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TRANSPORT
tion of the ferry services of the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company will be implemented over the next five years to maintain an economically viable franchised ferry network.
Kowloon-Canton Railway
The number of passengers using the electrified Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) between the towns of Sha Tin, Tai Po and Fanling and the urban area, as well as those travelling to and from China via Lo Wu increased significantly during the year. An average of 311 000 passengers was carried each day by the railway, 63 per cent above the 190 500 it carried three years ago.
A new station at Tai Wai with a transport interchange was opened in April to serve the southern part of Sha Tin New Town, replacing the temporary station.
There were 450 trains running each day between 5.52 a.m. and 0.12 a.m., with four through trains operating each way between Kowloon and Canton. With both Kowloon Motor Bus Company and minibus operators providing feeder services to KCR stations, there were 22 feeder routes in operation.
In July 1986, legislation was enacted enabling the KCRC to build and operate a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in the northwestern New Territories, between Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. Ground formation and other preliminary work on the first phase, comprising 23 kilometres of track, 41 stops and seven routes in addition to several feeder bus services, began in 1985 and continued during the year. This phase of the LRT is expected to go into service in 1988.
Mass Transit Railway
The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system now comprises three lines, operating as an integrated whole with 37 stations on the overall length of 38.6 kilometres, and with interchange facilities at Prince Edward, Mong Kok, Admiralty and Central stations.
Trains run at two-minute intervals during the morning peak hours and 2.5-minute intervals during the evening peak hours on both the Tsuen Wan and Kwun Tong lines. On the Island Line, trains run at 3.5-minute intervals during both morning and evening peaks.
The MTR carried an average of 1.6 million passengers each weekday, making it one of the most heavily utilised underground railway carriers per route kilometre in the world.
A record number of 2.09 million passengers was carried on Christmas Eve, 1986. The arrival of trains at destinations within two minutes of the scheduled time was maintained at 99.8 per cent during the year.
An overall fare increase of five per cent was introduced in May. However, adult fares were maintained within a range of $2 to $5. Purchasers of the higher value common stored-value tickets continued to enjoy discounts which included a last-ride bonus.
A number of promotional activities were devised to attract additional passengers and to increase awareness of the benefits of stored-value tickets. In addition, public an- nouncement and extensive poster campaigns were organised to promote a spirit of courtesy among passengers travelling on the MTR, in particular to allow passengers to alight first.
By the end of the year, the MTR network was served by 39 feeder bus routes. To encourage motorists to use the system, multi-storey carparks are provided adjacent to MTR stations in Kwai Fong, Tsuen Wan, Sheung Wan and Central.