XN000022-1973-05-09 — Page 17

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Wednesday, May 9, 1973

MEASURES TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS ON TRAINS

The overcrowding of trains during holidays and at peak hours on

weekdays is partly due to the shortage of rolling stock and the limited

capacity of the single track line.

Because of this some passengers had to ride on steps and on other

dangerous parts of carriages.

This was stated by the Acting Financial Secretary, the Hon. D.J.C.

Jones, in reply to a question by the Hon. Wilson Wang who had asked what the

government was doing to prevent fatal accidents as the result of passengers falling

off crowded trains.

"Additional passenger carriages have been ordered and plans are

in hand to double track the line from Hung Hom to Shatin. A further extension

of the double line to Tai Po Morket is also under consi...aration," Mr. Jones

said.

Apart from the long-term remedies to the situation, he also listed

some short-term restrictive measures to be taken at times when trains were

overcrowded.

These measures included the discontinuation of the issue of return

tickets; the restricted sale of single tickets and frequent warnings to

passengers against riding on carriage platforms and on steps.

Consideration is also being given to the erection of fences or other

barriers to prevent access to platforms, other than through controlled entrances

or via the railway track, and railway personnel will be stationed by the track

to prevent unauthorised entry.

/Part-time