Transport 239
Railways
Railways account for some 35 per cent of the total daily public transport volume. Since the merger of the MTR and KCR in December 2007, Hong Kong's railways have been operated by one railway corporation, the MTRCL, which was formerly wholly owned by the Government but was privatised in 2000 to become a listed company with the Government retaining a major shareholding.
The MTR system comprises:
• Kwun Tong Line (Tiu Keng Leng-Yau Ma Tei),
• Tsuen Wan Line (Tsuen Wan-Central),
• Island Line (Chai Wan-Sheung Wan),
• Tung Chung Line (Hong Kong–Tung Chung),
Tseung Kwan O Line (Po Lam-North Point),
• East Rail Line (East Tsim Sha Tsui-Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau),
• West Rail Line (Tuen Mun-Nam Cheong),
• Ma On Shan Line (Wu Kai Sha-Tai Wai), and
• Disneyland Resort Line (Sunny Bay-Disneyland Resort).
There are over 80 stations along the 168-kilometre network.
The MTRCL also operates a 35.3-kilometre Airport Express Line.
The entire system carries an average of 3.8 million passengers per weekday.
Apart from the heavy rail systems, MTRCL operates the 36-kilometre Light Rail network with 68 stops in northwest New Territories. The Light Rail carries about 376 000 passengers daily. Light Rail feeder bus services are also operated to provide passengers with a more comprehensive service network.
In addition, MTRCL provides inter-city through-train services from Hong Kong to cities in Guangdong, Shanghai and Beijing. MTRCL also provides rail freight services to the Mainland.
Tramway
Electric trams have been running on Hong Kong Island since 1904. Hongkong Tramways Limited operates six routes on 13 kilometres of double tracks along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan, and about three kilometres of single track around Happy Valley.
The company's 164 trams, including two open-balcony trams for tourists and private hire and one special maintenance tram, make up the world's largest fleet of double-deck trams in operation. The tramway records a daily average of 220 000 passenger trips.