MTR Urban Lines Vision Train

This article is about the train that runs on the Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, Island and Tseung Kwan O lines. For the train that runs on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, see Vibrant Express.

The MTR Urban Lines Vision Train (traditional Chinese: 港鐵市區綫願景列車; simplified Chinese: 港铁市区线愿景列车) also named MTR CRRC Qingdao Sifang EMU and also known as Q-Train, is a new rolling stock ordered by MTR Hong Kong in July 2015.^[5] They began replacing all of the aging Metro-Cammell EMU (DC) trains starting from 27 November 2022.^[6] The order currently consists of 744 cars (93 trainsets).

Q-Train MTR Urban Lines Vision Train 港鐵市區綫願景列車
MTR Q-Train set A756/A755 entering Kwun Tong station on 14 February 2023.
Inside an MTR Q-train
In service	2022–present
Manufacturer	CRRC Qingdao Sifang
Order no.	C6014-14E
Built at	Qingdao, Shandong, China
Family name	SFM47/47A[1]
Replaced	DC Metro Cammell EMU (M-train)
Constructed	2017–present
Entered service	27 November 2022; 23 months ago (2022-11-27) (Kwun Tong line) 28 January 2024; 9 months ago (2024-01-28) (Island line)
Number built	93 sets (744 cars)
Formation	8 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	A601/A602 – A785/A786
Operators	MTR
Depots	Tsuen Wan Chai Wan Tseung Kwan O Kowloon Bay
Lines served	Kwun Tong line Island line Tsuen Wan line (Future) Tseung Kwan O line (Future)
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel + fibreglass (header)[2]
Train length	184.5 m (605 ft 3.8 in)
Car length	24.6 m (80 ft 8.5 in) (end cars) 22.55 m (73 ft 11.8 in) (intermediate cars)
Width	3.2 m (10 ft 6.0 in)
Height	3.7 m (12 ft 1.7 in)
Doors	5 sets of 51 inch wide doors per side
Maximum speed	90 km/h (56 mph) (Maximum) 80 km/h (50 mph) (service)
Traction system	Mitsubishi Electric MAP-134-15VD305 IGBT–VVVF
Traction motors	24 × Mitsubishi MB-5153-B 130 kW (174 hp) 3-phase AC induction motor[3]
Power output	3.12 MW (4,184 hp)
Acceleration	1 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2)
Deceleration	0.8–1 m/s2 (2.6–3.3 ft/s2) (service) 1.4 m/s2 (4.6 ft/s2) (emergency)
Power supply	DC-AC
HVAC	SIGMA Air Conditioning
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC (Overhead line)
Current collector(s)	Single-armed Pantograph (Brecknell Willis)
UIC classification	2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
Bogies	SDA-140 (C6014-14E) by CRRC Qingdao Sifang
Braking system(s)	Knorr-Bremse KBGM-P electropneumatic and regenerative
Safety system(s)	Thales SelTrac CBTC with subsystems of ATC, ATO under GoA3 (DTO), ATP, NetTrac ATS, CBI) SACEM (retrofitted)
Coupling system	Faiveley[4]
Track gauge	1,432 mm (4 ft 8+3⁄8 in) (except for West Island line and Kwun Tong line extension) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (West Island line and Kwun Tong line extension)

Development

In conjunction with the upgrade of the existing signalling system from SACEM to Advanced SelTrac CBTC, MTR Corporation originally planned for 78 8-car trains to be ordered. This order was made as a replacement to the existing M-Trains, currently the oldest trains on the MTR network, having been in operation since 1979.^[7] 15 M-Trains, excluding those operating on the Disneyland Resort line, were planned to be refurbished. However, this was later dropped as it would be more cost effective to purchase new rolling stock. The rolling stock order was subsequently increased to 93 trainsets at HK$6.05 billion (US$779 million) on grounds that it provided "better value for money".^[5][8] The trains will operate on the Kwun Tong line, Tsuen Wan line, Island line and Tseung Kwan O line. All trainsets were expected to be fully delivered by 2023. By the end of 2022, 19 of the 93 trainsets were delivered to MTR and of which only 3 were in service (all on the Kwun Tong line).^[9][5]

Progress of the trains entering service has been impeded because the aforementioned signalling system replacement program was severely delayed due to a crash on the Tsuen Wan line next to Central station in a test run during off-peak hours on the new signalling system in 2019.^[10][11] MTR blamed Thales for the incident by making three errors during the installation, which led to data not being properly established at crossover junction near Central station. These findings were corroborated by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.^[12]

