XN000022-1981-07-05 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JULY 5, 1981

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KCR GOING ELECTRIC AT 25 000 VOLTS

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THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE KCR WILL COME A STEP CLOSER TO REALITY WITH THE ENERGISATION TOMORROW (MONDAY) OF A SECTION OF THE LINE AS FROM 0001 HOURS.

ONCE +LIVE+, THE SECTION BETWEEN THE NORTHERN END OF BEACON HILL TUNNEL AND THE NORTHERN END OF THE RACECOURSE LOOP WILL REMAIN ENERGISED AT 25 000 VOLTS.

THIS IS A HUNDRED TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN THE DOMESTIC VOLTAGE AND A KCR SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT THIS COULD SEVERELY INJURE OR KILL ANYONE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE OVERHEAD WIRES OR TAMPERING WITH THE EQUIPMENT.

THE FIRST SECTION TO GO LIVE WILL BE COMPLETELY FENCED IN, AS WILL THE REST OF THE RAILWAY.

THE SPOKESMAN URGED THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY SCHOOL CHILDREN, NOT TO ATTEMPT TO DAMAGE THE FENCES IN ORDER TO TAKE SHORT CUTS THIS IS NOT ONLY ILLEGAL AND SUBJECT TO SEVERE PENALTY (A MAXIMUM FINE OF UP TO $1 000) BUT IS ALSO A SHORT CUT TO DEATH+, HE EMPHASISED.

WITH THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY BETWEEN BEACON HILL TUNNEL NORTH AND THE NORTHERN END OF THE RACECOURSE LOOP, KCR ENGINEERS WILL BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT THOROUGH AND EXHAUSTIVE TESTING OF THE OVERHEAD EQUIPMENT.

IT WILL ALSO ENABLE THE RAILWAY TO TEST THE NEW ROLLING STOCK AND RETRAIN DRIVERS IN READINESS FOR THE FIRST STAGE OF ELECTR IF IED SERVICE BETWEEN KOWLOON AND SHA TIN IN THE SPRING OF 1982.

ENERG ISATION OF THE REST OF THE RAILWAY WILL FOLLOW IN PHASES TO MEET THE TARGET DATE FOR ELECTRIFICATION OF THE ENTIRE ROUTE UP TO LO WU BY THE END OF 1982.

THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT ABSENCE OF RAILWAY ENGINEERS IN ANY PARTICULAR AREA DOES NOT, AND MUST NOT BE TAKEN TO MEAN THAT NOTHING IS HAPPENING AND THAT THE OVERHEAD EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN SWITCHED OFF.

+FROM NOW ON, THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED, +ALL OVERHEAD WIRES MUST BE REGARDED AS 'LIVE'.+

/+ELECTRICITY AT