Evolution of rolling stock and signalling compatibility design management: a Hong Kong MTR experiences

The Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTR) in Hong Kong has a good record in the acquisition of efficient traction equipment and safe signalling system including the world´s first retrofitting project, called the ATC replacement project, which is to retrofit a new signalling system into the existing railway network with the introduction of three phase drives into the system came a new interest in signalling compatibility. This led to major development in design management in which the system design approach became a dominant factor. This paper describes some of the background to this design management development and presents the new system assurance programmes specifically designed for the construction works of both present and future MTR extensions