While a small number of Q-trains have been delivered to Hong Kong since 2018, these trains, except for a few rare test runs, have been parked at the various depots of MTR's Urban Lines and the Siu Ho Wan depot. As the contractor for the SelTrac system, Alstom-Thales, failed to deliver a proper software fix for the system, MTR announced in March 2022 that all 93 trainsets would be retrofitted with SACEM so they can begin operations and replace the oldest M-trains servicing the Kwun Tong Line, so that they can be retired on time. The Q-trains will then continue to use SACEM until it is possible to use SelTrac.^[6][13] On the 21st of August, the train began shadow test runs just after the last train to Whampoa departs. By the end of 2022, eight of the nineteen delivered trainsets had been retrofitted with SACEM.^[9]

On 22 November 2022, MTR announced that the first Q trains will commence operation on the Kwun Tong Line on the 27 November that year. On 27 November 2022 at 8:52, Q train set A753/A754 opened its doors to the public for the first time on the Kwun Tong Line, with the first train commencing operation at Choi Hung station.^[14][15]

On 19 January 2024, MTR announced that the Q train will commence operation on the Island Line on the 28 January that year, with the set A769/A770 starting passenger operations on the line at 9:48 at Chai Wan Station that day.^[16][17]

Design

Wayfinding screen for the Kwun Tong line

The new train sets feature an improved lighting system, new dynamic route maps, double-branched handrails, soft materials for hanging straps, colourful flooring and seats (leaning area, not the seats itself), wider doors, and rubber gangways.^[18] The trains share a similar livery to the new MTR trains delivered since 2016, namely the S-Train, TML C-Train, and R-Train which each run on the South Island line, Tuen Ma line, and East Rail line respectively.

All train doors and coupler systems are made by Faiveley. The coupler systems are automatic and semi-permanent couplers.^[19]

References

1. CRRC Qingdao Sifang (28 June 2019). "香港市区线SFM47A电气调试项目议标公告" (in Chinese (China)).
2. Yau, Cannix (13 July 2016). "MTR Corporation did not consider maker's faulty Singapore trains during tender process for HK$6b contract". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
3. "香港 MTR 車両更新用電機品受注のお知らせ" [Announcement of order for electrical equipment for Hong Kong MTR rolling stock renewal] (Press release) (in Japanese). Mitsubishi Electric. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
4. "Faiveley Transport to equip the new Hong Kong Metro fleet with couplers and door system" (Press release). Faiveley Transport. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
5. Mok, Danny (23 July 2015). "MTR ditches UK-made trains to spend HK$6 billion with mainland Chinese manufacturer". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
6. "Announcement of audited results for the year ended 31 December 2021" (PDF) (Press release). MTR Corporation. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
7. "Thales and Alstom to supply advanced CBTC signalling system to Hong Kong's seven metro lines | Thales Group". www.thalesgroup.com. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
8. Goh, Brenda (23 July 2015). "CRRC says wins China's largest metro train order". Reuters. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
9. "Annual Report 2022: Connecting the Future" (PDF). MTR Corporation. 9 March 2023. p. 43.
10. "MTR Strengthens Monitoring over Contractor of New Signalling System as Software Implementation Errors were Identified as Causes of Tsuen Wan Line Incident on 18 March 2019" (PDF) (Press release). MTR Corporation. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
11. Tsang, Denise; Lam, Jeffie; Yau, Cannix (18 March 2019). "Hong Kong MTR, hit by train collision, suffers second setback as woman falls on tracks at Kowloon Tong". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
12. Tsang, Denise (5 July 2019). "MTR Corp blames Thales for crash that closed section of Tsuen Wan line for two days – but government slams over reliance on French contractor". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
13. Kong, Dimsumdaily Hong (11 September 2022). "New MTR "Q-Train" to be put in service by end October". Dimsum Daily. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
14. "New MTR Trains to Commence Passenger Service on Kwun Tong Line Record High Investment in Replacing Trains to Enhance Service" (PDF). MTR. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
15. "Hong Kong rail fans flock to take first passenger rides on new Q-train". South China Morning Post. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
16. Standard, The. "MTR adds eight-car trains to the Island Line". The Standard. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
17. Standard, The. "Rail fans welcome mainland-made Q-train on Island line". The Standard. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
18. "MTR Awards Major Contract for Replacement of 93 8-Car Trains Corporation's Largest-Ever Order of New Rolling Stock" (PDF) (Press release). MTR Corporation. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
19. "FAIVELEY TRANSPORT TO EQUIP THE NEW HONG KONG METRO FLEET WITH COUPLERS AND DOOR SYSTEMS". Faiveley Transport. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.