Trains on the MTR

A little girl holding a pole in guidance of her mother on a Tung Chung Line train

Four variations of the MTR rolling stock operate on the MTR Network of Hong Kong. All trains are electric multiple units (EMUs), equipped with ATC and ATP, operating on 1432 mm rail gauge and are powered by 1500 V DC through overhead electrification. Except the rolling stock of the Airport Express, all other trains are designed with features to cope with high density passenger traffic on stopping services. Examples are the latitudinal seating arrangement, additional ventilation fans and 5 doors on each side per car. MTR is the metro system in the world using the longest (~23 m), widest and highest capacity rolling stocks (~350 passengers/car), with the most number of cars making up a train (8 cars constitute 1 MTR EMU).

Modernization Train (M-Train)

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An M-Stock Train.

Interior of the refurbished M-Train, the oldest trains on the MTR.

The M-Train is the oldest variation of the rolling stock that operates on the MTR. They were built originally by Metro Cammell (now Alstom Transportations), and were refurbished starting in 1998 by the Australian company United Goninan. It is the only variation that uses sliding doors, as opposed to others which use plug-doors. They are currently operating on the Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line and the Tseung Kwan O Line.

The refurbishment process involved altering the fibreglass facade on the exterior ends to modernise their appearance, as well as installation of the advanced digital voice announcement (DVA) and passenger information systems. United Goninan was subsequently awarded a contract to maintain the MTR rolling-stock. It is also interesting to note, that such advances were not integrated into the M-Stock until late 2001.

M-Train is divided into 6 types of stock.Which are:

• M-Stock - Modified Initial System stock (A/C101-170,B/C401-435)
• T-Stock - Tsuen Wan Line Stock A/C171-247 (except A/C182), B/C436-479 (except B/C459)
• I-Stock - Island Line Stock( A/C248-256,B/C459)
• G-Stock - Trains for Eastern Harbour Tunnel extension (A/C182,A/C257-269,B/C480-485)
• H-Stock - Trains For the signalling Upgrade (A/C270-291,B/C486-496)
• Q-Stock - All D Cars(See Below)(D601-788)

• The Traction system of M-Stock and T-Stock trains were changed to Chopper from Cam Shaft in 90's, so they are called CM-Stock and CT-Stock now.

All G-Stock and H-Stock Trains Belong to Tseung Kwan O Line and Disneyland Resort Line.

The cars of the M-Train can be subdivided into four types as follows:

• A cars: cars with driver cab and motor, 22850 mm in length. There are 191 M-Train A cars in the MTR system in 2003.
• B cars: cars with motor, 22000 mm in length. There are 96 M-Train B cars in MTR in 2003.
• C cars: cars with motor and pantograph, 22000 mm in length. There are 287 M-Train C-cars in MTR in 2003.
• D cars: trailers only, 23160 mm in length. In 2003 MTR owns 188 M-Train D cars.

The configuration of a M-train in revenue service is (Up track direction) A-C-D-C-B-D-C-A

Please note that A/C274 A/C281 A/C284 A/C289 A/C291 and B/C490 have been assigned to the Disneyland Resort Line and completely refurbished into new trains as:

• P501- Q501 - Q502 - P502
• P503- Q503 - Q504 - P504
• P505- Q505 - Q506 - P506

Each car is 3000 mm width over body panel, floor to rail is 1100 mm high and roof to rail is 3700 mm high.

A service train has an acceleration of 1.0 m/s², service brake is regenerative blend with air brake at the rate of 1.0 m/s² and emergency brake is air-brake at 1.4 m/s².

The maximum speed for the M-Stock is 80 km/h. Primary suspension is Chevron Springs, while the secondary suspension is air bags. Traction system is through GTO chopper control. Each car has 45 seats and capable of holding 268 standing passengers, with space for wheelchairs.

K-Stock

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Interior of the K-Stock, currently operating on the Kwun Tong Line

K-Stocks come into service for MTR since August, 2002. They are built by Mitsubishi and ROTEM consortium. Originally these trains are designated to serve on the Tseung Kwan O Line, but incompatible signalling apparatus installed in the new trains (running mode rather than the traditional automatic control system found in the M-stock) means that all of the K-stock trains are unable to serve on the Tseung Kwan O Line. As an alternative all of those prototypes are ordered to serve on the Kwun Tong Line.

