The cross-sea section of the MTR East Rail Line was officially opened to traffic on Sunday (15th), and today (16th) ushered in the first working day.
Tian Beichen, a member of the Legislative Council of the Roundtable on Actual Politics, observed the work situation with reporters during busy hours this morning.
What we saw at the scene was that around 8:00 a.m., there were more and more people at Sha Tin Station, especially at the front of the escalator, which was even more crowded.
Tian Beichen believes that the overcrowding situation is not as serious as imagined, but advocates several measures to ease the flow of people, including canceling the first-class train tickets, adjusting the train arrival location, rewarding points, and extending the MTR "early bird" exit discount. And add the discount code to half price.
He also mentioned the installation of platform screen doors on the East Rail Line, pointing out that the University Station is technically more difficult due to the large curvature of the platform; on the contrary, the platform is expected to be completed the fastest.
Tian Beichen departed from the University Station with the media at about 7:50 this morning, and then observed the situation on the platforms of different stations along the East Rail Line.
After arriving at Sha Tin Station at about 8 o'clock, there were a lot of people waiting at the scene, especially at the front of the train itself near the escalator, on the contrary, there were fewer people at the back of the train.
Although some staff on the platform appealed to passengers to go to the rear compartment, it was rare for passengers to obey the appeal. As a result, the front of the train was crowded, and it was close to the door after getting on the train, but there was generally enough space to get on the train.
Tian Beichen said that one of the major difficulties of the MTR is how to divert passengers from crowded carriages to less crowded carriages.
▼On May 15, the East Rail Crossing Section opened to traffic at the newly opened Convention and Exhibition Station, as well as the list of new facilities at Admiralty Station and Hung Hom Station▼
+14
At present, passengers who use adult Octopus to exit the gate at designated central urban stations between 7:15 am and 8:15 am on weekdays can enjoy a 25% discount on the fare.
Tian Beichen believes that the current situation reflects that the discount has not been able to assist in dredging, so the time should be extended to 8:30, and the discount will be increased to half price, so as to divert passengers.
He also suggested that the MTR could study the use of reward points to encourage passengers to board trains with fewer people.
+4
From 8:00 to 8:40, the reporter saw that there was a train in less than 3 minutes, and the MTR also dispatched "auspicious cars" twice to divert passengers on the East Rail Line. However, there were also cases where the seats in the first-class carriages were full and passengers had to stand. .
Tian Beichen said that the first-class carriages carry 80 fewer people than ordinary carriages, and since the journey from Sheung Shui to Admiralty only takes 40 minutes, he believes that the first-class carriages have completed the "historical task" and should be considered for cancellation, but the trains need to be modified during the period. .
▼The situation of Dawei Station on the first working day after the opening of the cross-sea section of the East Rail Line on May 16▼
Due to the uneven distribution of passengers in the carriages, Tian Beichen suggested that the stop position can be adjusted. Take Sha Tin Station as an example. Since the platform is long and the passengers are concentrated at the front of the train, it is suggested that the train can park at a position further ahead, disguised as the handrails that were originally close to the front of the train. The elevator will be closer to the rear of the car to help divert passengers.
However, he also mentioned that the MTR is planning to install platform screen doors on the East Rail Line, and the location of the subsequent stops must be determined before installation. The MTR is currently studying.
He also pointed out that some platforms with a large curvature, such as the University Station, are more difficult to install the curtain door; on the contrary, the "straight throw" is believed to be completed faster.
China and Hong Kong have not yet cleared customs. Some citizens have not resumed work. It is difficult to predict whether they can cope with the return to normal flow of people.
Tian Beichen believes that the rush hour this morning was not as crowded as imagined. It is believed that before the completion of Kwu Tung Station on the East Rail Line in 2027, the East Rail Line will be sufficient to handle the flow of people. Different measures can be used to divert the flow, but it should also be noted that the two places have not yet cleared customs. , and some citizens have not resumed work.
He suggested that the government could build a light rail at Queen's Hill in the future, passing through Tai Po Industrial Estate and Sha Tin, but not connecting to the East Rail Line.
He continued that the LRT can be extended from Tai Wai to the Tsuen Wan area to divert passengers.
▼In the early morning of May 15th, the special first train of the East Rail Crossing section will leave from the exhibition station▼
+3
East Rail Crossing the Sea | Admiralty Station has become a super interchange station for commuting and commuting. Councillors urge not to rush the bus line East Rail Crossing the Sea | Residents of the Tuen Ma Line, Chung Tai Wai Station, transfer trains to board Hong Kong Island. Rail crossing the sea｜MTR's "bullet car" on Monday rush hour from Tai Po Market and Shatin to Admiralty East Rail Crossing｜Admiralty becomes the 4th super interchange station Passengers need to check the way and ask the staff for the route East Rail crossing the sea | After the first working day, the first class carriage was crowded and there was no seat at Fanling Station
