Peeking behind the high walls, you’ll discover the MTR Tai Wai Depot. It is a crucial hub for Hong Kong’s railway system. This depot is more than just a storage place for trains. It is a hive of activity that keeps the MTR running smoothly.
The MTR Tai Wai Depot is located in Sha Tin, New Territories. More precisely it sits between Tai Wai Station and Hin Keng Station. You can find it southeast of Tai Wai Station near the famous Citybase Garden.
The story of the MTR Tai Wai Depot began in 2003. KCR Corporation built it. It started operations in December 21, 2004. After the merger of two railway corporations, KCR Corporation retained ownership. The depot is leased to the MTR Corporation for operation.
Think of the MTR Tai Wai Depot as a 24-hour operation. It works tirelessly. The depot provides maintenance services for the Tuen Ma Line. It collaborates with the MTR Pat Heung Depot.
During the Kowloon Southern Link project, the MTR Tai Wai Depot played a vital role. It expanded the West Rail Line to accommodate seven-car trains. Later, it expanded again to eight-car trains in 2016. The depot also handled painting and testing for SP1950 trains. It provided temporary parking.
The MTR Tai Wai Depot uses a special design. It separates operational and maintenance areas. Berths and maintenance areas share a base. They are not directly connected. This design improves efficiency.
The depot has a main building. It has three floors. The Hong Kong Railway Academy’s Tai Wai Training Centre occupies two floors. It trains overhead line maintenance staff. The centre also trains Tuen Ma Line drivers and station staff. The second floor houses a staff canteen.
The MTR Tai Wai Depot has 15 berths. These berths are mainly located below phases one to five of Citybase. The berths are divided into five groups with eleven tracks. Most groups have three berths. In total, the depot can accommodate 80 train cars. Inside the buildings, there are four maintenance pits. Two maintenance pits near Che Kung Temple Road allow for limited maintenance work. These pits have adjustable overhead lines. The ground is lowered allowing staff to work under the trains. Technicians can access the train’s undercarriage.
The maintenance building is located near phase two of Citybase. It has four maintenance tracks. Workers perform most maintenance tasks here. Heavy-duty cranes lift components from the train roofs. The overhead lines use a retractable design. This allows trains to enter and exit without obstructing crane operations.
The depot management center coordinates operations. It manages train arrivals and departures. It also schedules maintenance and cleaning. The center handles train failures and track incidents. The depot management center operates 24/7.
The train-washing machine sits at the depot’s south end. Auxiliary tracks connect to Hin Keng Station’s concourse level. Trains needing washing move slowly through the washing machine. Multiple machines spray water and scrub the train.
Near the Holy Family Canossian School, a connecting line links the Tuen Ma Line. It joins the East Rail Line southbound track. Diesel engines pull trains to Ho Tung Lau Depot for overhauls.
At the depot’s southwest corner, two main lines connect to Hin Keng Station. One of these lines has an infrared camera. It monitors pantograph carbon strip wear. Wheel and brake system inspection devices are also installed.
The MTR Tai Wai Depot has two test tracks. One connects to the northwest exit and entry line. The other connects to the westernmost berth. A wheel lathe is located on the test track. It allows for regular polishing of train wheels.
The MTR Tai Wai Depot is usually closed to the public. However, pre-arranged groups can sometimes visit. The depot held an open day on February 11, 2007.
In 2017, a fatal accident occurred near Hin Keng Station. A 59-year-old worker was crushed by an engineering train. He had worked for 28 years. The MTR expressed sadness.