Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1

Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1 一號 (美岩) 綫一期
Hung Ngai Tung station platform (taken on 20 October, 2023)
Overview
Abbreviation	L1 (MEL)
Status	Operational (Mesa - Tai Po) (Mei Foo Wan - Tai Po) Work in Progress (Haymarket, Zuidbaai Centraal, Chung Kong, Chi Chuk, Ying Mo, Yuen Chow Kok, Tai Po)
Owner	WLT
Locale	West Denthrope (Mesa) Resort East North Tundra Zuidbaai The Biomes at X -4500 Northern Snowland Sakura Stream West Lake
Termini	Mesa / Mei Foo Wan Tai Po
Connecting Lines	Harbour Line
	Line 3 (Cyan Gray Line) (WIP)
	Cinderace Line (WIP)
	Jigglypuff Line (WIP)
	Resort Ferries
	Lilac Light Rail (WIP)
	Oculink Red Line (WIP)
	Metro Marble Line
	Hillside Line
	Light Rail Metro
	BCT Blue Line
	Shinx Line
	Furret Line
	Azalea Cyan Line
	Sightseeing Local Line
	Sightseeing Line
	Wilds Railway SW Plains Line
	Wong Yip Lung (Dragon)
	Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line)
	Wilds Railway Mimura Line
Stations	13 (Opened) 5 (Work in Progress)
Service
Operator(s)	WLT
Service Hours	04:36 - next day 03:11 (UTC+8)
Frequency	Every 1 - 8 mins1)
Depot	Chung Kwo Kok Depot2)
Rolling Stock	SP1900 Train MLR Train (small variant)
History
Opened3)	First open: 25 September, 2022 (Northern Snow Village - Birch Hill) 22 December, 2022 (Birch Hill - Kwong Chow) 24 April, 2023 (Mesa to Northern Snow Village) 18 May, 2024 (Kwong Chow - Tai Po) After renovation: 31 December, 2023 (Hung Ngai Tung - Kwong Chow) 16 January, 2024 (Mesa to Northern Snow Village) 18 May, 2024 (Northern Snow Village to Mesa, Northern Snow Village - Hung Ngai Tung) 2 July, 2024 (Mei Foo Wan - Tung Yuen)
Technical
Line Length	~20.8 km
Number of Tracks	Double Track
Gauge	1435 mm
Electrification	25 kV AC (Sakura Stream Junction - Providence) Non-electrified (Other sections)
Operating Speed	Average: 47 km/h (13.1 m/s) Maximum: 130 km/h (36.1 m/s)
Signalling System	MTR Mod's Signalling (with advanced speed controlling)
Route Map

Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1 (Chinese: 一號 (美岩) 綫一期), is a rapid transit service operated by West Lake Transport Authority (WLT), from Mesa station and Mei Foo Wan station to Tai Po station. The name comes from being the first rapid transit line WLT has ever planned, with two future permanent termini Mesa station and Yanjiang Mineshaft station. The Mei Foo Wan Branch / Northern Transverse Link adds in another “Me” side terminus.

The line is currently around 20.8 km long, connects up West Denthrope (Mesa), Resort, East North Tundra, Zuidbaai, Northern Snowland, Sakura Stream Area and West Lake Area, forming a western N-S connection and a SW-NW-NE half circular link.

Line colour is orchid magenta inspired from real life KCR West Rail and West Rail Line⁴⁾.

The line is first proposed as a light rail service in the West Lake Area serving Chung Kwo Kok, Kwong Chow, Tai Po, Chik Shek Wan and nearby rapid transit station Providence and Yanjiang Mineshaft. It will branch off at Kwong Chow to serve the area at the east of West Lake, connect Red Leaves as well.

Later, the branch is separated as another rapid transit line connecting Spawn area with Kwong Chow, via the east of West Lake, which is known as WLT Line 2.

The original light rail shuttle is also upgraded to a rapid transit line for future expansions. Sections between Chung Kwo Kok to Suet Yuen has also moved from surface or elevated to underground due to the deep underground level⁵⁾ of platforms in Yanjiang Mineshaft.

Coincidentally, Shimano MTR starts it's operations and develops westward from Northern Snowland. The first line Shinx Line starts service from 22 August, 2022 without any line connecting to other network. An extension from Providence to Northern Snow Village is filed and combined to the construction plan. Due to a more urgent need to make connections in the north, the construction of north extension part is built in advance of the south part.

