XN000022-1974-07-30 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1974

TWENTY NEU RAILUAY COACHES ARRIVE ON THURSDAY

A FIRST SHIPMENT OF 20 OUT OF 40 NEW RAILWAY COACHES WILL BE ARRIVING FROM JAPAN BY DOAT AND UNLOADED ON THURSDAY

(AUGUST 1) TO BOOST THE EXISTING FLEET.

THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, MR. REG GREGORY SAID THIS WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF AN EXPANSION OF THE RAILWAY'S ASSETS, AND HE HOPED THAT THERE WOULD DE +KORE IMPROVEMENTS TO FOLLOW+.

OF THE NEW ARRIVALS, 11 ARE FIRST-CLASS COACHES CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING 80 PASSENGERS EACH, AND THE REST ARE THIRD-CLASS COACHES ACCOMMODATING 96 EACH.

THE SECOND SHIPMENT OF THE REMAINING 20 COACHES, ALL · THIRD-CLASS, IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN ONE MONTH'S TIME.

MR. GREGORY SAID: +IT IS ALSO HOPED TO INSTALL AIR- CONDITIONING IN SOME OF THE FIRST-CLASS COACHES AT A LATER DATE.+

THE NEW CARRIAGES ARE TO BE LIFTED FROM THE VESSEL, HS +HOUSHO HARU,+ OUTO LIGHTERS AND TO THE QUAYSIDE ALONG THE NEW HUNG HOM TERMINAL ON THURSDAY. THEY WILL THEN BE OFFLOADED ONTO THE RAILWAY TRACKS, WHERE PRELIMINARY

INSPECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THE VARIOUS LOCKING DEVICES USED TO SECURE THE COACHES DURING THE SEA VOYAGE HAVE DEEN REMOVED.

MR. GREGORY AND OFFICIALS FROM THE ACENT OF THE JAPANESE MANUFACTURING COMPANY WILL BE PRESENT TO INSPECT THE UNLOADING OPERATIONS.

WHEN READY, THE NEW CARRIAGES VILL BE HAULED TO THE LOCOMOTIVE WORKSHOPS IN HO TUNG LAU, SHA TIN, FOR PREPARATORY WORK SUCH AS THE PRINTING OF THE KCR INSIGNIA.

AS A MATTER OF INTEREST, MR. GREGORY POINTED OUT THAT THE NEW CARRIACES WILL IN FACT USE THE SIDINGS MADE READY FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF OIL FROM CHINA, THEREBY BEATING - THE TRAINS FROM CHINA TO USING THE NEW TRACKS.

OF THE 40 NEW COACHES, 28 WILL DE REPLACING COACHES NOW IN USE, THUS EFFECTING THE INCREASE OF 12 COACHES.

BUT MR. GRECORY EXPLAINED THAT THEY PLANNED TO RETAIN SOKE 14 OF THE REPLACED COACHES, THUS THE ACTUAL NUNDER OF INCREASE TO THE FLEET WOULD DE NUCH GREATER.

MEANWHILE, THE KCR HAS KOVED TO BRING THEIR CARRIAGE CLASS NOTATION UP TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

APPATH PASSE CENG