The rail project has been embroiled in a series of scandals, including allegations of substandard works at Hung Hom station. Photo: Sam Tsang
Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3013926/hong-kongs-scandal-plagued-sha-tin-central-rail-link-set Transport
Hong Kong’s scandal-plagued Sha Tin to Central rail link set to partially open in three months as MTR Corporation resumes signalling tests
- Rail operator’s decision to restart tests raises hopes of a limited launch of the long-awaited section in September
- Shuttle service between Diamond Hill and To Kwa Wan might be achievable in that time frame, says MTR source
Works are ongoing on the Sha Tin to Central link, but there could be a partial opening in mid-September. Photo: Sam Tsang
A partial opening of Hong Kong’s scandal-hit Sha Tin-Central rail link is expected in three months as the embattled MTR Corporation will restart train tests on the signalling system.
The rail operator announced it would resume dynamic train tests on the signalling system on the Tuen Ma line, a section of the link between Tai Wai and Hung Hom, from Monday night during non-traffic hours. The link connects several existing railway lines and has six interchange stations.
Train tests on the Ma On Shan and West Rail lines will also gradually resume.
The rail giant said the section’s signalling system passed a comprehensive safety review meaning train tests could be carried out.
Tam Kin-chiu, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Railway Trade Unions, said testing from Tai Wai to Diamond Hill paved the way for a partial opening of the HK$97.1 billion (US$12.4 billion) link in three months between the two stations.
The city’s costliest rail project has been plagued by allegations of shoddy work at Hung Hom station since May last year followed by a new scandal involving missing documents.
“Under normal practice, a trial run will last for about three months and if there is no problem, the MTR Corp will submit a report to the government for final approval. We expect that if things run smoothly there will be a partial launch in the middle of September,” Tam said.
“We are confident the trial will go smoothly, otherwise the MTR Corp would not have allowed it.”
An MTR source said the operator may be able to provide a shuttle service between Diamond Hill and To Kwa Wan with four or five trains per hour to meet passenger demand.
“The partial opening could not be extended to To Kwa Wan as it has no other tracks for trains to turn around. So at most the MTR may be able to provide a limited ‘shuttle’ service between Diamond Hill and To Kwa Wan,” the source said.
Train tests for the East Rail line’s new signalling system resumed at the end of May after all testing was suspended in March following the city’s first train crash during an overnight trial.
The collision led to an unprecedented suspension of services between two of the busiest stations on the network, Admiralty and Central, on the Tsuen Wan line for 48 hours.
The rail operator emphasised the system design for the Tuen Ma line was different from that of the new signalling system for the Tsuen Wan line.
It said the Independent Safety Assessor appointed by the corporation also confirmed the signalling system met international safety standards for dynamic train tests.
“Safety is of utmost importance to the corporation … during the dynamic train tests on the Tuen Ma line, the corporation will continue to closely monitor the testing process and ensure safe railway operations,” said Adi Lau, MTR Corp operations director.
Before the scandal, the Tai Wai to Hung Hom section was expected to open in the middle of 2019 after the original target of December last year was pushed back by construction delays.