First trains of West Rail and Tuen Ma Line on May 2 deferred due to trial operations

The MTR Corporation announced today that the first trains of West Rail Line and Tuen Ma Line Phase 1 on May 2 will be deferred to around 7.30am in order to facilitate the train tests as required for full Tuen Ma Line commissioning.

According to the MTR, trial operations of the full Tuen Ma Line have entered the final stage and preparations are underway for the commencement of passenger service later this year.

Around six to eight full line train tests are due to take place from April to June, with most tests to be conducted during non-traffic hours of several nights.

“Since the testing in the early morning of May 2 will simulate the running of the full Tuen Ma Line under peak and non-peak hours, extra time will be required, inevitably extend to part of the normal operating hours in the morning,” said the MTR.

MTR’s Head of Operation Sammy Wong Kwan-wai said ten free MTR shuttle bus routes will start to run from around 5.15am that morning at 2 to 10 minutes interval.

“The 10 routes will connect to other railway lines directly, with seven routes connecting the East Rail Line and Tung Chung Line. The remaining three routes will cover every station on the West Rail Line and on the Tuen Ma Line Phase 1,” said Wong.

Meanwhile, MTR Divisional General Manager James Chow So-hung said since testings of the full Tuen Ma Line have begun, they have already run over hundreds of tests, which came back with promising results.

“The opening of the full Tuen Ma Line still remains on target for completion in Q3 this year,” Chow added.