ENG-2009 — Page 309

Transport 241

Tin, West Kowloon and Tsing Yi. Stage One of Tsing Sha Highway (Cheung Sha Wan to Sha Tin Section) was opened to traffic in March 2008. An average of 23 658 vehicles used the main trunk of the road section each day in 2009. Stage Two (Tsing Yi to Cheung Sha Wan Section) was opened to traffic in December 2009.

The Control Area is connected to Sha Tin by a series of three tunnels: the Eagle's Nest Tunnel, Sha Tin Heights Tunnel and Tai Wai Tunnel. Toll for all classses of vehicles travelling through this group of tunnels is $8. The area's other tunnel is the Nam Wan Tunnel located at Tsing Yi. This tunnel is toll-free.

There is also a 1.6-kilometre bridge in the Control Area that connects Stonecutters Island to Tsing Yi. Called Stonecutters Bridge, it spans Rambler Channel and is toll-free.

Public Transport

Hong Kong's transport system is modern, efficient and provides affordable, comfortable and safe travel on a wide choice of carriers.

Railways

Railways account for about 35 per cent of all trips made on public transport each day. Hong Kong's railways are run by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), a public listed company of which the Government is the biggest shareholder.

The MTR system comprises:

• Kwun Tong Line (Tiu Keng Leng-Yau Ma Tei);

• Tsuen Wan Line (Tsuen Wan-Central);

⚫ Island Line (Chai Wan-Sheung Wan);

• Tung Chung Line (Hong Kong-Tung Chung);

• Tseung Kwan O Line (Po Lam/LOHAS Park-North Point);

• East Rail Line (Hung Hom-Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau);

• West Rail Line (Tuen Mun-Hung Hom);

• Ma On Shan Line (Wu Kai Sha-Tai Wai); and

• Disneyland Resort Line (Sunny Bay-Disneyland Resort).

There are over 80 stations along the 175-kilometre network. The MTRCL also operates a 35.3-kilometre Airport Express Line. The entire system carries an average of 3.8 million passengers per weekday.

Apart from the heavy rail systems, MTRCL operates the 36.2-kilometre Light Rail network which has 68 stops in the Northwestern part of the New Territories. The Light Rail carries about 385 000 passengers daily. Light Rail feeder bus services are also operated to provide rail passengers with a more comprehensive service network.