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Kowloon Canton Railway
East Rail
East Rail, (The former Kowloon-Canton Railway or KCR), first came into service in 1910 as a single track system.
It was completely overhauled in 1983 when it was electrified and double tracked. Previous to 1982, the railway
had operated as a Government department but, with the enactment of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance
in December of that year, KCRC was created. The organisation was separated from the Government, providing a sound
financial foundation for the future.
The Managing Board of KCRC comprises the Chairman and Chief Executive and light other members, all of whom are
appointed by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
All of the passenger services on the 34-kilometre East Rail line, which has 13 stations between Hung Hom in Kowloon
and Lo Wu at the boundary with the Mainland, operating on electric multiple units (EMUs) in 12-car configurations.
Over the past few years, the EMUs have been extensively refurbished to increase capacity and offer passengers increased
levels of comfort.
KCRC was responsible for the construction of the Light Rail system, which began operating in 1988. This efficient
and modern railway serves the internal transport needs of residents in the North West New Territories. To cope
with future growth in the region, Light Rail is now preparing to expand its network to serve the growing population
and to become a major feeder service to a new mass-transit system, West Rail, Phase I.
At the invitation of the Government, the Corporation has been asked to conduct detailed studies and put forward
proposals to build several new railway lines. The largest of these is West Rail, Phase I, which will run from the
North West New Territories to Kowloon. Construction commenced in October 1998 and it is planned that the railway
will serve 340,000 passengers a day when it opens in 2003. Other new projects include a line linking Ma On Shan
to integrate with East Rail at Tai Wai, an extension of East Rail from its Hung Hom terminus to Tsim Sha Tsui,
and a spur line running from Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau to create a second boundary crossing point.
Hong Kong Railway Museum
Recently, the Hong Kong Government has set up a Railway Museum to exhibit a large variety of KCR's articles and
history. It is an open-air museum converted from the old Tai Po Market Railway Station. The station was opened
in 1913 and is now a historical monument.
Its exhibition of Hong Kong's rail history includes photographs, old railway coaches, a narrow gauge steam locomotive
and samples of railway track used decades ago. Videos on railways and trains are also available for schools' or
community groups' viewing on booking.
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