MTR Metro Cammell EMU (DC)

The Metro Cammell EMU (also known as M-Train) is the oldest variation of electric multiple unit that operates on the MTR rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. A total of 768 cars were built by Metro-Cammell in England and refurbished from 1998 by United Goninan.

Metro-Cammell EMU (M-Train)
CM/CT/I/G/H/Q stock
港鐵市區綫現代化列車
港鐵迪士尼綫現代化列車
M-Train passing through a tunnel portal on the Kwun Tong line
Disneyland Resort line M-Train at Disneyland Resort station
Interior of the refurbished M-Train
MTR Disneyland Resort line train (Interior, Center)
In service1 October 1979-2023 (Tsuen Wan line, Island line, Kwun Tong line, Tseung Kwan O line)
1 August 2005-present (Disneyland Resort line)
ManufacturerMetro-Cammell, GEC-Alstom
Built atWashwood Heath, Birmingham, England
Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong[1]
ReplacedExpected to be replaced by MTR CSR Sifang EMU between 2018 and 2023.
Constructed1977-1994 (Local), 1994 (Disneyland Resort Line)
Entered service1979-1989 (Phase 1 & 2), 1994-1998 (Phase 3), 2005 (Disneyland Resort Line)
RefurbishedUnited Goninan (1998-2001)
ScrappedRemaining all from 2023 onwards (except for Disneyland Resort line)
Number built768 cars (95 sets + 6 surplus cars + 3 Disneyland Resort line sets)
Number in serviceAll except D737, D652, B/C493 and B/C459
Number scrapped3 cars
Formation8 cars per trainset (4 and 6 cars formation at initial service) (Local)
4 cars per trainset (Disneyland Resort line)
Fleet numbersAxxx, Bxxx, Cxxx, Dxxx, Pxxx, Qxxx
Capacity45 seats,
268 standing per car
(313 passengers per car,
2504 passengers per train)
Operator(s)MTR
Depot(s)Kowloon Bay
Tsuen Wan
Chai Wan
Tseung Kwan O
Siu Ho Wan
Line(s) served     Kwun Tong line
     Tsuen Wan line
     Island line
     Tseung Kwan O line
     Disneyland Resort line
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminum
Car length22,850 mm (74 ft 11.6 in)
22,000 mm (72 ft 2.1 in)
23,160 mm (75 ft 11.8 in)
Width3,110 mm (122.44 in)
Height3,910 mm (153.94 in) (with pantograph folded) 3,700 mm (145.67 in) (without pantograph) (top of air conditioner flush with crest of roof)
Floor height1,100 mm (43.31 in)
Platform height1100 mm
Doors5 sets of 55 inch wide doors per side
3 sets of 55 inch wide doors per side (only      Disneyland Resort line)
Maximum speedDesign 90 km/h (56 mph)
Service 80 km/h (50 mph)
Traction systemGEC GTO Chopper control with GEC G313 AZ traction motor
I-Stock: Mitsubishi RCT Chopper with GEC G313 AZ traction motor
Power output85 kilowatts (114 hp) per motor
TransmissionWN Drive
Acceleration1.0 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2)
Decelerationservice:1.0 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2)
emergency:1.4 m/s2 (4.6 ft/s2)
Electric system(s)1.5 kV DC catenary
Current collection methodPantograph
Braking system(s)Regenerative blend with air brake
Safety system(s)Before 1996:
Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company Block Word ATP with subsystems of ATC ATO GOA 2 (STO),
After 1996:
     Tsuen Wan line
1997:
     Kwun Tong line
     Island line:
Alstom SACEM ATP and ATS, With ATO
2002:
     Tseung Kwan O line:
Siemens Mobility SACEM ATSS with ATC
     Disneyland Resort line: Thales SelTrac® CBTC ATC with subsystems of ATO GOA 4 (STO), ATP, NetTrac ATS, CBI
Coupling systemBSI Coupler (Multi-Function Couplers)
Semi-permanent coupler
Track gauge1,432 mm (4 ft 8 38 in) (except for West Island line and Kwun Tong line Extension)

Features

Urban line stock

The M-Train, along with the later C-Train and ex-KCR stock, has five sets of double-leaf sliding doors on both sides of each car. This is opposed to K-Stock and A-Stock which use plug doors. They are currently operating primarily on the Tsuen Wan line and Island line but are also operating on the Kwun Tong line and Tseung Kwan O line alongside newer rolling stock. Each car is 3200 mm width over body panel, floor to rail is 1100 mm high and roof to rail is 3910 mm high.

The refurbishment process involved altering the fibreglass facade on the exterior ends to modernize their appearance, as well as the installation of the advanced digital voice announcement (DVA) and passenger information systems. United Goninan was subsequently awarded a contract to maintain the MTR rolling stock. Such advances were not integrated into the M-Stock until late 2001.

