HONG KONG, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Peak Tramways Company Limited announced on Wednesday that the sixth generation Peak Tram will be officially put into operation on Saturday.
The fifth generation Peak Tram officially ceased operation back in June 2021 for an upgrade project.
The sixth generation Peak Tram has a track length of 1,278 meters, and a capacity for 210 passengers, up from 120 in the previous generation. The tramcars are painted in green, a signature color of the Peak Tram.
The upgrade project of the tramcars included the replacement of all haulage, control and signaling systems, ropes and track rails. The upgraded tramcars offer a wealth of integrated upgrades, including larger internal space and greatly improved access for people with disabilities.
May Tsang, general manager of the Peak Complex, said that the upgrade project for the Peak Tram costs nearly 800 million Hong Kong dollars (101 million U.S. dollars), while the Central terminus has been upgraded to provide waiting areas that would accommodate up to 1,300 people.
According to the owner and operator of the Peak Tram, they wish to provide guests with brand-new visitor and passenger experiences, enhanced technology, and a spectacular experiential journey on the new tramcars, while also preserving the heritage aspects of the Peak Tram.
Opened in 1888, the Peak Tram is one of the world's oldest and most famous funicular railways. Carrying passengers between Hong Kong's Central business district and the Peak on a daily basis, the Peak Tram terminates at the Peak Tower shopping and entertainment complex and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hong Kong. ■
