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WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978
ELECTRIFICATION OF KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY
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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS ACCEPTED A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT OF UP TO 3400 MILLION TO UNDERTAKE THE PROJECT OF ELECTRIFICATION OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY AFTER THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL APPROVED SUCH PROPOSALS IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.
THIS WAS REVEALED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR. JONES SAID THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT WILL BE ON TOP OF THE PROGRAMME OF CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS WHICH IS NOW UNDERWAY TO DOUBLE TRACK THE RAILWAY LINE, BUILD A NEW BEACON HILL TUNNEL AND IMPROVE STATIONS.
HE SAID SUCH DEVELOPMENTS CAME AFTER THE CONSULTANTS TRANSMARK THE CONSULTANCY ARM OF BRITISH RAILWAYS, SUBMITTED A REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.
THE CONSULTANTS HAVE RECOMMENDED THE USE OF THREE CAR ELECTRIC MULTIPLE UNITS, POWERED BY A 25 KILOVOLT ALTERNATING CURRENT OVERHEAD TRACTION SYSTEM.
+ THE UNITS CAN BE LINKED TO PROVIDE TRAINS OF FROM THREE TO TWELVE CARS IN LENGTH, AND THE PURCHASE OF SOME 60 SETS SHOULD PERMIT THE RUNNING OF UP TO 16 TRAINS AN HOUR IN EACH DIRECTION, + MR. JONES SAID.
+A MAINTENANCE AND STABLING DEPOT FOR THE ROLLING STOCK WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AT SHA TIN NEAR THE RACE COURSE.
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+THE CONSULTANTS HAVE NOW BEEN ASKED TO EXAMINE CERTAIN ASPECTS ON THE CRITICAL PATH OF THE PROJECT AND, WHEN THIS HAS BEEN COMPLETED, A FULL SCALE CONSULTANCY WILL BE COMMISSIONED. TO PREPARE DETAILED DESIGNS AND TO LET CONTRACTS,+ MR. JONES ADDED.
HE SAID THE AIM OF SUCH MOVES IS TO BEGIN ELECTRIC SERVICES AT LEAST TO RACECOURSE STATION IN SHA TIN BY THE MIDDLE OF 1981 WHICH HE STRESSED IS AN EXTREMELY AMBITIOUS TARGET.+
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ON OTHER DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE RAILWAY. MR. JONES SAID THREE NEW STATIONS WILL BE BUILT TO SERVE SHA TIN NEW TOWN AND ITS ENVIRONS AND ANOTHER NE STATION IS BEING PLANNED AT KOWLOON TONG TO PROVIDE A VERY NECESSARY INTERCHANGE WITH MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, HE ADDED.
+ THE SYSTEM WILL ALSO REQUIRE THE INSTALLATION OF A SOPHISTICATED COLOUR LIGHT SIGNALLING SYSTEM,+ HE SAID,
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