SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1982
ANOTHER SECTION OF KCR GOES ELECTRIC
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THE SECOND SECTION OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY FROM THE NORTH PORTAL OF BEACON HILL TUNNEL DOWN TO RAILWAY BRIDGE NO. 7 OVER BOUNDARY STREET IN KOWLOON WILL GO 'LIVE' AS FROM 12.01 AM ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE KCR TODAY SAID ALL OVERHEAD WIRES BETWEEN THIS SECTION INCLUDING THE KOWLOON TONG STATION, WHERE THE INTERCHANGE STATION WITH THE MTR IS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION, WILL BE ENERGISED AT 25 000 VOLTS.
+ONCE ENERGISED IT WILL REMAIN PERMANENTLY ENERGISED AND ALL OVERHEAD WIRES MUST BE CONSIDERED LIVE AT THIS VOLTAGE AT ALL TIMES, + HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT SINCE THE ENERGISATION HAS NOW PENETRATED INTO THE URBAN AREA, ANYONE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE OVERHEAD WIRES OR TAMPERING WITH THE EQUIPMENT COULD BE SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED.
HOWEVER, THIS SECOND SECTION TO BE ENERGISED, FOLLOWING THE FIRST SECTION BETWEEN THE SHATIN RACE COURSE AND THE NORTHERN END OF BEACON HILL TUNNEL IN JULY 1981, WILL BE COMPLETELY FENCED IN.
THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY SCHOOL CHILDREN, NOT TO ATTEMPT TO DAMAGE THE FENCES IN ORDER TO TAKE SHORT CUTS WHICH COULD MEAN +A SHORT CUT TO DEATH+.
THE ENERGISATION OF THE TWO SECTIONS IS A STEP CLOSER TO THE COMMISSIONING OF THE FIRST STAGE OF ELECTRIFIED TRAIN SERVICES BETWEEN KOWLOON AND SHATIN IN MAY THIS YEAR.
ENERGISATION OF THE REMAINDER OF THE RAILWAY WILL FOLLOW IN PHASES AND THE ENTIRE RAILWAY UP TO LO WU IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETELY ELECTRIFIED IN THE SUMMER OF 1983.
MEANWHILE, THE KCR ARE CONTINUING THEIR MASSIVE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO WARN THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL AND SCHOOL CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR OF THE DANGERS OF GETTING CLOSE, OR TAMPERING IN ANY WAY, WITH THE HIGH 25 000 VOLTAGE WHICH IS MORE THAN A HUNDRED TIMES GREATER THAN THE ELECTRIC SUPPLY IN HOMES AND OFFICES.
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APART FROM ENSURING THAT ALL FENCES THROUGHOUT THE ENERGISED AREA ARE SOUND, WARNING POSTERS WILL BE PUT UP AT STRATEGIC LOCATIONS.
IN ADDITION, KCR REPRESENTATIVES WILL VISIT SCHOOLS IN THE VICINITY OF THE RAILWAY TO GIVE LECTURES ON SAFETY ASPECTS, SUPPLEMENTED BY FILM SHOW OR SLIDES.
/STUDENT GUIDANCE