ENG-1982 — Page 244

TRANSPORT

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Since electrification, journey times from Hung Hom to Sha Tin have been reduced from 20 to 12 minutes. Initially, the electric trains are running at 10-minute intervals. Two three-car Electric Multiple Unit train sets are coupled to operate in peak hours, while a single three-car set runs at off-peak times.

Construction work associated with the $3,500 million modernisation and electrifica- tion programme made good progress during the year. Projects include double tracking; tunnelling; constructing new bridges and new stations; the installation of a sophisticated signalling system, which is controlled from a centre at the Kowloon terminus; and the installation of overhead line equipment and a modern telecommunications network.

Three new stations - Mong Kok, Kowloon Tong and Sha Tin - were opened to cope with the electrified service. To facilitate passenger flow, automatic ticket vending machines and automatic barriers were installed at all stations.

Electrification of the diesel section of the outer service of the railway will be introduced in two stages during 1983: the section from Sha Tin to Tai Po Market in the spring, and the remaining section up to Lo Wu in the summer.

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Two express through' trains between Kowloon and Guangzhou continued to be popular, and during the year a total of one million passengers used this service.

Buses

Bus services in Hong Kong are operated by three private companies under franchises granted by the government on a route basis.

The largest, the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB), operates 192 routes in Kowloon and the New Territories, and 15 cross-harbour routes jointly with China Motor Bus Company Limited. During the year, 159 double-deck buses were added to the fleet which at year-end totalled 2 369 buses comprising 2 080 double-deckers, 187 single-deck buses and 102 coaches. In May 1982, a major re-organisation of KMB services took place with the opening of the Tsuen Wan Extension of the MTR and the electrification of KCR to Sha Tin. The increase in rail capacity significantly improved services to the public, and bus passenger demand along the MTR corridors generally fell by 16 per cent. The easing of pressure on these services has brought benefits in terms of less overcrowding and reduced waiting times.

Bus fares for KMB have remained unchanged since the last revision in April 1981. Fares on urban routes range from 50 cents to $1 whereas fares on the rural routes range from 60 cents to $2.50. All cross-harbour routes with the exception of the airport coach services, recreational routes to Sha Tin Racecourse and a route linking Sha Tin Market with Wa Fu Estate, have a flat fare of $2 with a section fare of $1 after crossing the tunnel. Higher fares are charged on the express coach services. During the year, a total of 940 million passengers was carried by KMB and 140 million kilometres were operated increases of one per cent and six per cent respectively over the previous year.

The China Motor Bus Company Limited (CMB) operates 92 daily bus routes on Hong Kong Island and 15 cross-harbour routes. In 1982, its fleet of 1 047 double-deckers carried 310 million passengers and travelled 45 million kilometres. During the year, bus services were re-organised following the opening of the Aberdeen Tunnel and the opening of the Tsuen Wan Extension of the MTR with a view to strengthening the feeder bus services to MTR stations on Hong Kong Island. Fares are charged according to route distance and they range from 60 cents for urban routes to $4 for the longest cross-harbour route.

Bus operations continued to be affected by traffic congestion. To maintain mobility for the majority of commuters who use public transport, the government has approved a