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TRANSPORT
The average weekday passenger volume was 1.2 million at the end of the year, an increase of about 500 000 on the number carried at the end of 1981. A record figure of 1.32 million passengers was carried on Saturday, August 28. A two and a half-minute morning peak and a four-minute off-peak weekday frequency operated throughout the year, with the morning peak frequency being improved to two minutes to meet demands in December. The arrival of trains at their destinations within two minutes of the scheduled time was maintained at 98 per cent during the year.
Single adult fares, which were increased by 30 cents in May, range from $1.50 to $3.50. New discounted selling prices were introduced for stored-value tickets, which also provide a last-ride bonus and an off-peak fare reduction. Half price child/student single journey tickets and child/student stored-value tickets continued to be offered.
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Work on the MTR's third underground line, the Island Line, was well under way during the year with the remaining civil electrical and mechanical contracts let in September. The line, along the island's northern shore, will link Chai Wan with Western Market and will serve 14 stations. The estimated cost of the line is approximately $10,000 million. The anticipated completion date of the major part of the line between Chai Wan and Admiralty – is mid-1985, with the remainder from Admiralty to Western Market – to be completed in 1986. Close liaison is maintained between the corporation and govern- ment departments to handle problems and complaints caused by the construction work. Compensation payments made on the first two lines of the system totalled approximately $71 million, while for the Island Line the figure at the end of 1982 was $1.2 million.
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The Island Line will be financed in a similar manner to the first two lines, by a mixture of export credits covering construction and equipment contracts placed with overseas companies - with the balance funded by local and international banks and by property development profits, the amount of commercial borrowings being determined by the contri- bution received from property development profits. Fourteen major property development sites have been earmarked, with the first of the developments, Fairmont House, a 28-storey commercial/office building completed during 1982. The largest site is at Cornhill, opposite Tai Koo Shing, where both private and government housing will be constructed to accom- modate 40 000 people. In connection with the first two MTR lines, a joint venture property development situated above Argyle Station in Nathan Road was completed during the year. Work continued on three other developments at Kwai Fong, Kwai Hing, and above the depot at Tsuen Wan.
By the end of 1982, the MTR rail network was served by 29 feeder bus services terminating at stations. To encourage motorists to make use of the system, multi-storey car parks are being provided at several MTR stations including Kwai Fong, Tsuen Wan, Kowloon Tong and Choi Hung.
Kowloon-Canton Railway
The Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) is currently operating electric trains between Hung Hom and Sha Tin, diesel trains on the outer service to Lo Wu, and diesel freight trains.
Patronage, which was 44 000 daily before the start of the electrified services, has increased steadily since May to 77 000 daily over the whole railway. The number of passengers is expected to increase to some 150 000 daily when electrification is completed on the whole 34-kilometre route to Lo Wu in 1983. The railway continued to be extremely busy at holiday periods and carried 743 378 passengers to and from China over the Lunar New Year. In addition, it transported 1.80 million tonnes of freight and 2.16 million head of livestock during 1982.