Dig Deeper：A new option to cross the harbour - East Rail Line
【明報專訊】The railway construction works for the East Rail Line Cross-Harbour Extension, a years-long project, have finally been completed. Starting from February 2022, some non-passenger trains for the new extension will pass the new platforms and stations during non-peak traffic hours and some non-traffic hours. The new extension project is expected to finish in May 2022. By then, it will become the fourth cross-harbour railway line following the Tsuen Wan Line, the Tseung Kwan O Line and the Tung Chung Line, directly connecting the New Territories to the commercial centres in Hong Kong.
◆What have been the controversies?
The projected completion time of the project has been delayed from 2019 to mid-2022 owing to some construction problems for the Exhibition Centre station and Hung Hom station.
Another controversy has been about the carrying capacity of the railway line. The old 12-car trains will be phased out to make way for the new 9-car trains to meet the operational need of the new extension, but there are concerns over these trains' ability to meet the demand as the East Rail Line is relatively busy.
◆What is the total length of the extended line?
46 km.
◆How many passengers can a 9-car train hold?
2,845, while the design capacity of each 12-car train is about
3,750 passengers.
◆How many stations are there on the extended line?
16.
◆How many railway lines does the extended line connect?
5 lines. They are connected by four interchange stations, namely Tai Wai, Kowloon Tong, Hung Hom and Admiralty.
■Game
(Answers on next text)
The Smarties are assigned a duty to design the railway line. Could you help them finish the project?
Requierment : The railway lines cannot go through one another. Our new railway line needs to go through Queensway, Central Plaza, Tiny World, King's Bay, A.T. Mall and Cove. We are only given one bridge to run through river.
(See the picture)
■Glossary
construction (n) 工程
peak (n) 高峰
capacity (n) 容量
phase out (phr. v) 逐漸地
(Criticisms on this publication, if any, are aimed at pointing out the errors or defects of certain systems or policies with a view of rectifying or eradicating such errors or defects, as well as prompting improvement or remedy for them via lawful means. There is absolutely no intention of inciting hatred, discontent or hostility towards the government or other classes of the community.)
[Smarties' Power English 第344期]
