TNAG-2679-FCO40-3876-British-Trade-Commission--Hong-Kong--and-China-Trade-Unit-re-1993 — Page 127

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III.

KCRC'S CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME

The KCRC is planning to embark on a major capital investment programme valued at over HK$5 billion in the next ten years. Programmes include improving and upgrading existing railway infrastructure and facilities, refurbishment of rail cars, and a noise reduction project along the railway.

KCRC has

Worthy of special attention perhaps is the planned refurbishment programme of existing electric trains. a total of 351 rail cars and with the first rail cars commissioned in 1980 through to 1991, the KCRC needs to commence a large scale refurbishment programme of the rail cars in 1995 after a lifespan of 15 years. Total cost of this programme, which will span over a period of more than 12 years, is estimated at HK$1.1 billion in today's prices.

Calls for international tenders to develop two or three prototyes of the new rail cars are scheduled to be made in 1995, while tenders for the actual production contract for refurbishment of the entire fleet would probably start in the following year.

Regarding the "Gold Star Project" which is concerned with the procurement of 60 double decker train cars for upgrading of the Through Train service between Kowloon and Guangzhou, it is known that the styling design contract has been awarded to a British firm. Prequalification of tenderers for the production contract has been completed (among which GEC Alsthom and ABB have been prequalified), and the actual contract is likely to be let out at the end of this year. Delivery of the first cars would be expected to arrive in 1995/96.

The KCRC is in fact aiming to enhance the overall level of services of the Through Train. A team of KCRC and Guangzhou Railway Corporation officials will soon visit the US and some European countries to have a first-hand look at the quality and range of services offered by intercity railways.

There are also plans to redevelop the Hunghom Terminal Station to which the Managing Board of the KCRC has already approved a sum of HK$1 billion. In the meantime, a new KCRC headquarters building is being built at Fo Tan, and completion of this new 11-storey headquarters is expected at the end of 1994. The consultants team consist of Ng Chun Man (Architects), Ove Arup & Partners (Structural Engineers), Parsons Brinckerhoff (Asia) Ltd (Building Services & Railway Works) and Davis Langdon Seah (Quantity Surveyor).