TNAG-0770-FCO40-974-Construction-of-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 179

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consideration should be given to obtaining specialist advice from experienced personnel or operators.

Broadly, three types of further action are needed: those relating to the short, medium and longer term. In the short term, there is a need to develop a specification for the new Light Rail Vehicle based on the data given in Appendix A and this will be followed by a call for tenders for the supply of such vehicles. In this regard, it should be stressed that whilst Light Rail Vehicles are well-tried it has been found essential to use thoroughly tested components and preferably vehicle designs which have been evolved from fairly similar successful earlier models. There is not likely to be a possibility of cutting costs and seeking a simplified vehicle. The vehicle must be capable of operating within the environment specified in each stage of the strategy, including tunnels. An appropriate fare system allowing full use of all the doors on the new vehicles must be developed, probably based on pre-paid tickets.

There are a large number of further detailed design considerations associated with the first stage of the strategy, of which two are highlighted. The first is the need to develop the best form of track realignment and segregation measures and the necessary traffic management schemes which complement then. The second is the need to progress rapidly with the planning and construction of the depot at Kennedy Town.

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With regard to the medium term, it is necessary to start in 1978 the detailed planning work for the Central tunnel section (including the development of ETR/LRT transfer facilities) and for the Chai Wan extension. Also a feasibility and design study of the integration of an LRT alignment with the improvements proposed for Connaught Road West, and detailed design of the two flyovers at Tonnochy Road and Flexing Road proposed to achieve full segregation in Hennessy Road is required.

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