light Rail's transition into becoming a short-distance feeder service for West Rail, and upon their creation the service frequencies of routes 614 and 615 were accordingly halved, such that the overall service levels at stops between Siu Hong and Tuen Mun Ferry Pier remained the same. which ran a shorter anticlockwise service via Chestwood between 16 December 2003 and 21 August 2004.
runs a clockwise service around the Tin Shui Wai area and serves the same stops as route 705. The route was created on 9 April 2004 to enhance short-distance feeder service in Tin Shui Wai.
runs between Tin Yat and Yau Oi. It was created on 7 December 2003 and replaced route 720, which ran between Tin Wing and Yau Oi Route 761 ran between Tin Wing and Yuen Long via Wetland Park from 7 December 2003

Incidents

In July 1994, Comeng Phase I light rail car 1013 and a lorry collided, killing the captain. The involved car was scrapped after the accident, which makes the first light rail vehicle to be retired due to a crash.
On 11 September 1994, a coach carrying factory workers ran a red light and was crushed between two light rail trains at a junction near Fu Tei. The coach driver and a coach passenger were killed. The two LRV captains were cleared of wrongdoing. The railway inspectorate also said the design of the junction was not to blame. The government said it would implement video recording at LRT junctions, improve road signage between Tuen Mun and Yuen Long, and better educate drivers.
On 13 January 1995, a light rail train derailed as a result of intentional vandalism to the points at Tin King and Ming Kum roads. The KCRC had not received any threats or warning beforehand.
On 9 February 2010, a construction crane fell on CSR Phase IV light rail car 1118 as it approached Leung King stop while operating on route 505 for Siu Hong. 18 were injured. The involved car was scrapped in 2012. A replacement car with the same number was bought by MTR in 2015.
On 17 May 2013, a CSR Phase IV light rail vehicle, cars 1112 and 1117 on route 761P, derailed and crashed while navigating a tight curve at 40.9 km/h, in excess of the posted speed limit of 15 km/h. The train was turning from Kiu Hung Road to Castle Peak Road south of Tin Shui Wai. At least 77 people were injured in the crash. The LRV captain was convicted of negligence under the Mass Transit Railway Ordinance. The front car, 1112, was scrapped after the accident. A replacement car with the same number was bought by MTR shortly after.
On 19 August 2013, a 63-year-old man was killed at Locwood stop while crossing the tracks at a crossing point; the LRV did not stop in time.
On 21 November 2014, Comeng Phase I light rail car 1093 on route 507 collided with an MTR double decker bus near Tuen Mun Ferry Terminus. The bus crashed because it ran a red light. The LRV derailed and 20 were injured.
On 23 July 2023, a LRV on route 614P departing platform 5 of Tuen Mun Ferry Pier stop collided with a train on route 507 departing platform 6. However, there were no injuries. The rail operator is investigating the incident, which it believes was caused by human error. The driver of the route 614P train has been temporarily suspended from driving duties to assist with the investigation.
On 4 October 2023, two LRVs departing Yuen Long stop, a train on route 761P from platform 5 and an empty train from platform 1, collided at an intersection. 3 of the 120 passengers on board the route 761P train suffered minor injuries. According to preliminary findings by the rail operator, it was suspected that human error had caused the derailment.
On 18 May 2024, the rear bogie of Comeng Phase I light rail car 1016 derailed near Chung Uk Tsuen stop while the two-car train was heading back to Tuen Mun Depot. The derailment was caused by a wooden board at the spot where the train derailed, which fell off from a truck travelling along Castle Peak Road. The 49-year-old driver was arrested following a police report by the rail operator.