The new signalling system of the MTR Tsuen Wan Line will be commissioned on 15 March

MTR announced that the new signaling system of the Tsuen Wan Line has been fully tested and approved by the government, and will complete the system switch in the early morning of the 15th of next month during non-operating hours, and will be officially put into service from the first train on the same day after confirming normal operation. MTR said that the new system may experience a "run-in period" in the early stages, but it will not affect driving safety.

According to reports, the current signaling system of the MTR urban line has been used for nearly 30 years. The new system of the Tsuen Wan Line adopts wireless communication technology and operates on the principle of "Moving Block", which is more advanced than the existing "Fixed Block" system.

Mr Chan Hing-keung, Head of Train Engineering Services and I&T of the MTRCL, said that the new system allows trains to operate in "moving interval" mode and automatically maintain a safe distance in a dynamic environment. "The new system not only improves safety, but also improves the efficiency and flexibility of train operations, allowing us to adjust service schedules more effectively when needed." He said.

The MTR pointed out that the new signalling system has been successfully applied on the Tuen Ma Line and the East Rail Line. The new system of the Tsuen Wan Line has completed all testing work over the past year and a half, including multiple field tests and simulated operation during non-operating hours, in preparation for official commissioning.

However, MTR expects that there may be a certain degree of "run-in period" in the early stage of the new system's actual operation. Ms Lee Yuen-ling, Deputy Director (Train Management and Local Railways) of the MTRCL, said, "Our signalling system is connected to many systems, including trains, curtain doors, communication equipment, etc., so we expect a run-in period. What is the run-in period? It may be that when the train stops at the station, it may be a little bit difficult to stop in the right position, or the cooperation between the door and the curtain door needs to be broken in, or the train will adjust its speed when driving in individual sections. ”

Ms Lee stressed that these situations are normal in the adaptation stage, and the MTRCL has formulated a comprehensive contingency and risk management plan to ensure overall traffic safety and service stability. After the stable operation of the new signalling system, the old British trains currently in use on the Tsuen Wan Line will be gradually replaced with new domestic trains to cope with the system upgrade and enhance the overall service quality.

The MTR also announced that the urban line signalling system renewal project will proceed according to the established timetable. After the completion of the renewal of the Tsuen Wan Line this year, the Hong Kong Island Line project will commence next year, followed by the Kwun Tong Line and the Tseung Kwan O Line, with the goal of completing a comprehensive upgrade of the signalling system of the entire urban line by 2029.

In the early stage of commissioning of the new system, the MTRCL will temporarily retain the existing signalling system as a backup measure to enhance risk management and response capabilities to ensure the continued safety and reliability of railway services.

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