MTR CORPORATION LIMITED
PR082/14
22 September 2014
From the small hours of 28 September 2014, passengers taking the last West Rail Line train of the day to the Northwest New Territories will be able to make Light Rail feeder connections to all 68 stops in the Light Rail network. This is made possible through the deployment of nine additional vehicles to enhance services on eight Light Rail routes, in effect extending the service hours of those routes to match the West Rail Line train service schedule. Passengers can find out more about the new last train-Light Rail interchange arrangements through posters, information leaflets, public announcements in West Rail Line trains and stations as well as MTR staff. (Details in Annex 1)
The latest enhancement is part of the MTR Corporation's "Listening‧Responding" Programme designed to bring improvements that directly respond to feedback from passengers.
"Light Rail is a key focus in our 'Listening‧Responding' Programme this year. Since April, we have already implemented a number of measures to help reduce waiting time and ease crowding such as enhancing the frequencies of the three busiest Light Rail routes and deploying more coupled-set Light Rail vehicles on five routes to provide extra carrying capacity. Other than making late night travel more convenient for Northwest New Territories passengers, further measures being rolled out in the months to come will help to make it
easier for Light Rail passengers to plan their journeys and to add value to Octopus," said
Mr Sammy Wong, Operations Manager - West Rail Line & Light Rail.
At the end of the year, the Light Rail Planner will be available on the MTR Website and the popular MTR Mobile app platform. Using the Light Rail Planner, passengers only need to enter their current location and desired destination and the fastest route of travel will be planned out for them step-by-step including information on where to interchange, journey time and the relevant fare. The Light Rail Planner will also be integrated with the existing Journey Planner for MTR heavy rail service, which means users can easily plan their entire journeys across the two services, all at their fingertips.
Meanwhile, the ticketing experience is being enhanced with the replacement programme for the existing Light Rail Single Journey Ticket Issuing Machines starting this month. The first, brand new "2-in-1" Ticket Issuing and Add-value Machine ("2-in-1" Ticket Machines), developed in-house by MTR engineers, has been installed at Siu Hong Stop. The new ticket machines will be installed next at Tuen Mun and Shek Pai stops. They will then undergo a series of tests before being put into service by end 2014. Under the replacement programme, all 68 Light Rail stops will be fitted with the new "2-in-1" Ticket Machines by the fourth quarter of 2015.
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"What makes this replacement programme most exciting is that on completion, Octopus users who make up the vast majority of Light Rail passengers, will be able to add-value at over
150 Light Rail platforms. Right now, they are only able to do so at 49 platforms, so you can say we will be providing three times more convenience to our passengers," said Mr Wong.
The "2-in-1" Ticket Machine features a large LCD touchscreen to provide clearer information to passengers. Unlike the old machines which accept only coins, the new "2-in-1" Ticket Machine accepts both coins and bank notes for payment. What's more, passengers will be able to buy multiple Single Journey tickets in one transaction.
The new machine is also designed for greater accessibility for persons with disability. Controls are within easy reach of wheelchair users, audio information and a braille keypad are available for the visually impaired, and induction loop facility is provided for the hearing impaired.
"We will continue to listen and to respond to our passengers' changing needs by identifying and implementing measures where we can to enhance the customer service experience for Light Rail users," added Mr Wong.
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Photo captions:
1. Mr Sammy Wong, Operations Manager - West Rail Line & Light Rail introduces the enhancements of Light Rail late night service to allow passengers of last West Rail Line train of the day to connect to all 68 stops in the Light rail network.
2. Mr Sammy Wong said that passengers will be able to purchase Light Rail single journey tickets and add -value to their Octopus at over 150 Light Rail platforms when the whole Light Rail network fits with the new "2-in-1" Ticket Machines by the fourth quarter of 2015.
Annex 1:
Light Rail Service Extension to Match with Last Train of West Rail LineWest Rail Line Interchange Stations | Light Rail Route | Destinations |
Yuen Long Station | 761P (Tin Yat bound) | Stops between Tai Tong Road and Tong Fong Tsuen |
Tin Shui Wai Station | 706 (Tin Shui Wai Circular) | Stops between Tiu Yiu and Tin Yuet |
Tin Shui Wai Station | 751 (Tin Yat bound) 751 (Yau Oi bound) | Stops between Tin Tsz and Chestwood Stops between Hang Mei Tsuen and Lam Tei |
Siu Hong Station | 610 (Tuen Mun Ferry Pier bound) | Stops between Tuen Mun Hospital and Tuen Mun Ferry Pier |
Siu Hong Station | 614P (Tuen Mun Ferry Pier bound) | Stops between Fung Tei and Tuen Mun Ferry Pier |
Siu Hong Station | 615P (Tuen Mun Ferry Pier bound) | Stops between Kei Lun and Tuen Mun Ferry Pier |
Siu Hong Station | 751 (Yau Oi bound) | Stops between Tuen Mun Hospital and Ho Tin |
Tuen Mun Station | 505 (Siu Hong bound) 505 (Sam Shing bound) | Stops between Kin On and Shek Pai Stops between Town Centre and Sam Shing |
Tuen Mun Station | 507 (Tuen Mun Ferry Pier bound) | Stops between Town Centre and Tuen Mun Ferry Pier |
Tuen Mun Station | 751 (Yau Oi bound) | Stops between Town Centre and Yau Oi |
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