Green light to take train captain's seat

It's a dream ride for rail buffs: being in the train captain's seat for the full 56-kilometer run of the new Tuen Ma Line.

But you have to settle for something less than the real thing for the Tuen Mun to Wu Kai Sha journey.

The MTR Corp released a video taken from the train captain's angle as the train traveled along the 27-station line - it will be the longest line in the SAR - during a test run in the countdown to the expected launch of the service in the third quarter of this year.

The line is now in the final stage of trials. Experts will be simulating operations according to the full Tuen Ma Line timetable and conducting full-line train tests during non-service hours.

There are six test runs altogether this month and next.

A test on May 1 will commence after partial services stop that day and end at 7.30am next day.

That will delay the start of services on the West Rail Line and the Tuen Ma Line phase 1 on May 2. So the MTR has arranged for free shuttle bus services to fill in for affected stations.