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1. Lo Wu train station gets a face-lift

1. Lo Wu train station gets a face-lift
Wendy Leung, The Standard 16 Standard 2006

The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp has spent HK$74 million under the second phase of its program to relieve congestion and improve passenger capacity at Lo Wu station.

The area of one of the station's four platforms has been substantially increased to accommodate an extra 1,900 passengers, KCRC general manager (infrastructure and buildings) Fung Wing-yiu said.

A 40-meter variable-speed travelator has also been added to the south- bound platform, enabling commuters to shorten the walking time to and from the station's main hall.

The travelator is equipped with a sensor which can reduce the speed by 30 percent, thereby saving electricity, if there are few passengers using it.

"We're the first in Hong Kong to use a variable-speed travelator which is more environmentally friendly," Fung said.

Two more platforms at Lo Wu station are also under renovation and will also have variable-speed travelators.

The escalators between the platforms and the main hall have been installed with environmentally friendly lights which can help save HK$18,000 in electricity charges annually, Fung said.

"If these lights prove to be efficient in saving energy, we plan to install them at all East Rail stations. This would allow us to save up to 40 percent of electricity," he added.

The second phase of the renovation program aims to increase passenger capacity to 25,000 from 22,000. It is expected to be completed July next year.

The first phase of the station's upgrading plan, costing HK$200 million, was completed earlier this year.