ENG-2014 — Page 256

13

Transport

The environmental impact of new transport projects, during both their construction and operation phases, is monitored closely. Environmental mitigation measures are implemented where necessary to reduce this impact.

The government announced the Railway Development Strategy 2014 in September 2014, providing a framework for planning the future expansion of Hong Kong's railway network up to 2031. At the same time, the government announced that it would commence a Public Transport Strategy Study to review the role of the other public transport services and how they complement each other, with the aim of ensuring a balanced, efficient and sustainable public transport network.

Rail Transport

MTR

Railways are safe, efficient, reliable, comfortable and environment-friendly mass carriers. They are the backbone of Hong Kong's public transportation system, and are essential to its continued economic, social and land development. They account for about 41 per cent of daily public transport passenger travel and about 56 per cent of land-based cross-boundary passenger trips to the Mainland.

Hong Kong's railways are run by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), a public listed company of which the government is the majority shareholder.

The MTR system comprises:

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

—

⚫ the Tsuen Wan Line (Tsuen Wan

―

Central);

⚫ the Island Line (Chai Wan - Kennedy Town);

♠ the Tung Chung Line (Hong Kong — Tung Chung);

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

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

• the West Rail Line (Tuen Mun Hung Hom);

⚫ the Ma On Shan Line (Wu Kai Sha Tai Wai); and

S

⚫ the Disneyland Resort Line (Sunny Bay - Disneyland Resort).

There are 85 stations in the 177.4-kilometre network. The MTRCL also operates the 35.2-kilometre Airport Express connecting the urban areas to Hong Kong International Airport and AsiaWorld-Expo, and a 36.2-kilometre Light Rail network which has 68 stops in the northwest New Territories. Light Rail feeder bus services provide rail passengers with a more

204