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TRANSPORT
The demands placed on public transport systems have steadily increased with the growing affluence of the community, the large populations now dispersed in the new towns, and the policy of discouraging the use of private cars. Demands for more and higher quality public transport services are being met largely through the continued development of urban and inter-urban railways which are now at the heart of the transport system.
Despite these developments buses will continue to cater for the bulk of passenger journeys in the territory. Their productivity continues to be enhanced by reduced traffic congestion and an influx of modern high-capacity buses, the largest of which can carry 170 passengers. Their efficiency is reflected in comparatively low fares, with operators maintaining reasonable profit margins.
The integration of rail and bus services is being improved by a growing network of feeder bus services to railway stations.
Growing competition from the railways has reduced cross-harbour ferry patronage, to which the larger ferry operators have responded by developing high-speed hoverferry services, and by improving the quality of outlying district services with faster, more comfortable vessels.
Despite the continued improvement in road services provided by the principal operators, there remain other local, low-volume demands which can best be met by maxicab and coach operators who are generally responsive to local needs. These modes are continuing to expand as opportunities arise.
Kowloon-Canton Railway
7
The electrification and modernisation of the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) was completed in July 1983 following the inauguration of the inner section services between Hung Hom and Sha Tin in May 1982. Growth in traffic levels increased dramatically from 20 000 passengers per day in April 1982 to 212 000 per day in September 1984 as a result of the diversion of passengers from public light bus services and franchised buses, and the
E growth of population in the new towns of Sha Tin, Tai Po and Fanling.
This growth in demand has been met by progressive increases in train frequency, the most recent being on July 1. Trains now operate from 5.48 a.m. to midnight, and during morning and evening peak periods they run at three-minute intervals between Kowloon and Tai Po Market, with five-minute intervals to Sheung Shui and 15 minutes to Lo Wu. Corresponding off-peak frequencies are six, 10 and 20 minutes. There have been extensive complementary changes to the franchised bus network in the KCR corridor, with a view to building up a network of feeder services' to KCR stations from the rural hinterland and new housing estates, and to avoid over-provision of services. Accordingly, a total of 24 bus feeder routes are now operational in the KCR corridor, identified by the suffix 'K' after the route number. Corresponding reductions have been made to certain parallel bus routes, the most significant being to Route 70 (Sheung Shui-Jordan Road Ferry). The vehicle allocation for this route was reduced from 27 to 18 buses following a decline in daily passengers from 30 000 to 15 000. A network of new maxicab routes has also been introduced to provide feeders to the railway, with 10 routes currently operating in the KCR corridor.
Mass Transit Railway
At year-end, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) was carrying about 1.2 million passengers each weekday, making it the heaviest carrier per route kilometre in the world. It now operates on 26 route kilometres, with 25 stations. Excluding finance costs, over $10,000