ENG-2006 — Page 304

252 Transport

East Rail, which was extended from Hung Hom to East Tsim Sha Tsui where a new southern terminal opened on October 24, 2004, has 14 stations along the 35-kilometre route from East Tsim Sha Tsui to Lo Wu at the boundary. The railway carries an average of about 920 000 domestic and cross-boundary passengers daily.

Ma On Shan Rail, which is part of the East Rail Extensions project, opened in December 2004 to serve the Ma On Shan and Sha Tin areas. There are nine stations along the 11.4-kilometre route, which carries about 120 000 passengers daily.

West Rail runs from West Kowloon to Yuen Long and Tuen Mun. It started operation in December 2003. There are nine stations along the 30.5-kilometre route and the railway carries an average of about 200 000 passengers daily.

Light Rail, which started operation in 1988, provides local public transport in the northwestern New Territories. Light Rail carries nearly 370 000 passengers daily. There are 68 Light Rail stops with a network covering 36.15 kilometres. Passengers can interchange with West Rail at four Light Rail stops.

To allow rail passengers to enjoy better feeder service, the KCRC also runs a total of 21 bus routes providing services to East Rail, West Rail and Light Rail passengers.

The KCRC provides inter-city through train services from Hong Kong to cities in Guangdong as well as to Shanghai and Beijing. Apart from passenger services, the KCRC provides rail freight services to the Mainland.

The former Mass Transit Railway Corporation was established by statute in 1975 to operate the MTR. In February 2000, the Legislative Council passed legislation to privatise a portion of the Government's shares in the company. The MTRCL was listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in October that year. The first passenger train service on the Kwun Tong Line of the MTR began in 1979. The MTR was subsequently expanded to include Tsuen Wan Line (1982); Island Line (1985); Eastern Harbour Crossing rail tunnel, which connects the Kwun Tong Line to Quarry Bay (1989); Tung Chung Line (1998); Tseung Kwan O Line (2002) and Disneyland Resort Line (2005). The MTR carries a weekday average of 2.5 million passengers. The company also operates the Airport Express Line (1998), a dedicated rail link between the airport and the city centre. The Airport Express Line, extended to a new station at the AsiaWorld-Expo in December 2005, carries a daily average of 27 000 passengers. The railway network currently operated by MTRCL is about 91 kilometres in length.

Tramway

Electric trams have been operating on Hong Kong Island since 1904. The Hongkong Tramways Limited operates six routes on 13 kilometres of double track along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan, and about three kilometers of single track around Happy Valley.

The company's 163 trams, including two open-balcony trams for tourists and private hire and one special maintenance tram, make up the world's largest fleet of double-deck trams in operation. The tramway has a daily average of 230 000 passenger trips. Fares are $2 for adults and $1 for children aged under 12 and senior citizens aged 65 or above.