LCQ3: Traffic situation in Northwest New Territories
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Question:
Some residents in Northwest New Territories (NWNT) have relayed to me that while the population in the district has been increasing continuously in recent years, the transport infrastructure has failed to cope with the increased demand. For instance, the West Rail (WR) and Light Rail (LR) serve as the major external and internal modes of public transport for NWNT, but the services provided by them are acutely inadequate, making it difficult for passengers to get on board during peak hours. As for roads, since the rise of Tai Lam Tunnel tolls last month, a large number of private cars have shifted to the non-tolled Tuen Mun Road, thereby causing serious congestion on a number of roads in NWNT. Moreover, while the planning for a number of major trunk roads plying NWNT has been underway for several years, their completion dates have not been confirmed so far. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that while the loading during morning peak hours for critical links of WR already recorded an excess of 4 per cent in 2015, the Government has merely indicated that the WR train frequency may be increased depending on the actual needs, of the reasons why the Government has not requested the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) to immediately increase WR train frequency during peak hours; whether the Government will consider building a new railway to ply between NWNT and urban areas;
(2) given that some residents have relayed that MTRCL's deployment of single-set vehicles in place of coupled-set vehicles to run on certain LR routes during morning peak hours has increased the number of train frequencies but not the actual passenger capacity, how the Government monitors the actual LR service level, and whether it will request MTRCL to practically enhance the LR service; and
(3) given that the rise of Tai Lam Tunnel tolls has aggravated the traffic load of the non-tolled Tuen Mun Road, of the measures the Government has put in place to improve the situation; the respective completion timetables for the Tuen Mun Western Bypass (which has been proposed to be built) and Route 11 (which will be taken forward), and how the Government ensures that the two roads will be completed on schedule?
Reply:
President,
The Government is highly concerned about the overall traffic condition and residents' transport needs in the Northwest New Territories (NWNT). Following the further development and population growth in NWNT, it is necessary to enhance the carrying capacity of public transport and the road network, as well as to commence strategic studies on long term railway and major roads planning. In July 2015, we had a focused discussion on the traffic needs of NWNT at the Legislative Council Panel on Transport. The Government proposed a number of improvement and enhancement measures, including continuous implementation of major road works, striving to conduct a feasibility study on Route 11, strengthening of the West Rail Line (WRL) service and continuous implementation of new railway projects.
I will now reply the various parts of Hon Leung Che-cheung's question, and take this opportunity to report some updates.
(1) West Rail Line
At present, the number of WRL train trips per direction per hour during peak hours is 20 (Note 1). To tie in with the "East-West Corridor" project (Note 2) (see Annex) under the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) which is under construction, starting from January 2016, WRL trains have been progressively converted from 7-car to 8-car trains. As at end-2016, a total of 11 8-car trains were already put into service. As compared to the situation before the addition of train cars, the hourly carrying capacity has already increased by about 7.5 per cent during peak hours (Note 3). It is expected that the overall carrying capacity can be enhanced by about 14 per cent when all WRL trains have been converted to 8-car trains by 2018.
Besides, under the SCL project, the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) is upgrading the signalling system of the WRL to prepare for the increase in train frequency. The MTRCL is also procuring new train cars and modifying the existing trains. After all these new and modified trains have been put into service by mid-2019, the WRL will be able to serve in a maximum hourly frequency of 24 trains per direction (Note 4). Based on the above, the overall carrying capacity will increase by 37 per cent (Note 5) as compared to that in 2015. That said, the actual enhancement in train service will depend on the then operation and passenger demand.
As regards long-term railway development, we will take forward the Strategic Studies on Railways and Major Roads beyond 2030 (the Study) in light of the "Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030" Study. The Study will cover the transport infrastructure required in areas including Lantau, NWNT and New Territories North, with a view to preliminarily formulating the arrangement of the relevant infrastructure. This includes the need and the preliminary feasibility of constructing the NWNT-Lantau-Metro Rail Corridor. We will seek funding from this Council for conducting the Study later.
