Hong Kong’s rail operations moving to new control center

The Tsing Yi Super Operations Control Centre will become operational at the end of March.

It will handle operations of MTR’s East Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line. The switch over is the first phase of a planned integration of heavy rail services in Hong Kong.

By 2014, all commuter and regional services will be monitored from Tsing Yi. More than $100 million was invested in the new super centre.

Jay Walder, chief executive officer of MTR Corporation, said that because the MTR rail network is fully-integrated, it makes sense for traffic controllers to be able to get an overall picture of what is happening in the network.

The new Super OCC will make it easier for controllers to assess situations arising in the train service and decide on the appropriate action to take. It will also further enhance communication amongst the controllers of different lines.

“More importantly, the new Super OCC is designed with our network expansion in mind. It will house the controls for four of the five new rail lines being constructed,” Walder said/

The OCC integration to Tsing Yi will be undertaken in two phases. The East Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line controls at Fo Tan will be relocated at the end of March, while the Kam Tin West Rail Line controls will be transferred in June.