After the north part connection is done, the main part starts construction. Along with the property development at Kwong Chow, sections from Birch Hill to Kwong Chow is open on 22 December, 2022. The original WLT Line 1 is also rebranded to WLT Line 1 Phase 1 as the final termini and route of the line is confirmed and construction has begun.

Hung Ngai Tung station is done after 3 months and starts serving passengers. Meanwhile, the only service between Denthrope and Spawn Kowloon Commuter (now Hillside Line) has been shut down by the operator ERInc for a while. Some R2C players complain they have to make a detour via Llanmara, and because of a lack of fast and direct service between Denthrope and Llanmara, they are disadvantageous comparing to other directions in similar radius. WLT offers to help by operating a special service southbound from Mesa station, close to Denthrope area, still WIP but able to open for events⁶⁾. Although, when realized they are losing passengers, ERInc quickly resumes the service of Kowloon Commuter several hours later. Yet the travelling time on the temporary R2C service from Mesa station to Spawn station only takes 2 stops, 1 interchange and around 6-10 mins⁷⁾, is still faster than Kowloon Commuter, given the starting point is not right at Denthrope Hauptbahnhof.

In 2023 July, the new update and server installation of NTE brings in changeable vertical radius and constant inclination which is important to WLT creating smoother train rides, changing speed on slopes and tweaking rail alignments. Since WLT Line 2 has already operated a special shuttle service between Kwong Chow and Sai Mo Island before, along with the new bus route 4S connecting Sai Mo Island to Spawn-Cyan Height Metropolis⁸⁾, WLT Line 1 Phase 1 brings in the first service reduction after confirming alternatives are available. Mesa station and the sections until Northern Snow Village are closed for further construction, and the sections between Providence and Kwong Chow were also closed for renovation. Trains crossed over to upbound track, and turn back to Northern Snow Village after departing from Sakura Stream Junction and arriving at Providence.

The sections from Providence station to Kwong Chow station reopens at the end of 2023. At the same time, Chung Kwo Kok station starts serving passengers. Sections between Northern Snow Village station and Hung Ngai Tung station had closed down before for switchover and another wave of renovation.

Originally, the rename would be done when the line extends to Yanjiang Mineshaft. However, since WLT has opened up Mesa station a while for R2C special service, and provided a sneak peek at Yanjiang Mineshaft station, therefore, it is renamed to Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1 as to couple up the naming logic of three rapid transit lines together.

As Denthrope Hauptbahnhof has been closed for renovation and has stopped all its train services since 20 November 2023, the transportation in the Denthrope area gets inconvenient again. Moreover, some players request to reopen Mesa station to provide a faster and more direct way of southbound trains in West Denthrope. After some analysis, it is found that players can continuously get better off for a Mesa to Northern Snow Village connection even when Denthrope Hauptbahnhof finishes renovation and reopens. WLT reorganises the works on hand and quickly gets the trackage, sidings and schedules ready. Line 1 (Meyan Line) reopens Mesa station and runs trains to Northern Snow Village station as the N. Section Temp Shuttle starting from 16 January 2024.

Originally, the reopening of the section between Northern Snow Village station and Hung Ngai Tung station will be after Tung Yuen, Ying Mo and Chi Chuk stations are ready for opening and serving passengers. Yet the focus has changed in May to enhance the connectivity between different regions. Therefore, the rebuilding progress speeded up and finished in mid May 2024. Meanwhile, as the arrangement of trains turning back at the platforms of Kwong Chow station puts a large limitation on train intervals, Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1 also operates to Tai Po station, two more stations after Kwong Chow, striving a better southward connection. The long awaited Tai Po - Sharp Island section of WR Mimura Line is also taken over by WLT for construction. The network enhancement is done on 18 May 2024.

It is noticed that there was a lack of rapid transit connections between Northern Snowland, East North Tundra and Resort. Commuters were encouraged to head to busy hub Spawn or Llanmara unnecessarily. There are also two spare platforms at Ghost Forest station which original builder EliRail has left and abandoned the plan. To improve the journeys, Line 1 (Meyan Line) branches out from Tung Yuen and turn east for Zuidbaai Centraal station, then heading ENE towards Ghost Forest station, and heading ESE towards Mei Foo Wan station. 2 more stations Chung Kong and Haymarket are added for future interchanges to further enhance the connectivity.

