Transition from fossil fuel propelled transport to electrified mass transit railway system - Experience from Hong Kong

Abstract

Shifting from fossil fuel propelled vehicle to electrified transport becomes a growing trend and forms part of an energy and transportation policy in many modern cities. Due to improper design, management and operation, many mass transit companies are operating under a tough financial condition. This paper analyzes and discusses the strategy and policy for successful transition from fossil fuel dominant transportation to an electrified mass transit railway system, taking Hong Kong as a study case. The Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system has 98 stations along 10 domestic rail lines of 266.3 km route length, with an average daily passenger number of 4.189 million in this highly dense city with a population of 7.413 million. The Hong Kong MTR system shares 48% of the franchised transport boarding with the expense of only 4.9% of the annual energy consumption in the entire transport sector. In addition to the renowned business model: Rail plus Property model which has been quoted in many literatures, this study analyzes and discusses the design, operation, management, feeder bus service, and the government's policy and strategies on fossil fuel driven vehicle control. Moreover, suggestion on enhancing the existing contingency plan of the MTR operation is proposed.