The newest trains on the MTR network as the ‘Urban Lines Vision Train’ which entered service in November 2022 on the Kwun Tong Line. However that isn’t the only place they have been spotted – they’ve also appeared on the CRRC Qingdao Sifang test track across the border in Mainland China.
CRRC Qingdao Sifang Rolling Stock photo
In 2015 the MTR Corporation originally ordered 78 8-car train sets from CRRC Qingdao Sifang, to replace the aging M-Train stock which first entered service in 1979, but the order was later extended to 93 sets to enable further M-Train stock to be retired.
The first train was completed by 27 September 2017, and underwent testing on the test track at the CRRC Qingdao Sifang factory.
CRRC Qingdao Sifang Rolling Stock photo
CRRC Qingdao Sifang Rolling Stock photo
And a handover ceremony was held with MTR representatives on 21 December 2017.
CRRC Qingdao Sifang Rolling Stock photo
CRRC Qingdao Sifang Rolling Stock photo
The train was then despatched by sea from from Qingdao Port to Siu Ho Wan depot in Hong Kong, arriving on 25 January 2018.
Testing commenced along the Tung Chung Line from 18 March 2018, until an accident at Central station on 18 March 2019 during testing of the new SelTrac signalling system saw the entire fleet withdrawn. As an interim fix, in March 2022 it was decided to instead retrofit the new trains with the legacy SACEM signalling system, testing commencing in August 2022, with passenger service commencing in November 2022.
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Further reading
- MTR Urban Lines Vision Train at Wikipedia
- MTR Urban Lines Vision Train at Wikipedia (Chinese-language)
- Hong Kong subway vehicles rolled off the assembly line at CRRC Sifang at Sina News (Chinese-language)
- Google Earth view of the CRRC Qingdao Sifang factory, including elevated test track at the western end
