Hong Kong’s railway network is an extensive, complex system. Six departments including the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), Buildings Department (BD), Highways Department, Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD), Hong Kong Police Force and Transport Department have collaborated all along to contribute to the planning, design and construction of railway projects, in particular on the opening of the new West Island Line (WIL), Kwun Tong Line Extension (KTE) and South Island Line (East) (SIL(E)) in recent years. The joint team (the team) is delighted to have won the Gold Prize of the Partnership Award in the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2017, a major recognition and encouragement for all colleagues in the team.
Our railway network carries over 5 million passenger trips per day, accounting for about 40% of all trips made on public transport, making railways the backbone of our public transport system and social development. The Government has also put great emphasis on railway development, using rail network expansion to stimulate economic growth and social progress, as well as improve the environment and people’s livelihood. Throughout the entire railway development process: from strategic study, planning, design and construction to approval, statutory inspections and commissioning, the team works closely together to perform the departments’ respective professional duties, making sure that all requirements in fire safety, E&M safety, structural safety and security are met. The team also ensure that the concerns raised in public consultation exercises have been addressed and the scheduled train services have been provided, thus acting as the gatekeeper for the public in the safety and efficiency of the new lines.
The team shares and believes in the mission of maintaining railway safety so that passengers can enjoy a safe journey. The team has long established committees, which have provided effective inter-departmental platforms for the team to communicate and collaborate on the vetting of safety and security aspects for new railway stations, viaducts and tunnels. During the vetting process, the team requested adding many people-oriented features, such as station entrances/exits, pedestrian facilities linking railway stations, transport interchanges, restrooms and lifts inside stations, and noise barriers along the railways.
The various tests and inspections prior to the opening of a new railway line are complex and the timeframe tight, making cooperation among the departments in the team all the more important. The team had set up special task groups on safety, security and service readiness respectively, so as to coordinate work relating to the final stages of vetting, approval, statutory inspections and other pre-opening preparations. As both the KTE and SIL(E) were scheduled to open in 2016, the team had to process a large amount of engineering documents and drawings for vetting and approval. At the same time, FSD, BD and EMSD had to conduct statutory inspections of the two new lines concurrently, which posed a big challenge to the departments’ resources.
Undaunted by the challenges, the team members acted with great commitment and supported each other. At the height of the statutory inspection work, FSD which was the first department required to conduct inspections, saw its manpower under great strain. EMSD therefore “loaned” some technical staff to the FSD, using flexibility to restructure and redeploy manpower allocations.
As both new railway lines interface with existing lines, the team made sure that the various testing works did not interfere with the normal operation of the existing lines. This meant that the statutory inspections, including integrated system testings, had to be conducted after the last train past mid-night and before the first train in the morning. It was a race against time, and many team members worked irregular hours both day and night. All the departments involved showed great passion and wonderful team spirit every step of the way.
Safety is the top priority of new railways, and the focus of the team’s joint efforts. After the opening of several new railway lines in recent years, our railway network now serves all 18 districts in Hong Kong. The new railways have not only greatly improved access to the city’s different districts, they were also well received by the public. Also, they have brought a great deal of good energy to society. The team will continue to work hard, further enhance the collaborative spirit, so as to safeguard more new railway lines to come for Hong Kong people.
