Out in the New Territories of Hong Kong the MTR Light Rail system operates a relatively homogeneous fleet of light rail vehicles, split up into five ‘Phases’ delivered between 1988 and 2022. But there is one oddity in the fleet – the handful of powered trailer cars.
Taking a look around
Trailer cars on the MTR Light Rail are a tad tricky to spot, as light rail vehicles can couple up with a classmate to form a two car train.
Coupled up in the middle.
A ‘C’ sign being used to indicate the rear of a coupled LRV set.
But the second vehicle in this consist is different to the rest.
The trailers have an angled front end much like their conventional cousins.
And a pantograph on the roof.
But lack the large windscreen and destination board on the front.
Passengers able to use the space normally dedicated to the drivers cab.
But the trailers still have a set of hostler controls hiding in a cabinet.
And a second cabinet of controls beneath the right side windscreen.
Replicating the controls found inside a standard light rail vehicle.
Which allows the trailers to be moved around the depot under their own power.
CC-BY-SA photo by Loyinwai, via hkrail.fandom.com
Some history
The first trailers did not enter service on the Light Rail system until 1992, with the arrival of the Phase 2 LRVs built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan. Two types of car were built: D cars (motor car with driving cab) and MT cars (motored trailer car). The 20 cab cars were numbered 1071-1090, while 10 trailers were numbered 1201–1210.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries photo
In the years that followed, neither the Phase 3 LRVs from 1997 or the Phase 4 LRVs from 2009 featured trailer cars.
As of 2022 the Phase 2 LRVs are currently being withdrawn from service, replaced by the new Phase 5 LRVs built by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock.
As with all other LRVs, they can be coupled up to their classmates.
But the decision was made for this order to include 10 trailer cars.
Standard Phase 5 LRVs are numbered 1133-1162, and the trailer cars 1211-1220.
Sources
- Phase 2 LRVs at Wikipedia (Chinese-language)
- Phase 5 LRVs at Wikipedia (Chinese-language)
