Hong Kong’s MTR Corp to begin installing platform screen gates at Fanling station as part of project to prevent falls on tracks
- Nine stations along East Rail line will have platform screen doors by end of the year, rail operator says
- Installation works will begin at Lo Wu, University and Mong Kok East stations in fourth quarter of year
Hong Kong’s rail operator will begin installing automatic screen gates at platforms in Fanling station on Tuesday night during closing hours, as part of its project along the East Rail line to prevent commuters from falling onto the tracks.
The MTR Corporation said nine stations along the route would have screen doors by the end of this year, with works at Tai Po Market, Sheung Shui, Tai Wai and Sha Tin to be completed in the first half of 2024.
Starting from the fourth quarter of this year, installation works will begin at the remaining stations of the rail line, namely Lo Wu, University and Mong Kok East, and will be completed by the end of 2025.
The company has adopted a rolling installation process, allowing the gates to be in service immediately after they have been set up and tested.
“Our team is working tirelessly to complete the project, with works taking place during both the non-traffic hours known as ‘golden two hours’, and non-peak hours for stations with spare platforms on individual days,” it said.
The project aims to prevent incidents of people falling or jumping onto the tracks along the East Rail line, as some cases have involved injuries, deaths and service disruptions.
Hong Kong’s MTR Corp to finish project making East Rail line safer by 2025
The MTR Corp began the installation work on the rail line in May last year, including improving the structure of the platform’s gates, upgrading its signalling system and adjusting their stopping positions. The project has been completed at the Racecourse and Lok Ma Chau stations.
The installation scheme covers 13 stations, excluding Hung Hom, Exhibition Centre and Admiralty, which already have full platform screen doors following the opening of the Sha Tin-Central link in May 2022.
It involves 35 platforms and almost 1,600 pairs of platform gates, with the contract for the project worth about HK$510 million (US$65 million).
