MTR Warns Of Service Delay On May 2

The MTR Corporation says the first trains on the West Rail and Ma On Shan lines will depart two hours later than scheduled at 7:30am on May 2, as it carries out tests for when the lines are merged.

The two lines will connect in Hung Hom to form the new Tuen Ma Line, which is expected to fully open in the third quarter of this year.

Trains are already running on part of the new line, between Tai Wai and Kai Tak.

MTR officials said on Wednesday that final-stage tests will be carried out during non-service hours at weekends until June.

But the corporation’s projects construction division general manager, James Chow, said as extra time is required for the tests on May 2, the departure times of the first trains that morning will have to be pushed back.

"In these tests we want to replicate the full line timetable ... different types of scenario planning and also train frequency arrangements. So that's why we have to stretch into the early morning hours," Chow said.

MTR officials said they will deploy around 250 free shuttle buses to the affected stations on the morning in question. Express routes will take people directly to Tsing Yi, Tai Po Market, Sunny Bay, Tai Wai and University stations.

The Tuen Ma Line was supposed to open in 2019, but a construction scandal at Hung Hom Station led to delays to the building work. The authorities also blamed anti-government protesters for slowing down the construction.

The cross-harbour section of the project is slated to open early next year, but officials have said they are facing "challenges" in meeting the target.