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The Ma On Shan Rail (Chinese: 馬鞍山鐵路, abbreviated as 馬鐵) is an extension of the KCRC East Rail network in Hong Kong.
Overview
The line starts at Tai Wai station in Tai Wai, Shatin and ends at Wu Kai Sha station, Wu Kai Sha, totalling 11.4 km or 16 minutes' journey. It has a maintenance centre at Tai Wai and nine stations. Construction began on 12 February 2001 and the line opened on 21 December 2004, six days earlier than the proposed opening date. Its interchange with the East Rail in Tai Wai does not have ticket gates in between, and a combined trip from either line to the other counts as one ride. Most of the line, including stations, were built elevated on reserved lands along the eastern side of Sha Tin and Ma On Shan. Trains running on this line resemble the ones running on West Rail, but are in a four-car configuration instead. Most platforms have provision for eight-car trains if patronage increases.
There are about 50,000 people living next to this railway line, mostly walking distance to a station. Some residents have complained that the trains are noisy or that it costs more than a bus ride to the same destination.
The fare for a trip on the line varies from HK$3.2 to HK$5.8 depending on the number of stations travelled. The fare from Ma On Shan to East Rail stations in Kowloon varies from HK$8.2 to HK$11.
Over a thousand passengers went to the Tai Wai Terminus to take the first train on the first day of service. However, just an hour after service commenced, one train had minor door defects, causing a three minute delay.
After the opening of the Ma On Shan Rail, the usage of buses and taxis in the area decreased by as much as 50%. It was reported that some bus routes operated by KMB saw ridership decrease by one-third just a few days after the railway opened.
Stations
The stations of this line are as follows. All of them are in the Sha Tin District:
Trivia
Road and rail traffic in Hong Kong moves on the left, but Ma On Shan Rail is an exception. This line is aligned to the east of KCR East Rail, and the two southbound tracks are immediately next to each other at their connection in Tai Wai. This design is to speed up interchange to the East Rail to Kowloon during morning commute.
External links
"KCR Ma On Shan Rail"