The Metro Cammell EMU (also known as M-Train or Modernisation Train) () is the oldest variation of electric multiple unit that operates on the MTR rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. A total of 768 cars were built by Metro-Cammell in England (and its successor GEC-Alsthom) between 1977 and 1994, and refurbished from 1998 to 2001 by United Goninan.
Features
Urban line stock
The M-Train, along with the later C-Train, TML C-train, R-train and ex-KCR stock, has five sets of double-leaf sliding doors on both sides of each car, to facilitate rapid boarding and exiting. This is opposed to the K-Train and AdTranz-CAF trains, 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 width over body panel, floor to rail is high, and roof to rail is 3 high.
A service train has an acceleration of (), service brake is regenerative blend with air brake at the rate of () and emergency brake is air-brake at (). The maximum speed for the M-Train is , which is limited to during normal operation. Trains are also fitted for driverless operation with a single train operator in each train opening and closing doors and monitoring the route. Primary suspension is chevron springs, while the secondary suspension is air bags. Traction system is mostly through GTO chopper control. Each carriage has 45 seats and capable of holding 268 standing passengers, with space for wheelchairs, giving a total capacity of just over 2500 passengers, or approximately 3000 passengers under crush load. At the time of its introduction in 1979, the MTR M-Train EMU was believed to have the highest capacity of any metro car in the world.
Although another set of EMU trains from the same manufacturer operated on the East Rail line, there are some significant differences between the two models. The Metro Cammell EMUs of the East Rail line, which are also known as the Mid-Life Refurbishment Train, were formerly operated by the Kowloon-Canton Railway until being taken over by the MTR in 2007. However, the KCRC retained ownership of the MLR Trains. All 29 Mid-Life Refurbishment trains were fully retired by May 2022 and all 93 M-Trains will be expected to be fully retired by 2027.
Disneyland Resort line stock
When the Disneyland Resort line opened in 2005, some second-hand M-Train units originally built in the early-1990s 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. There are major differences on the Disneyland Resort line trains compared to the main line trains. For B/C490, a cab has been added to the B car. The train cars have only 3 doors per side, for a total of 6 doors per car. The trains use electric doors instead of air-powered doors.
Each car is wide over body panel, floor to rail is high and roof to rail is high.
A service train has an acceleration of (), service brake is regenerative blend with air brake at the rate of () and emergency brake is air-brake at . The maximum speed for the M-Stock is , and are normally operated automatically without drivers. However, 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.
Variants
M-Train is divided into 6 types of stock. They are the: CM-Stock - Modified 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)