The branch is opened as trial service soon after tracks are primarily done and Ghost Forest station, Mei Foo Wan station are available for passengers boarding and alighting. Remaining works will be gradually done along with those on the existing sections.

• 26 July, 2022: First proposal of a light rail shuttle service.
• 7 August, 2022: Revised proposal published.
• 8 August, 2022: Construction begins at Birch Hill Station.
• 18 September, 2022: Preliminary construction complete; train testings start on the route between Northern Snow Village and Birch Hill.
• 25 September, 2022: After the streaming of Let's Play Series Season 1 Finale, sections between Northern Snow Village - Birch Hill is generally open, while Hung Ngai Tung Station is not yet in use.
• 22 December, 2022: Sections between Birch Hill - Kwong Chow is open, while Chung Kwo Kok Station is not yet in use. Line renames from WLT Line 1 to WLT Line 1 Phase 1.
• 11 February, 2023: Hung Ngai Tung station is open.
• 24 April, 2023: Mesa station, which would be the future northern terminus, is temporarily open for R2C purpose.
• 10 July, 2023: Mesa station is closed for remaining construction works. Sections from Providence station to Kwong Chow station are also closed for renovation.
• 29 December 2023: Sections from Northern Snow Village station to Hung Ngai Tung station are closed for renovation. Line 1 temporarily stops service for 2 days.
• 31 December 2023: Sections from Providence station to Kwong Chow station reopens. Chung Kwo Kok station opens and starts serving passengers. Line renames from WLT Line 1 Phase 1 to Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1.
• 16 January 2024: Mesa station reopens and runs N. Section Temp Shuttle to Northern Snow Village station in accordance to the long Denthrope Hauptbahnhof renovation.
• 18 May 2024: Trains run through the section from Northern Snow Village to Hung Ngai Tung again with better alignment and higher speed. To further enhance the connectivity, the section between Kwong Chow and Tai Po is also open for passengers seevice, although Yuen Chow Kok station is still work in progress. Also, passengers can now take Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1 trains not only from, but also to Mesa station.
• 21 May 2024: Mei Foo Wan Branch / Northern Transverse Link proposed.
• 2 July 2024: Mei Foo Wan Branch / Northern Transverse Link opened as trial service and trains run from Mei Foo Wan down to Tai Po through existing sections after merging at Tung Yuen.
• 11 October 2024: Platforms in Zuidbaai Centraal station is open for passengers service.
• 23 November 2024: Platforms in Tung Yuen station is open for passengers service. Resort Ferries transfer at Mei Foo Wan station is also available.

Because of the small turn radius⁹⁾ in some sections in West Lake Area, Line 1 (Meyan Line) is never planning to run 25m 5-door trains. 21m 4-door trains are used as a balance of passengers load and ability to run on relatively small turn radius sections.

Currently 38 sets of SP1900 Trains are available for use. A plan to install on-train passengers information system was announced, and first decided to get reference from the MTR dynamic route map or Shenzhen Metro passenger information system above each door, but switched to utilize the TV as it allows larger font size, more information and tidier layouts. However, the plan was on halt due to technical issues.

There are also 3 MLR Trains, but they seldom carry passengers as they don't have regenerative brake and thus lower energy efficiency. They will only start regular service after the server updates to 4.x.x version of MTR mod when trains can decelerate slower than acceleration rate.

8 additional sets of SP1900 Trains will be added for the Mei Foo Wan branch, they will start service after the remaining section of Line 1 (Meyan Line) from Tai Po to Yanjiang Mineshaft is open, making the whole fleet up to a total of 49 sets of trains.

Trains are all serving between Mesa or Mei Foo Wan and Tai Po, usually alternating between the two northern terminus, and stopping at all intermediate stops. Train doors may not open and access is blocked off for the stations work in progress except Tai Po station and Zuidbaai Centraal station.

All the stations work in progress will gradually finish and open to public one by one. Tai Po station and Ying Mo station are currently the first batch to finish up. Meanwhile, Haymarket station will depend on the progress of other builders.

Sections from Tai Po to Yanjiang Mineshaft targets to open in 2023 Q2 some time after the Let's Play Server has updated to 4.x.x version of MTR mod. It will also depend on the progress of the stations.

The line will become one of the important, fast and convenient north-south connection at the west side. People can also enjoy single ride between Southern Snowland and Denthrope Region. A full circular fast link will be also formed together with Kallos Express.