A service train has an acceleration of 1.0 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2) (3.6 kilometres per hour per second or 2.24 miles per hour per second), service brake is regenerative blend with air brake at the rate of 1.0 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2) (3.6 kilometres per hour per second or 2.24 miles per hour per second) and emergency brake is air-brake at 1.4 m/s2 (4.6 ft/s2) (5.04 kilometres per hour per second or 3.13 miles per hour per second). The maximum speed for the M-Stock is 90 km/h, which is limited to 80 km/h during normal operation. Trains are also fitted for driverless operation, though they are not operated as such. Primary suspension is chevron springs, while the secondary suspension is air bags. Traction system is through GTO chopper control. Each car has 45 seats and capable of holding 268 standing passengers, with space for wheelchairs.

Another refurbishment was planned (contract C1066-13E) that will update the trains' interior and exterior features to make them feel more modern;[2] however, with their retirement and complete replacement impending, this is unlikely to happen before withdrawal of the stock.

Disneyland Resort line stock

When the Disneyland Resort line opened in 2005, some Second-hand M-Train units were refurbished and assigned to the line. The MTR designed a new driverless train and produced it by refitting existing M-Trains for the line which is designed with a Disney theme in mind. Statues of well-known Disney characters are included inside of the trains, such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Units A/C274, A/C281, A/C284, A/C289, A/C291 and B/C490 of M-Train have been assigned to the Disneyland Resort line and completely refurbished into new trains.

There are major differences on the Disneyland Resort line trains compared to the main line trains.

  • For B/C490, a cab has been added to the B car.
  • The train cars have only 3 doors per side, for a total of 6 doors per car.
  • The trains use electric doors instead of air-powered doors.

Each car is 3,200 mm (10 ft 5.98 in) wide over body panel, floor to rail is 1,100 mm (43.31 in) high and roof to rail is 3,910 mm (12 ft 9.94 in) high.

A service train has an acceleration of 1.0 m/s (3.3 ft/s) (3.6 kilometres per hour per second or 2.24 miles per hour per second), service brake is regenerative blend with air brake at the rate of 1.0 m/s (3.3 ft/s) (3.6 kilometres per hour per second or 2.24 miles per hour per second) and emergency brake is air-brake at 1.4 m/s (4.6 ft/s) 5.04 kilometres per hour per second or 3.13 miles per hour per second. The maximum speed for the M-Stock is 80 km/h (50 mph), and are normally operated automatically without drivers (although the operator's cab area has been retained, visible through the glass window at the train ends). Primary suspension is chevron springs, while the secondary suspension is air bags. Traction system is through GTO chopper control.

Variants

M-Train is divided into 6 types of stock. They are the:

  • CM-Stock - Modified Modified Initial System Stock (A/C101-170, B/C401-435)
  • CT-Stock - Modified Tsuen Wan line stock (A/C171-247, B/C436-458, 460-479)
  • I-Stock - Island line stock (A/C248-256, B/C459)
  • G-Stock - Trains for Eastern Harbour Tunnel extension (A/C257-269, B/C480-485)
  • H-Stock - Trains For the signalling upgrade [3] (A/C270-291, B/C486-496)
  • Q-Stock - All D Cars (See Below) (D601-788)

The traction system of M-Stock and T-Stock trains were changed to Chopper from Cam Shaft in 1992–1995, so they are called CM-Stock and CT-Stock now. All I-Stock trains belong to Island line, but all G-Stock, Q-Stock and H-Stock trains belong to Kwun Tong line, Tseung Kwan O line and Disneyland Resort line respectively.

The configuration of a M-train in revenue service is (Up track direction) A-C-D-C-B-D-C-A (in 8cars) or (Up track direction) A-C-C-A (4cars, unavailable now). There was once a type of trains with all motor A-C-C-B-C-B-C-A (also known as "solid train"[4]), but it was ungrouped into Disneyland Resort line trains. Units A/C274, A/C281, A/C284, A/C289, A/C291 and B/C490 have been assigned to the Disneyland Resort line and completely refurbished into new trains (see below.)

Phases

Phase 1

The MTRC placed its first train order with Metro-Cammell in July 1976, initially ordering 140 railway carriages.[5][6] The M-Stock trains (now CM-Stock trains) were the first batch of trains ordered by MTR. They were delivered from 1979–1982, and had their traction systems changed to GTO Chopper from Cam Shaft in 1992–1995. They serve on the Kwun Tong line.

Phase 2A

The T-Stock trains (now CT-Stock trains) were the second batch of trains ordered by MTR. They were delivered from 1982–1985 and also had their traction systems changed to GTO Chopper in 1992–1995. They serve on the Tsuen Wan line.

