WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1979
NEW TIMETABLE FOR KCR MODERNISATION
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DELAY IN PLACING CERTAIN CONTRACTS, COUPLED WITH FINANCIAL STR INGENCY THIS YEAR, HAS MEANT THAT A NEW TIMETABLE FOR THE MODERNISATION AND ELECTR IF ICATION OF THE HONG KONG SECTION OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY HAS HAD TO BE DRAWN UP. THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. ALEX WU WHO ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONS IDERED THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF DELAYING THE UPGRADING AND ELECTRIFICATION OF THE OUTER SUBURBAN PORTION OF THE KCR, BEARING IN MIND THE GROWING TRADE WITH CHINA, AND THE POPULATION BUILD-UP IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+THE MOST PRESSING NEED IS FOR AN ELECTRIFIED SERVICE TO BE PROVIDED TO SHA TIN NEW TOWN, AS FAR AS FO TAN, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, TOGETHER WITH THE INTERCHANGE WITH THE MASS TRANS IT RAILWAY AT KOWLOON TONG, + MR. JONES SAID.
+THIS INNER SUBURBAN SERVICE IS NOW PLANNED TO BE PROVIDED BY THE END OF 1981 OR EARLY 1982.
+THE OUTER SUBURBAN SERVICE, BEYOND FO TAN TO THE BORDER AT LOWU, WILL HOPEFULLY OPEN AT THE END OF 1982, OR 18 MONTHS AFTER THE ORIGINAL PLANNED DATE, HE POINTED OUT.
WHILE ACCEPTING THAT THE BREAKING OF THE PROGRAMME INTO TWO PARTS WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR TRAIN PASSENGERS, MR. JONES EMPHASISED THAT THE SERVICES WERE ALREADY STRETCHED AND DEMAND WAS CONTINUALLY INCREASING.
+FURTHERMORE, ONCE THE INNER SUBURBAN SERVICE IS OPERATING, PASSENGERS TRAVELLING TO OR FROM THE OUTER SECTION WILL NEED TO CHANGE FROM DIESEL TO ELECTRIC TRAINS AT FO TAN OR SHA TIN UNTIL THE WHOLE LINE IS ELECTRIFIED, HE SAID.
+THE SERVICE WILL, NEVERTHELESS, STILL BE MORE FREQUENT AND FASTER THAN BEFORE AND THE NEED TO CHANGE TRAINS SHOULD ONLY LAST FOR ABOUT 12 MONTHS, HE ADDED.
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