ENG-2004 — Page 318

268 Transport

• The 2.6-kilometre Shing Mun Tunnel between Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan was opened in 1990. The tunnel was used by an average of 53 300 vehicles daily. The toll was $5.

• The 900-metre Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, opened in 1990, links Kowloon and the new town at Tseung Kwan O. It was used by 67 700 vehicles daily. The toll was $3.

• The 1.6-kilometre toll-free Cheung Tsing Tunnel was opened in 1997 and links Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi. It was used by 84 100 vehicles daily.

Existing Rail Network

Railways form a vital part of the transport network of Hong Kong and are essential for continuous economic, social and land development. The existing rail network in Hong Kong comprises a heavily utilised urban railway (the MTR); a busy railway from Kowloon to the boundary at Lo Wu (East Rail), which was extended from Hung Hom to East Tsim Sha Tsui and from Tai Wai to Wu Kai Sha in 2004; a railway connecting northwest New Territories with Kowloon (West Rail); a modern light rail Network serving Tuen Mun and Yuen Long including the Tin Shui Wai new town (Light Rail Transit); and a dedicated premium class railway to Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok (Airport Express Line). There is also a traditional street tramway and a funicular tramway to the Peak on Hong Kong Island. East Rail, West Rail and Light Rail are operated by the KCRC which is a public corporation wholly owned by the Government. The MTR and the Airport Express Line are operated by MTRCL, a listed company with the Government as the major shareholder. The Tramway and the Peak Tram are owned by private operators.

The railways in Hong Kong accounted for about 30 per cent of daily domestic passenger travel and about 70 per cent of land based cross-boundary trips to the Mainland. In line with the Government's transport policy to use rail as the backbone of our public transport system, the rail systems are being extended to various parts of Hong Kong.

Railway Projects

Comprising three rail projects, the East Rail extensions expand the existing East Rail to reach East Tsim Sha Tsui, Ma On Shan and Lok Ma Chau. The 1.1-kilometre East Rail Tsim Sha Tsui Extension was opened on October 24. It connects the MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station with a new KCR East Tsim Sha Tsui Station via an extended subway system to enable passenger interchange. The second extension, the 11.4-kilometre Ma On Shan Rail, was opened on December 21. It serves the Sha Tin and Ma On Shan areas with nine stations at Wu Kai Sha, Ma On Shan, Heng On, Tai Shui Hang, Shek Mun, City One, Sha Tin Wai, Che Kung Temple and Tai Wai, where passengers can interchange with East Rail. The third extension, the 7.4-kilometre Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, aims to provide a second rail link to the Mainland to relieve cross-boundary congestion at Lo Wu, which handles in excess of 85 million passengers. The Spur Line is under construction and is planned to start operation in mid-2007.