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Conclusions7.14.13 Both harbour crossings could provide useful relief to the MTR Nathan RoadCorridor. Of the two, the Fortress Crossing appears to be more useful also providinga way of relieving the busy Kowloon long interchange between the MTR and theKCR.7.14.14 Clearly, these two crossings cannot be considered in isolation from the other urbanrail lines considered. Conclusions are developed in the final section of this Chapter.7.15 The Recommended7.1 5.1 The evaluation of new passenger rail lines reported in this chapter revealed a numberof rail projects which could usefully extend the Territory's rail network. Two mainclasses of projects were identified:(1) extensions to major communities not yet reached by rail.(2) additions to the urban rail network to relieve congestion on existing lines.Rail Links to New Communities7.15.2 Projects were examined to provide rail links to four different communities: JunkBay, the North-West New Territories, Ma On Shan and Aberdeen. It was concludedthat rail lines to Aberdeen and Ma On Shan would be marginal projects at thecurrently expected levels of population. Therefore, the higher priorities are for thelines to Junk Bay and to the North-West New Territories.7.15.3 Detailed consideration of a rail link to Junk Bay is already underway. It is clear thatany such line should be an extension of the MTR system and linked in to theoperations of the MTR Kwun Tong Line.7.15.4 The planning of the link to the North-West New Territories is a more complex matter.Choice of route (from Tsuen Wan to either Yuen Long or Tuen Mun), type of trainoperation and operator have all to be decided. CTS-2 analyses indicate that theroute from Tsuen Wan to Yuen Long has advantages but much would depend onthe detailed engineering feasibility studies of the alternatives. Regarding trainoperations, the evaluations indicate that light rail probably would not be adequatefor future demands but whether operations should be full heavy rail like the MTR orKCR, or some intermediate configuration, remains to be settled.7.15.5 CTS-2 assumed that the North-west New Territories Urban Link would be operatedas an extension of the MTR with through trains operating from Central on HongKong Island to the NWNT terminus. Alternatively, the route could operate as ashuttle to and from Tsuen Wan, with convenient interchange with MTR at thatstation. It is important, however, that the fares on the urban link are fully integratedwith the MTR fare structure to encourage maximum use of this expensive facility.Bus competition should be restricted in line with current policy on inter-modalcoordination. If fare competition is allowed, it would seriously jeopardise theviability of this project.7.15.6 For both the Junk Bay extension and the North-west New Territories Urban Link,the timing of the new rail project should depend on growth in population. However,it can also be observed that the presence or otherwise of a rail link is likely to have astrong effect on the population growth that could be achieved. It is also likely tohave a critical effect on the build up of both Junk Bay New Town, in the case of theJunk Bay extension, and Tin Shui Wai New Town, in the case of the North-westNew Territories urban rail link. It seems clear, therefore, that the new rail lines andthe development of the new towns proceed hand-in-hand, each reinforcing theprospects and utility of the other.146