(2) Light Rail Service
The MTRCL has been adopting various measures to enhance the carrying capacity of Light Rail as far as practicable, in order to relieve the crowdedness during peak hours. These measures include increasing frequency of service, refurbishing Light Rail compartments, enhancing platform management, adding short haul special service and deploying more coupled-set Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs). Upon verification, the MTRCL advises that the Corporation has not converted the original coupled-set LRVs to single-set ones during peak hours, but deployed additional single-set LRVs to run short haul special service in view of passenger demand and road condition. Given that Light Rail shares part of the roads with other road users, and that the usage of individual junctions are currently very high, the room for additional LRVs during the morning peak hours are very limited.
The Government and MTRCL are reviewing how the carrying capacity of Light Rail can be further enhanced under the Public Transport Strategy Study (PTSS). The feasibility of various proposals, including rationalising part of the overlapping Light Rail routes and reviewing the design of and traffic light arrangements at busier junctions, is being examined. The PTSS will be completed in mid-year. At the same time, the MTRCL has awarded a contract to procure 10 additional LRVs, which are expected to be delivered within the period from 2019 to 2023, to support the enhancement of overall carrying capacity of Light Rail.
(3) Road Network
From 2011 to 2015 (Note 6), notwithstanding three toll increases (Note 7), the average daily private car flow at Tai Lam Tunnel still increased by about 15 per cent, higher than the 9 per cent increase at Tuen Mun Road. For overall traffic flow during that period, Tai Lam Tunnel saw the average daily flow increased by about 18 per cent, but Tuen Mun Road showed no increase. The total number of vehicles using Tuen Mun Road to that using Tai Lam Tunnel all along remained at a ratio of about 6:4. It is not apparent that toll increases at Tai Lam Tunnel during that period had caused any significant diversion of vehicles to Tuen Mun Road.
The Highways Department (HyD) conducted in the past few years a series of road improvement works, including the Traffic Improvements to Tuen Mun Road Town Centre Section and the Reconstruction and Improvement of Tuen Mun Road, both of which have been completed. Besides, the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, which is under construction, will connect NWNT with the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, North Lantau and the Hong Kong International Airport, to further alleviate traffic.
Regarding the Tuen Mun Western Bypass, the HyD has consulted stakeholders many times on its alignment, portal and design in the past few years. Having considered the comments of various parties and upon further planning, the HyD consulted the relevant District Councils and Rural Committee in the latter half of last year on the latest proposed alignment and is making preparation for the investigation study and the preliminary design which is targeted for commencement by mid-year.
We also plan to take forward the Route 11 project for linking up the NWNT with the urban areas in order to meet the expected higher traffic demand, and at the same time, to improve the "external connectivity" of Lantau and the airport island. We will seek funding from this Council later for conducting the feasibility study.
Note 1: Besides, there is a special train trip departing from the Tin Shui Wai Station to the urban areas during the morning peak hours to meet passenger demand.
Note 2: To be formed by the existing WRL, the Tai Wai to Hung Hom section of the SCL currently under construction, and the existing Ma On Shan Line.
Note 3: The hourly carrying capacity per direction of WRL is 49 200 (assuming six passengers (standing) per square meter) / 35 000 (assuming four passengers (standing) per square meter) in 2015. It increased to 52 900 (assuming six passengers (standing) per square meter) / 37 600 (assuming four passengers (standing) per square meter) by end-2016.
Note 4: All trains have 8 cars.
Note 5: The 14 per cent enhancement in carrying capacity due to the conversion from 7-car trains to 8-car trains mentioned above inclusive.
Note 6: The data for 2016 is not yet available.
Note 7: Respectively on January 1, 2011; January 1, 2013; and February 22, 2015.
Ends/Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:07
Issued at HKT 15:07
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