Only A/C182 changed their traction systems earlier. It was changed from Cam Shaft to RCT Chopper in 1983, then in 1987 it was changed again to GTO Chopper.

Phase 2B

The I-Stock trains, the third batch of trains, were ordered by MTRC for the planned Island line in 1981.[7] They were delivered from 1985–1986 and serve on the Island line.

B/C459 used Cam Shaft till 1987. However, all the other trains used RCT Chopper, while B/C459's parts were from A/C182.

Phase 2C

The G-Stock trains were built for the Eastern Harbour Crossing extension of the Kwun Tong line (became part of the Tseung Kwan O line in 2002), they were delivered from 1988–1989 and still serve on the Kwun Tong line. However, they moved to Tsuen Wan ;ine starting from December 2017. They were the last batch of MTR M-Trains to be made by Metro-Cammell before being acquired by GEC-Alsthom in 1989.

Phase 3

The MTRC signed a contract in March 1992 for 64 new rail cars (48 motorcars, 16 trailers) with an option for an additional 24 carriages. These were delivered by Metro-Cammell as components, with final assembly carried out at the Kowloon Bay Depot.[8] The H-Stock trains were delivered from 1994–1998 and some units were refurbished to serve on the Disneyland Resort line (the remaining units served on the Tseung Kwan O line from 2002 to 2010, and Kwun Tong line from April 2010 onwards. However, they moved to Tsuen Wan line starting from December 2017). 88 cars were built locally at Kowloon Bay depot.

Q-Stock

The first batch of Q-stock D-car (trailer) units were ordered as part of Phase 2A T-Stock (now CT-Stock) trains from 1984–1985, units D601-706 and D707-724; the second batch (units D725-752) were ordered from 1985–1986; the third batch (units D753-763) were ordered from 1988–1989, and the fourth and final batch (units D764-788) were ordered from 1994–1998 as part of Phase 3.

Each car is 3,200 mm (10 ft 5.98 in) wide over body panel, floor to rail is 1,100 mm (43.31 in) high and roof to rail is 3,910 mm (12 ft 9.94 in) high.

Surplus / retired cars

The surplus cars are B/C493 and D737. Some of the useful parts used on those trains have been removed in order to give them to other cars, so it may no longer be used.

The retired / written off cars are B/C459 and D652. B/C459 was taken out of service in 2008 due to motor part issues from A/C254 and lack of Phase 2B parts, so B/C404 took over B/C459 on A/C227 - A/C170 (A/C227 with A/C214 on the Tsuen Wan line). Additionally, D652 was severely damaged in 2019 Central Station Crash, thus it was scrapped and replaced by D784.

The original surplus cars were A/C115, A/C145, A/C273, B/C404 and D784.

Train configurations

Cars of M-Train (original)
car type driver cab motor pantograph car length number
of cars
mm ft in
A car 22,850 74 ft 11.6 in191
B car 22,000 72 ft 2.1 in96
C car 22,000 72 ft 2.1 in287
D car (trailer) 23,160 75 ft 11.8 in188
Cars of M-Train (Disneyland refurbishment)
car type driver cab motor pantograph car length number
of cars
mm ft in
P car 22,850 74 ft 11.6 in6
Q car 22,000 72 ft 2.1 in6

Replacement

All 93 sets will be retired from service around 2021–2023. MTR had originally planned to replace 78 sets.[9] However, in July 2015, MTR announced that CSR Qingdao Sifang had won an order to build 93 sets that is set to replace all M-Trains by 2023, on grounds that it was "better value for money".[9] In addition, the current Westinghouse signalling system will be phased out in favour of a communications-based train control (CBTC) system, similar to that of the West Rail line and South Island line. In the meantime, 36 of the M-Trains have been equipped with CBTC equipment, supplied by Thales, for use on the Tsuen Wan Line as an interim measure while their replacement trains are being delivered.[10]

See also

  • List of driverless trains

References

  1. Phase 3 (H-Stock) trainsets only
  2. http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/tenders/C1066-13E.html
  3. Refers to the upgrade from the original Westinghouse signalling system to SACEM in 1996.
  4. The train unit is A195-C195-B455-C455-B477-C477-C200-A200
  5. "MTR trains contract goes to UK firm". South China Morning Post. 6 July 1976. p. 6.
  6. "How strategy brought success to UK company". South China Morning Post. Financial Times. 2 August 1979.
  7. Perera, Neil (20 December 1981). "MTR awards stock contract". South China Morning Post. p. 9.
  8. Moreira, Peter (20 March 1992). "MTRC to buy 64 rail cars from UK". South China Morning Post.
  9. 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.
  10. "港鐵"換腦" 荃灣線朝早隨時受阻". Ta Kung Pao (in Chinese). 15 November 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
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