A new signalling system will go live on the Tsuen Wan Line on March 15 replacing the existing system that has been in operation for two decades, the MTR announced on Tuesday.

The company said each train on the line has undergone at least 200 kilometres of test runs under the new system over the past 18 months to ensure safety.

This included simulations of train services during daytime peak hours.

Chan Hing-keung, chief of operations engineering service and innovation, said there will be potential initial teething issues, such as trains not aligning properly at platforms, but stressed that there would be no safety concerns.

“Safety is the primary consideration,” he said.

“We make use of different kinds of computer simulations to ensure the system is in maturity and also in stability before we carry out the site tests.”

“And then we carry out repeated site tests to ensure relevant safety regulation requirements are fulfilled.”

Cheris Lee, deputy director of operating and metro segment, said there are currently no plans to increase train frequencies on the line despite the system upgrade.

“For the Tsuen Wan Line, we are running a very frequent service during peak hours already,” she said.

“So we are in the view that the existing train frequencies can meet the demand already.”

The system upgrade will next be extended to the Island, Kwun Tong and Tseung Kwan O lines.



Edited by Thomas McAlinden