New line can ease MTR congestion
The article "Is the MTR too much of a tight squeeze?" (January 24) highlights future capacity problems on the trains based on the anticipated increase in tourists during the next decade.
However, there are potentially greater concerns in the more immediate future from an increase in commuters as a result of MTR extensions and new lines now under construction.
All of these lines will impact negatively to a greater or lesser extent on the interchange at Admiralty, which is already near capacity in the peak hours.
Despite the substantial reconstruction of Admiralty station, it's not feasible to significantly increase the number of trains on the Island and Tseun Wan lines, or to lengthen them in order to provide increased capacity.
These lines are already amongst the heaviest utilised passenger railways in the world.
The future South Island and Sha Tin to Central lines will terminate at Admiralty resulting in exceptional additional passenger flows at the station.
The West Island Line will exacerbate loading on the western section of the Island Line which at present delivers relatively empty trains into Central and Admiralty from Sheung Wan.