MTR's upgrade will not ease congestion at Admiralty

It must be a great concern to MTR passengers to learn that it "would be impossible to add more trains on most busy lines during the morning rush hour until an upgrade of the signalling system, due to take place between 2018 and 2022, could be completed" ("More services to ease crush on MTR lines", March 19).

Also, this proposed upgrade will not provide any immediate relief to the cross-platform congestion at Admiralty station, which is becoming critical. And all the extensions to the MTR due to open during this period will generate more commuters, and many will pass through Admiralty. The best that can be hoped for with the new signalling system is that the present situation will not deteriorate further, but this is unlikely.

There are great expectations that the Sha Tin to Central Link will ease pressure at Admiralty, however, it is difficult to see why this should be the case as the line will initially terminate there.

Future passengers on this line, through the east Kowloon catchment area, at present take buses to Nathan Road or through the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, as well as motorists who also use this route. It is therefore possible the new line will eventually become as heavily loaded as the Tsuen Wan Line resulting in a congestion crisis at Admiralty.

The plan for taming of queues requires heavyweight manpower. Similarly the new station assistants, like the present ones, will have limited effect; they are not aggressive enough in directing passengers.

Early-bird crumbs in the form of pre-peak hour discounts have been tried on Singapore's MRT (travel is free before 7.45am), but without much success.