TD announces transport arrangements for West Rail opening

A TD spokesman said there would be a comprehensive network of feeder services to facilitate WR passengers:

* at the urban end, WR connects with MTR Tsuen Wan Line and Tung Chung Line at Mei Foo and Nam Cheong stations respectively;

* within Northwest New Territories (NWNT), WR links up with the Light Rail Transit system at Tuen Mun, Siu Hong, Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long stations providing connections to various areas in NWNT. There will be no major changes on the light rail services during the initial operation period of WR;

* KCRC will also continue operating of its six free bus routes (Routes K62S, K66S, K67S, K75P, K76, and K2P) for a period following WR opening;

* two new franchised feeder bus route nos. 701 (Nam Cheong Station - Mong Kok KCR station) and 971 (Nam Cheong Station - Aberdeen) have been introduced. About 30 franchised bus and 40 green minibus (GMB) routes have been diverted or extended to WR stations. At Nam Cheong station, there will be connecting franchised bus services to areas including Central, Causeway Bay, Aberdeen, Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hung Hom and To Kwai Wan. At Tsuen Wan Station, there will be connecting franchised bus services to major housing developments in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing districts.

The spokesman said that to encourage the use of the new railways, the concerned transport operators had reached an agreement to provide fare concessions for passengers using Octopus to interchange between WR and 30 existing bus and GMB routes. The concessions range from $0.30 to $1.50. The arrangement will start tomorrow and will be reviewed in six months' time.

In addition, from tomorrow until January 31, 2004, KCR will offer a flat WR fare discount of $2 to Octopus users if they take a taxi to a WR station in Northwest New Territories and then interchange for WR by using Octopus card to WR Tsuen Wan West, Mei Foo or Nam Cheong stations. Passengers have to present the taxi receipt and the Octopus card for the discount at the fare adjustment office at their destination stations. One taxi receipt is eligible for one Octopus card only.

Passengers using MTR Nam Cheong or Mei Foo stations can also enjoy a 10% discount on MTR fares. The offer is valid from December 16 to March 31, 2004," he said.

Details of the connecting public transport services available for each WR station; and the bus-rail, GMB-rail and taxi-rail interchange schemes are uploaded onto TD's homepage www.info.gov.hk/td/eng/wr/westrailbooket_index.html.

Notices will be put up at all bus stops and GMB stops along the routes of the above services for passengers' information. Regulators will be on hand to advise passengers if necessary.

Passengers can also obtain the latest information on public transport services in relation to WR by calling the following hotlines:

	TD 2928 6633;
	KCRC 2929 3399;
	KMB 2745 4466;
	New World First Bus 2136 8888; and
	Citybus 2873 0818.

The TD also reminds passengers to familiarise themselves with the revised bus and GMB feeder service arrangements. Passengers are advised to avoid rushing at the last minute to make their journeys especially on Monday, the first working day after the opening of WR.

The department will activate its Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre on December 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 to monitor the operation of WR and the passenger demand of public transport services along the WR corridor. On-site observations to monitor the situation will also be conducted.

Ends/Friday, December 19, 2003