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Liz Heron

Hongkong Tramways hopes to build its first new line in decades - a route for tourists along the waterfront from Sheung Wan to Wan Chai.

The company has launched a study into the practicality of a line that would serve the new Star Ferry pier, and breathe new life into tram services.

It is also drawing up plans for new metal-framed trams to replace the wood-framed ones that are currently in use. The new design could go into production as early as next year.

Both proposals would first need the backing of the company's board.

Managing director Frankie Yick Chi-ming said the new line along the Central-Wan Chai reclamation would boost passenger numbers and the new trams would reduce maintenance costs, allowing the company to boost revenue while keeping fares low.

'A tourist loop is the perfect public transport to be put in the Central waterfront area, and we will put some effort into coming up with a proper study,' he said.

'We have to extend the tramway from somewhere near Western Market to the new Star Ferry pier, and all the way to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

'It's going to be some sort of circular route. It is a new investment, and we want to make it nice and comfortable. We haven't decided on the design but we are keen to maintain the traditional tram body.

'The tourist loop is going to be a separate service, and I think most probably the loop will have to charge a fare that is a little bit higher.

'It won't affect the fare level of the existing service. We would like to maintain the low-fare strategy.'

Mr Yick said trams would fit the government's vision for the waterfront area, which stresses greenery and public open spaces, and meet the demand for emission-free vehicles.

Proposals for a new metal-frame design for the existing tramlines will be put to the board next year. The design would retain trams' traditional appearance. But they will be cheaper to maintain than wood-framed trams, which typically have to be rebuilt every six or seven years. 'If we decide to go ahead, I think we would see the new trams starting to be built in 2007,' Mr Yick said.

'I hope that we will be able to build two new metal-framed trams a month.'

The trams would be built at the company's Whitty Street depot in Western. Mr Yick said tram services had made average profits of just a few million dollars a year over the past eight years, with no increase in fares.

Whole-body advertising on trams had raised revenue, while hiring out trams for private parties and business events brought in HK$1 million a year.

'Once we have the new tourist loop in Central, I think new revenue-generating ideas, such as tram cafes in that area, would be a helpful further development,' he said.

'We hope the whole community will support this project. We will need the support of a lot of people, including legislative and district councillors.'

A tram tour for students from three secondary schools was jointly held yesterday by Hongkong Tramways and the Conservancy Association.

Factbox

Hong Kong's tramway was set up in 1904 and is one of the city's earliest forms of transport.

The tramway runs between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan - with a branch circling Happy Valley.

Most of the tramstops have remained unchanged, but some of the names have changed.

The tram service starts at 05:10 and ends at around 01:00 every day. On average, the interval between each tram is approximately 1.5 minutes in peak hours.

They travel at an average speed of 40km/ hour.

Tram facts

Hongkong Tramways owns 163 double-decker trams.

Most of the trams in operation were rebodied in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

Since the early 2000s, these trams have been upgraded to provide better operating performance and safety.

In 2000, three new trams - Millennium Trams (right) - were added to the fleet.

The early fleet of trams was single-deck. In 1912, they were replaced by open-deck double-decker tramcars. Permanent roofs were introduced from 1923.

Hong Kong Tramways is one of three tram companies in the world with regular operation of double-decker trams.

The other two services are in Blackpool, England, and Alexandria, Egypt. Hong Kong Tramways is the only system that runs exclusively on double-deckers.

Web links

Hong Kong Tramways site - www.hktramways.com

For Hong Kong trainspotters - www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9585/index.html

More Hong Kong trams - www.blickpunktstrab.net/report04_e.html

Discussion point

Do you support the plan for a new tramline?

Enquiries

Who would the new tramline be aimed at?

Are trams eco-friendly?

Why do they intend to change the wooden doors for metal ones?



Tram plan