1977-1978 — Page 7

and maintenance depot absorbing the existing works at Sha Tin; completely new signalling and telecommunication; the provision of three additional stations, including an interchange station at Kowloon Tong linking K.C.R. with M.T.R. : rebuilding of all stations with, at some, major developments in the air space above the stations; etc. The trains will be operated by new electric multiple 3-car sets with eventually a maximum of 4 such sets per train, giving a train size of 12 vehicles. When the new electrified service is commissioned in mid 1981, it is expected that some 140,000 passengers will be carried a day compared with the present roundly 35,000 and by the middle of the 1980s up to 14 million. The present journey time of roundly 70 minutes from Hung Hom to Lo Wu will also be reduced to not more than 40 minutes.

7.

Work on double tracking the line from Hung Hom to Sha Tin was completed at the end of 1977. Double tracking of the section from Sha Tin to Tai Po Market commenced in March 1978 and is expected to be completed in 1980. Approval has also been given for double tracking the remaining section of the line from Tai Po Market to Lo Wu and it is expected that work will be completed by the end of 1980.

8.

In conjunction with the double tracking project, an extensive programme to improve track standards got underway during the year. This involves increasing the depth of ballast; replacing the existing wooden sleepers with prestressed concrete sleepers; substituting jointed track with continuously welded rails using the heavier UIC 54 rails. The relaying of tracks included not only those due for renewal but also those which had not yet reached the end of their useful lives, a process technically called premature relaying. An order was also placed during the year for the purchase of an ultrasonic rail flaw detector to detect rail cracks which are not visible to the naked eye.

9.

Installation of a new electronic colour light signalling system for the whole main line incorporating computers commenced in February 1978 to replace the traditional mechanical semaphore system which had become obsolete and incapable of coping adequately with the much higher frequency of trains to be operated. Installation work started from the section from Hung Hom to the Racecourse Station at Sha Tin and the whole system is expected to be completed at the end of 1980. Train movements for the complete railway will be regulated from a single central control room in Kowloon Station. Platform indicators will also be installed in all stations to provide train information to passengers.

10.

New privately owned unloading sidings at Fo Tan were brought into operation in April 1977 which provide for the unloading and storage of diesel oil and dry goods coming from China. The yard can also be used for unloading kerosene and liquid petroleum gas if required.

11.

The marshalling yard at Lo Wu will become partly operational at the end of 1978. It will then enable freight trains coming from China to be remarshalled according to their commodities and final destinations.

12.

The construction of the new Beacon Hill Tunnel started in January 1978 and it is expected to be completed before the end of 1980. The new tunnel will have two tracks with more gentle gradients and a lower summit. It is located slightly to the west of the existing tunnel.

2