Improved East Rail on the right track
I refer to the letter from Nick Foxall headlined 'Passengers the real losers, thanks to poor planning' (South China Morning Post, August 10).
The carrying capacity of the KCR Corporation's East Rail was increased by 38 per cent in 1999 as a result of the refurbishment of the entire fleet of train cars and the installation of the automatic train-protection signalling system, which allowed the operation of up to 24 trains an hour in each direction. Loading during morning-peak hours is now about 59 per cent of capacity.
From 2001 to 2002, East Rail's carrying capacity will be further increased with the addition of eight more 12-car train sets, the first of which will be commissioned early next month. With the installation of the automatic train-operation signalling system at the end of next year, the line capacity will be further enhanced. This will allow the operation of up to 27 trains per hour in each direction.
As for train frequency, the daily number of train services operated each day is 535, while punctuality is always greater than 99.5 per cent. Customer satisfaction with train services and facilities, as indicated in the customer-satisfaction survey in May, was 90 per cent.
On the planning side, the KCRC plans its network expansion in accordance with the Government's railway-development strategies. In formulating these strategies, the Government has to consider the overall benefit to the whole community.
TRACY LAI
Public Affairs Manager - East Rail
Kowloon-Canton
Railway Corporation
