MTR SP1900/1950 EMU

MTR EMU SP1900 (formerly KCR EMU SP1900; also known as the Millennium Train during the public promotion) is the second model of electric multiple unit rolling stock of Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC), preceded by the Metro Cammell EMU. The trains of this model are currently in service on the East Rail Line, West Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line in Hong Kong. After the MTR Corporation merger, all SP1900 trains replaced their KCR logos with the MTR logos and added a revised route map in the interior without other major alteration to the stock.

Overview

In March 1999, a Japanese joint consortium of ITOCHU, Kinki Sharyo and Kawasaki Heavy Industries won a HK$3.1 billion worth contract in building the new model of passenger commuter train for the KCR. The contract code of these trains is SP1900, based on the technology of JR East E231 series. KCRC has arranged ninety-six cars of 250, in twelve-car configuration, 8 sets of train joining the train fleet of East Rail Line with the existing Metro Cammell EMU. The SP1900 trains started service on the East Rail Line since 2001. It is known for its quiet design compared to former EMUs.

The remaining 154 cars were reserved until the inauguration of West Rail Line in December 2003. They has been arranged in seven-car configuration, with 22 sets of trains running on the system.

In December 2000, KCRC reordered 72 cars of the same model, with different contract code, SP1950, prepared for the inauguration of Ma On Shan Line in December 2004, totalling 18 sets of train in four-car configuration.

In January 2006, another contract KRS991 was signed by the KCRC, ordering an additional 34 compartments of the same model, in preparation for the Kowloon Southern Link, which was opened in 2009. Twenty-eight of them were formed into four seven-car trains, and the remaining six compartments joined eight existing ones from two trains on Ma On Shan Line to form another two seven-car trains. The new trains arrived from October 2007 and now serve the West Rail Line.^[1][2][3]

Signalling issues resulted in trains on the East Rail Line being installed with TBL (enhanced with ATP). Trains on the other two routes has been installed the SelTrac (ATO / ATP). The control and monitor panel of driver cab is different between the two controlling systems, in spite of the fact that they're mounted on the same model of train.

Design and capacity

Exteriorly the "head" car, D car, presents a slightly bullet train head for better acceleration against air drag in higher speed. Exterior livery is almost the same as East Rail Line Metro Cammell EMU, with five sliding doors on each side per standard compartment and two on each side per first class compartment (1 is unused); the interior of SP1900 is yellowish with blue floor.

Interior design resembles the MTR Modernization Train, featuring the fully latitudinal seating arrangement and interiorly passable interface which is wider than the refurbished East Rail Line Metro Cammell EMU. Each car has mounted six LCD monitors and broadcasting the looping daily TV news provided by Cable TV Hong Kong (Newsline Express), advertisements and safety guidelines with announcement. Two small video cameras are mounted in opposite positions on each car for driver to keep the train under surveillance.

Whereas manufacturer Kinki Sharyo listed capacity (standing and seating) upward of 430 for D-cars and 452 for others, as well as 72 seats for first-class carriages,^[4] MTR's corporate publications specifies that car capacities in the three lines as "52 seated and up to 286 standing", with first-class compartment allowing "72 seated and up to 144 standing".^[5]

In 2007, KCRC introduced the "Art Unlimited" Art Train on 1 set for East Rail and 1 set for West Rail. Featuring pro-modern plane art exhibition dedicated by public volunteers on both exterior and interior of the train compartments. The posters were removed right before the merger of two operators by the end of same year.

Major incidents

At 09:15 on February 14, 2007, a passenger train of West Rail SP1900 (D305/306) broke down when one of the transformers mounted on the train roof exploded. It is suspected that the overheated transformer caused its insulating oil to vaporize, thus causing the explosion. In addition, the circuit breaker of the transformer apparently failed to cut the power supply to the transformer.

The scene was in the Tai Lam Tunnel southbound section, about 2 km from Tsuen Wan West Station. Around 650 passengers had to evacuate through the dark tunnel to the station, and around 340 people returned to the ground through a ventilation shaft at Chai Wan Kok. 11 passengers were sent to the hospital. Train services returned to normal after four hours.^[6]

As a gesture of apology, Mr Michael Tien, the KCRC chairman, announced that the West Rail would be opened for free rides on February 21, 2007, the first working day after the Chinese New Year holiday.^[7]

Train configurations

The configuration of a SP1900 train on East Rail Line in revenue service is (southbound) D-P-M-H-C-H-M-P-F-M-P-D (northbound). For West Rail Line, 7-car trains have revenue service of (southbound) D-P-M-C-M-P-D (northbound) and 8-car trains have revenue service of (southbound) D-P-M-H-C-M-P-D (northbound). SP1950 train on Ma On Shan Line is (southbound) D-P-M-D (northbound).

• The English letter prefix indicates the type of car.

East Rail Line SP1900 (8 sets)

West Rail Line SP1900/SP1950/KRS991 (29 sets)

Ma On Shan Line SP1950 (16 sets)

8-car organization

East Rail Line SP1900 (2 sets)

West Rail Line SP1900/SP1950/KRS991 (3 sets)

Ma On Shan Line SP1950 (1 set)

Notes

Gallery

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  An SP1900 train in Tai Wai Station

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  First class compartment of East Rail Line

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  Train doors of West Rail Line SP1900

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  Ma On Shan Line SP1950

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  Driver control panel of Ma On Shan Line SP1950

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SP1900/1950 EMUs (MTR).