Don't all rush to be first on new MTR line

The first phase of the Tuen Ma Line involving one expanded and two new stations will open tomorrow and is estimated to carry 80,000 passengers daily while boasting new anti-vandalism features.

MTR Corp general manager for special duties, Alan Cheng Kwan-hing, called on railway enthusiasts to avoid rushing to take the debut train in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

The long-awaited Tuen Ma Line extends the Ma On Shan Line from Tai Wai station toward Kowloon East, with two new stations - Hin Keng and Kai Tak - and an expanded Diamond Hill station.

"The Tuen Ma Line hopes to divert passengers that wish to travel to the eastern part of the city from the East Rail Line, to relieve the congestion on the critical link between Tai Wai and Kowloon Tong," Cheng said.

With the new service, the journey from Tai Wai to Diamond Hill has been halved to nine minutes. The interchange from the East Rail Line to the Kwun Tong Line will also be cut short to around one to two minutes' walk, compared to around three minutes at Kowloon Tong station, Cheng said.

He said the new extension would not add to the burden of the Kwun Tong Line. "The busiest section of the Kwun Tong Line would be between Shek Kip Mei and Prince Edward during rush hour, while we expect more passengers to use the new Tuen Ma Line to head toward the east of the city."

The mass transit operator said it expects 70,000 to 80,000 commuters to use the Tuen Ma Line daily, diverting a few thousand rush-hour commuters from the East Rail Line.

But Cheng also acknowledged the current adverse situation and said: "The patronage figures of the new Tuen Ma Line will be affected by the epidemic, while it also takes time for commuters to change their habitsthe figures might not be entirely realistic when the service starts, as passengers have to try our new service out before starting to use the Tuen Ma Line regularly."

For the line's opening tomorrow, the MTRC has announced special arrangements. The new Kai Tak station will open at 5.20am for people to visit and a special debut train will leave at 5.45am - half an hour earlier than its normal service.

Though transport chief Frank Chan Fan previously teased about a "surprise" for the Valentine's Day launch, passengers will have to wait for it to be unveiled tomorrow as the rail company kept its lips sealed on what it could be.

Meanwhile, the two new stations, Hin Keng and Kai Tak, also feature a "smart" customer service center to replace the originally staff-stationed centers.

"There is a tablet installed for passengers to search for information around the station, and another monitor for passengers to contact our staff via a video call for general inquiries," Cheng said.

An MTRC spokesman added that a mobile service team will roam around the station to provide assistance to passengers.

The team will be equipped with a mobile device to tackle customer service needs, such as issues related to Octopus cards. "This would allow more flexibility in providing timely and proactive assistance to passengers," the spokesman said.

Several hundred workers will be deployed to assist passengers at the start of the new service.

In view of recent events, Cheng said the new stations have protective measures to safeguard passengers' safety, including plastic panels to protect facilities from vandalism and arson.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com