The Light Rail Transit yesterday rejected suggestions it could be made redundant by the West Rail, saying it intended to provide the project with feeder services.
Studies were under way to consider four extensions of the LRT, of up to 31/2 kilometres long, to access the Western Corridor Railway.
Transport Advisory Committee chairman Dr Raymond Ho Chung-tai said last month a proposal to study the future validity of the LRT was being considered, as it had been suggested the system would be made redundant by the Western Corridor Railway.
But LRT director Jonathan Yu Hoy-gin said vast distances between the western railway stops meant the LRT was needed to ferry commuters to its stations. Proposed new housing estates would create greater demand.
The population of the northwest New Territories is expected to double to 1.4 million in 15 years, once the Western Corridor Railway is complete.
Mr Yu said the LRT and Western Corridor Railway would interchange at four points and extend north to Shui Wai and south to the Gold Coast.