K-Stock trains have 3 types of cars:

• A cars: cars with driver cab and no motor. In 2003 there are 26 K-Stock A cars in MTR system.
• B cars: cars with motor. In 2003 there are 39 K-Stock B cars in MTR system.
• C cars: cars with motor and pantograph. There are 39 K-Stock C cars in the MTR system in 2003.

Since it is much heavier than M-Train, it does not have any cars similar to D cars in M-Train. The configuration of a K-Stock train in revenue service is A-C-B-C-B-B-C-A.

All K-Stock cars are 22000 mm in length, 3118 mm in width, 3698 mm in height.

Maximum speed of K-Stock is 80 km/h, maximum acceleration is 1.3 m/s², maximum service deceleration rate is 0.8~1.35 m/s², emergency deceleration is 1.4 m/s² This modern train is equipped with the modern 4th generation IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) VVVF converter from Hitachi.

Rolling stock of the TCL

Interior of a Tung Chung Line train.

Trains of the Tung Chung Line are made up of 7 cars up until 2003, and was increased to 8 cars in 2004 when the KCR West Rail was opened. Airport Express and Tung Chung Line uses trains that are dedicated specifically to their respective lines. These two variations are built jointly by Adtranz (now Bombardier Transportations) and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles and manufactured in Spain. TCL trains are capable of running with 10 cars in total. Cars of TCL trains can be divided into 5 types:

• V cars: cars with driver's cab, motor, pantograph. They are 24600 mm in length, with 42 seats, 2 wheelchair spaces and can hold up to 252 standing passengers. In 2003 MTR corporation owns 24 V-cars.
• W cars: cars with motor. They are 22500 mm in length, with 48 seats and can hold up to 252 standing passengers. In 2003 there are 24 W cars in MTR system.
• X cars: X cars are trailers with auto-coupler, they are 22500 mm in length, with 48 seats and can hold 252 standing passengers. In 2003 there are 24 cars in MTR system.
• Y cars: cars with motor and pantograph. Y cars are 22500 mm in length. They have 48 seats and can hold 252 standing passengers. In 2003 there are 12 cars in MTR system.
• Z cars: cars with motor with auto-coupler. They are 22500 mm in length, with 48 seats and capable of carrying 252 standing passengers. There are 12 Z cars in the MTR system in 2003.

The configuration of a TCL train is (Up track direction) V-W-X-Y-W-X-Z-V. Maximum train speed of a TCL train is 135 km/h, maximum acceleration is 1 m/s², maximum service brake rate is 1.1 m/s², emergency brake has deceleration of 1.35 m/s². Traction system of TCL trains is gate turn off thyristor (GTO thyristor)

Rolling stock of the Airport Express

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Interior of the MTR Airport Express train.

Trains of Airport Express Line (AEL) are made up of 7 cars up until 2003 although they can be running with 10 cars per train. Cars of AEL trains can be divided into 6 types:

• E cars: cars with driver cab, motor and pantograph, they have length of 24600 mm, with 60 seats, 1 wheelchair space and can hold 84 standing passengers. In 2003 MTR Corp. has 11 E cars.
• F cars: cars with motor, they are 22500 mm in length, they have 64 seats, 1 wheelchair space and can hold 84 standing passengers. There are 22 F cars in the MTR system in 2003.
• G cars: G cars are trailers with auto-coupler, they are 22500 mm in length and have the same passenger carrying capability as F cars. There are 22 G cars in the MTR system in 2003.
• H cars: cars with motor, auto-coupler and pantograph. They are 22500 mm in length and have the same passenger carrying capability as F cars. There are 11 H cars in the MTR system in 2003.
• J cars: cars with motor and auto-coupler. They are 22500 mm in length and with the same passenger carrying capability as F cars. In 2003 there are 11 J cars in MTR system.
• K cars: cars with driver cab, motor and pantograph. Each K car is 24600 mm in length, K cars do not hold passengers but can hold 13 luggage containers. In 2003 MTR Corp. owns 11 K cars.

Configuration of an AEL train is E-F-G-H-G-J-K. Except for K cars that have 5 doors on each side, all other cars in AEL have 2 door each side. Each seat is fitted with an on-board info-entertainment screen.

Maximum speed of AEL trains is 135 km/h, maximum acceleration is 1 m/s², maximum service deceleration is 1.1 m/s², emergency brake can deliver deceleration of 1.35 m/s². Traction of AEL trains are GTO Thyrsitor.

Disneyland resort Trains

to be added