MTR Phase I LRV

"Phase I LRV" is a colloquial name used to describe a set of seventy light rail vehicles operated by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation and its successor the MTR Corporation on the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Light Rail system since September 1988.
==History==
The Phase I LRV was the first rolling stock operated on the Hong Kong Light Rail system. A contract was awarded to Commonwealth Engineering (Comeng) in August 1985 to produce the vehicles for the line, with 70 cars to be completed by 8 August 1988. Despite multiple issues and setbacks regarding development Comeng managed to produce all 70 cars by the deadline, although numerous issues with the rail system led to delays in the line being opened only on 18 September 1988.
The first car delivered was 1004, delivered via waterway on 26 August 1987. Due to the vehicles being constructed by Comeng the vehicles are colloquially known as the Comeng Cars. Between 2011 and 2013 the entire fleet of trains were refurbished. When not in service, the trains are stationed at Tuen Mun depot. During busier periods up to two cars are coupled together.
==Design==
The Phase I LRVs feature a boxy design with an unpainted body. Originally featuring white and orange accents replicating the livery used on the Kowloon-Canton Railway, the cars were later repainted with a red stripe on the roof, blue stripe surrounding the side windows and yellow cabs; this change happened from 1997 onwards. The front of the cars feature a display with the destination and the route number; originally a cloth rollsign, this was later changed to orange LEDs with an appearance similar to that of the cloth rollsigns. A small orange LED display under the destination and route indicator indicates the train running number. The train's exterior and interior design was conceived by British design firm Design Triangle.
==Specifications==
Construction of the sets is of stainless steel with fiberglass cabs. The sets use AEG GTO chopper control systems; these power AEG ABS 3322.2 DC traction motors. After the sets were refurbished the AEG motors were changed to CRRC Yongji motors. The sets ride on Duewag bogies and use a Duewag TademDrive driveshaft system mated to a Duewag/FWH gearbox.
==Named trains==
1004 was named Light Rail Pioneer as it was the first LRV to arrive from Comeng, while 1070 was named F.D. Snell for Dudley Snell, an important figure within the administration for the Light Rail system. Both names were removed when the trains underwent refurbishment.
1027 was given the temporary name of Light Rail Love on 24 June 1994 and converted into a mobile blood bank. The car was later restored to its original specifications.
==Incidents==
1013 crashed into a container truck making an illegal right turn on 29 July 1994; 1013's driver was thrown from the cab and killed as a result. Four passengers were injured. 1013 was deemed irreparable and scrapped as a result.
A two-car consist comprising of 1027 and 1062 crashed into a container truck near Tin Yue Station on 8 May 2011. 23 passengers were injured. 1027 was immediately withdrawn from service and stored out of service at Tuen Mun Depot for many years until it was removed from the depot's premises in the early morning of 29 October 2022 for scrapping.
1014 crashed into a dump truck near Chung Uk Estate Station on 4 February 2021. 22 passengers were injured. 1014 would be immediately retired from service and turned into a parts donor for the remaining Phase I LRVs.
==Gallery==
KCR I LRV.jpg|Unrefurbished set
MTR I LRV.jpg|1015 in June 2008
Category:Light rail vehicles
Category:Streetcars
Category:Comeng locomotives
Category:KCR trains
Category:MTR trains