(i) buses; (ii) trams;
(iii) light rail transit (LRT); and
(iv) mass transit railway (MTR)
1.16
1.17
The
Two of these modes currently operate in Hong Kong. MTR has been discussed and explained over a period of years
so that there is a general understanding of the concept,
although to date, no actual user experience in Hong Kong.
The LRT concept is new to operators, and planners in Hong Kong although a proven concept elsewhere in the world.
Transport systems are always adapted to meet the needs and
circumstances of a particular city and this mitigates against
a definition of a mode with general applicability. However a broad definition of LRT adopted by the Transportation Research Board (USA) in 1976 was as follows:
"light rail transit is a mode of urban transportation
utilising predominantly reserved but not necessarily grade-separated rights-of-way. Electrically propelled
rail vehicles operate singly or in trains. provides a wide range of passenger capabilities and performance characteristics at moderate costs".
LRT
Despite the obvious disadvantage that LRT cannot be immediately
identified with a existing or future transport operator in
Hong Kong, consideration of the existing proposals for the
corridor illustrate the reason for evaluating such a concept.
1.18
On the one hand, the upgrading of the existing tramway system
has been carefully considered and designed within the context
of the present system. It has double-deck vehicles of the
same width on the same gauge and would serve a very similar
market to that served today. A limited amount of investment
is required most of which represents the new vehicles
themselves. It is not dependent on a large growth in
travel demand.