Fully automatic trains to start running on South Island Line next year, MTR confirms
Driverless trains will run on the MTR's new South Island Line (East) to South Horizons
New fully automatic driverless trains will start running to southern Hong Kong Island next year, the MTR confirmed on Thursday, despite excavation difficulties in the Admiralty section and geological challenges at the Lei Tung stop on Ap Lei Chau.
Some 84 per cent of the overall works of the South Island Line (East) has been completed, said project manager Ken Wong Wai-king. The delayed HK$15.2 billion line - originally due to open this year - will run from Admiralty to South Horizons, with intermediate stops at Ocean Park, Wong Chuk Hang and Lei Tung.
The new line will be only the second - after the Disney Resort Line - with fully automatic trains. The rolling stock features glass windows at the front where a driver's cab would normally sit.
There will be no MTR staff on board at all.
"Fully automatic trains have various benefits," said Wong, citing reliability and flexibility.
An obstacle detection system is also fitted to the front of trains. The MTR was criticised last year when a train killed a stray dog at Sheung Shui MTR station.
Wong also dismissed previous fears the new trains would sit too low, stressing there was ample room between the ground and the carriages.