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Railways8.2.6 Rail services began to expand considerably from 1979 onwards as the Mass TransitRailway (MTR) run by the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) was opened.Three lines are now open:Yau Ma Tei to Kwun Tong (1979)Central to Tsuen Wan (1980/82)Sheung Wan to Chai Wan (1985/86)8.2.7 Rail traffic was further augmented by the completion in 1983 of the electrificationand double-tracking of the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) main line from HungHorn to Lo Wu and the opening in 1988 of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) systemlinking Tuen Mun and Yuen Long in the Northwest New Territories. The HongkongTramway operating along the north shore of Hong Kong Island carries about thesame passengers in 1988 as in 1976. Railways account for over 25% of the totaldaily public transport boardings by the end of 1988.Buses8.2.8 Bus operations are dominated by CMB and KMB services. CMB holds a franchisefor specific bus routes on Hong Kong Island while KMB holds the franchise forspecific routes in Kowloon and most of the New Territories; both companies sharecross-harbour bus routes. Since the opening of the Northwest Light Rail Transit(LRT) system, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) has operated busservices in the North-west New Territories within a defined Transit Service Area,feeding and supplementing the LRT network in that area. The New Lantao BusCompany holds franchises for specific bus routes on Lantau Island. Buses accountfor 38% of the daily public transport boardings by the end of 1988.Ferries8.2.9 Franchised ferry services are provided by two companies; the Star Ferry Companyoperating three services between Hong Kong island and the southern tip ofKowloon (both the Star Ferry pier and Hung Horn), and the Hongkong and YaumatiFerry Company operating a mixture of cross-harbour ferries and ferry services to theoutlying islands. The franchised ferries are supplemented by some smaller licensedferry operations. Ferries in 1988 accounted for 3% of the daily public transportboardings.Public Light Buses8.2.10 Public minibus services are divided into two classes, visually distinguished by thecolour stripe on the side of the vehicle. The red minibuses operate non-scheduledbut regular services along the main public transport corridors. They are operated byindividuals who are usually grouped into associations which generally cover specificareas or routes. Green minibuses are licensed by Government to operate by route;they have mostly been set up as feeder services operating off the main transportcorridors. In 1988 minibuses accounted for some 16% of the daily public transportboardings.Taxis8.2.11 Three classes of taxi services operate in the Territory; at the end of 1988, the numberof vehicles licensed in each class were as follows:Urban 14334New Territories 2 431Lantau 4016805Taxi's in 1988 accounted for some 11% of the daily public transport boardings.152