MTR Metro Cammell EMU (DC)

Metro Cammell EMU (M-Train) CM/CT/I/G/H/Q stock M-Trains passing through a tunnel portal Disneyland Resort Line M-Train at Disneyland Resort station Interior of the refurbished M-Train MTR Disneyland Resort Line train (Interior, Center)
In service	1 October 1979-present (Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tseung Kwan O Line) 1 August 2005-present (Disneyland Resort Line)
Manufacturer	Metro Cammell, GEC Alstom
Built at	Washwood Heath, Birmingham, England Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong[1]
Replaced	Replacing to CSR Sifang EMU between 2018 and 2023.
Constructed	1976-1997 (Local), 2003-2004 (Disneyland Resort Line)
Entered service	1979-1989 (Phase 1 & 2), 1994-1998 (Phase 3), 2005 (Disneyland Resort Line)
Refurbishment	United Goninan (1998-2001)
Scrapped	Remaining all from 2018 onwards (except for Disneyland Resort Line)
Number built	768 cars (95 sets + 6 surplus cars + 3 Disneyland Resort Line sets)
Number in service	All except D737, D784, B/C493 and B/C459
Number scrapped	Starting from 2018 (except Disneyland Resort Line)
Formation	8 cars per trainset (4 and 6 cars in the past) (Local) 4 cars per trainset (Disneyland Resort Line)
Fleet numbers	Axxx, Bxxx, Cxxx, Dxxx, Pxxx, Qxxx
Capacity	45 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 construction	Aluminum
Car length	22,850 mm (74 ft 11.6 in) 22,000 mm (72 ft 2.1 in) 23,160 mm (75 ft 11.8 in)
Width	3,200 mm (125.98 in)
Height	3,910 mm (153.94 in)
Floor height	1,100 mm (43.31 in)
Doors	5 per side 3 per side(Only      Disneyland Resort Line)
Maximum speed	Design 90 km/h (56 mph) Service 80 km/h (50 mph)
Traction system	GEC GTO Chopper control with GEC G313 DC traction motor I-Stock: Mitsubishi RCT Chopper with GEC G313 DC traction motor
Power output	85 kilowatts (114 hp) per motor
Acceleration	1.0 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2)
Deceleration	service: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 method	Pantograph
Braking system(s)	Regenerative blend with air brake
Safety system(s)	Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company Ltd ATC with subsystems of ATO GOA 2 (STO), ATP and ATS      Disneyland Resort Line: Thales SelTrac® CBTC ATC with subsystems of ATO GOA 4 (STO), ATP, NetTrac ATS, CBI
Coupling system	BSI Coupler (Multi-Function Couplers) Semi-permanent coupler
Track gauge	1,432 mm (4 ft 8 3⁄8 in)

Internal Destination Indicator, Indicates travelling direction, stopping stations, interchange suggestions and door opening side

Exterior of an unrefurbished M-Train EMU

Interior of an unrefurbished M-Train EMU, taken in 1991.

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. 768 cars were ordered, built by Metro Cammell (now Alstom Transportation), and were refurbished starting in 1998 by the Australian company United Goninan.

Features

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 modernise 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. It is also interesting to note that 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 80 km/h, and are fitted for driverless operation (though they are not operated as such except the refurbished trains on the Disneyland Resort Line). 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.

Variants

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

• CM-Stock - 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 (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"^[3]), 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 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 were the third batch of trains, 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. They were the last batch of MTR M-Trains to be made by Metro Cammell before being acquired by GEC Alsthom (now Alstom) in 1989.

Phase 3

The H-Stock trains were delivered from 1994–1998 and some units were refurbished to serve on the Disneyland Resort Line (the remaining units serve on the Tseung Kwan O Line from 2002 to 2010, and Kwun Tong Line from April 2010 onwards). 88 cars were built locally in 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.

Surplus Cars

The surplus cars are B/C459, B/C493, D737 and D784. 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. 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. The original surplus cars were A/C115 and B/C404.

Reorganization

Reorganization of cars began in December 2002. The Surplus Cars are shown in brackets. These were the following fleets (except ex-Disneyland Resort Line Fleets):

• (A115-C115)
• A101-C101 + D649 + B430-C430 + D627 + C236-A236
• A103-C103 + D606 + B461-C461 + D623 + C184-A184
• A111-C111 + D697 + B463-C463 + D778 + C166-A166
• A121-C121 + D729 + B447-C447 + D730 + C172-A172
• A139-C139 + D641 + B408-C408 + D709 + C156-A156
• A119-C119 + D738 + B467-C467 + D658 + C116-A116
• A217-C217 + D644 + B432-C432 + D617 + C214-A214
• A131-C131 + (D737) + (B404-C404) + (D784) + C176-A176
• A195-C195 + B455-C455 + B477-C477 + C200-A200
• A227-C227 + D661 + (B459-C459) + D674 + C170-A170
• A137-C137 + D715 + (B493-C493) + D705 + C162-A162
• A195-C195 + D611 + B434-C434 + D608 + C222-A222
• A161-C161 + D646 + B453-C453 + D712 + C118-A118
• A177-C177 + D718 + B420-C420 + D713 + C220-A220
• A137-C137 + D715 + B455-C455 + D705 + C162-A162
• A167-C167 + D710 + B431-C431 + D721 + C140-A140
• A223-C223 + D758 + B466-C466 + D724 + C182-A182

Disneyland Resort line stock

A Disneyland Resort Line train parking at the Sunny Bay station.

The cab of a Disneyland Resort Line M train.

When 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. For details, please refer to the information below.

There are a major amount of differences on the trains.

• For B/C490, a cab has been added to the B car
• The trains have only 3 doors per side, which makes it 6 in total.
• The trains use Electric 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 (3.28 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 (3.28 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 (4.59 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.

Trains Lists and Arrangements

Disneyland Resort Line

Before modification, the original trains were: (shown in brackets)

• A199-C199 + D759 + B469-C469 + D782 + (C274-A274)
• A215-C215 + D680 + B436-C436 + D716 + (C284-A284)
• A251-C251 + D708 + (B490-C490) + D683 + C180-A180
• (A281-C281) + D754 + B411-C411 + D691 + C114-A114
• (A289-C289) + D783 + B402-C402 + D706 + C218-A218
• (A291-C291) + D611 + B434-C434 + D608 + C222-A222

Kwun Tong Line and Tseung Kwan O Line

Tsuen Wan Line

Island Line

Replacement

All 93 sets will be retired from service around 2018-2023. MTR had originally planned to replace 78 trainsets.^[4] However, in July 2015, MTR announced that CSR Qingdao Sifang had won an order to build 93 trainsets that is set to replace all M-Trains by 2023, on grounds that it was "better value for money".^[4] In addition, the current Westinghouse signalling system will be phased out together with the M-Trains.

However, the Disneyland Resort Line trains will not be changed. This means A/C274, A/C281, A/C284, A/C289, A/C291 and B/C490 will continue their service on the Disneyland Resort Line as P/Q501-506 with GoA 4 (automated trains).

See also

• List of driverless trains

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to M-Trains (MTR).

• 1970s Metro-Cammell Products - Metcam.co.uk (dedicative site)