Hong Kong MTR's HK$6 billion mistake

[@spaghetticode3107]

I've been seeing a few comments along the lines of "Tall guy in east asia, what did you expect". Let me be clear: I am not trying to complain or whine about how they don't cater to me personally, just highlighting how the height clearances have become WORSE in the NEW trains, compared the the OLD ones.

[@blueberry1667]

Finally someone understands my pain

[@blueberry1667]

Also I want to add, some people in hong kong are used to leaning on pole and near the door frame so you cannot hold it anyways, now the new trainset have the poles removed in favor of overhand handrails.

[@spaghetticode3107]

@@blueberry1667 unfortunately from my experience, even in the new trains people crowd near the door areas, no one really moves in that much. Which makes it doubly bad for me. Speaking mostly from central - north point stips

[@uu78kk]

@@blueberry1667 no they are not, they hate people who do that so usually no one does that

[@Minerblox-rb]

Those M trains are getting scrapped soon so enjoy the last few years of the Ms.

[@_edmund]

One of the main reasons that the older train (M Train) has more height clearence is very likely because it was designed by a British manufacturer (Metro-Cammel).

[@APPLP1E]

Lol as a half-Asian guy, I could easily say these trains weren't really made with foreigners in mind. Asians usually tend to be shorter, so they have no problems in the new metro trains. However, if you're a taller person, yeah, you're gonna have a bunch of issues with that 😅

[@spaghetticode3107]

Definitely

[@Polo88Kai]

Average height of Hong Kong male is 172.5cm and those blue plastic handrings are still low enough to hit their head. This is pure bad design, Asian standard or not

[@BusyHardyLi]

unless if you’re from Shandong…

[@stevens1041]

Northern Chinese tall AF. My friend from Beijing was towering above everyone when she went to visit Italy.

[@AsiccAP]

​@@Polo88KaiI believe otherwise. the blue plastic handles are meant to be lower such that it is less tiring for the arm, especially for shorter people like me. It does hit our heads, but it is a non problem because you can just cross between 2 handles, you can see the spacing between the handles is fairly wide. So if anything, this design is barely if at all affecting people that are not tall enough to hit the bar, and benefitial to people as the lower handle doesn't tire the arms that much, especially for shorter people. It is only problematic to those so tall that they hit the bar, as shown in the video

[@xfirefox_x]

You know the new trains really annoy him when he goes out of his usual topic to make a video on this.

[@陳偉樂-r2m]

You know why MTR's new trains need such changes, because many passengers are standing near the doors, so it is difficult for passengers waiting at the next stop to enter the carriages, and the train driver always needs to make announcements to urge passengers to get inside the carriages, These changes can allow passengers to consciously walk into the car instead of standing near the door, improving the utilization rate of each train car. Moreover, the air conditioning of old MTR trains cannot cope with Hong Kong's hot summer, so MTR needs to install fans on these trains to cope with Hong Kong's hot summer. In addition, the lights of the old MTR trains are not bright enough, so the new MTR trains must add ventilation and lighting systems at each train connection to solve the problems of the old trains.

[@spaghetticode3107]

@@陳偉樂-r2m I definitely understand moving the center pole to avoid crowding there. But in my experience, it just leads to more scattered crowding in the middle, and it's not even very possible for me to move into the edge part. Also personally I think it's way too bright now, the old lighting was more than enough. Riding the island line daily for seven years, and it was great!

[@wesleytan6842]

@@spaghetticode3107Taipei Metro made some tweaks to some trains of the Brown Line’s Matra 256 Trains and two of Orange Line’s Kawasaki 371 trains (443/444 and 445/446). In addition to all the trains on Kawasaki’s 301 and Siemens 321 and 341 series, Kawasaki’s 371-3 series also had their displays refurbished. The 371-4 series and 381 did not get this refurbishment yet, leaving only a leased train (305/306) on the Orange Line with the newer technologies. Trainset 211/212 is also a pioneering invention of the new technologies, although the displays near the gangways are the newer LEDs due to technical flaws.

[@racecardriverrr4201]

I've never felt it was too hot or dark on the island line, what bizarre reasons.

[@rizkyadiyanto7922]

makes sense.

[@KDYinYouTube]

​@@racecardriverrr4201 if you ever going into some hot area, its definitely not ok

[@richard1701able]

I'm with you man. I hate these new trains. They are too bright and I'm always banging my head. I miss the old 12 car trains of the East Rail Line.

[@FlatEarthKiller]

The 12 car trains also have shorter height clearance than the new trains IMO

[@jorgeblancoiniesta5115]

Bro, the problem is that you are taller than train itself.

[@sean_king]

I wonder how tall you are and the head clearance for which the new trains have been designed. I think they were trying to spread the grab bars and straphangers out so people wouldn't have to compress around the center, but i'm not tall so this video really gave me a new perspective

[@spaghetticode3107]

Yeah that's probably what it was, just funny that they made it so much lower that its a problem, whereas it wasn't an issue before (especially the part between cars)

[@spaghetticode3107]

I'm like 6'3" / 190cm ish

[@VibeWithMine]

The reason why the part between cars is lowered is due to the DRM(Dyanmic Route Map) system which you find on the screens above the doorways. They fit all the systems eg. GPS and they fitted an air conditioner there too.

[@無名英雄-h9r]

As a hongkonger, I never thought this is a problem, this is a luxury troubles

[@caines05]

It's unfortunate to hear the MTR has nerfed the area between carriages; I'd expect the ceiling to match the height of the old train. The grabloops going in ovals though, those were implemented to encourage passengers to utilise the center of the carriages more, since on the older trains, passengers tend to like sticking to the doorways with more opportunities to grab onto something whilst in motion, and / or due to ease of access for getting off should their commute be short. Perhaps if they weren't in the shape of a complete loop; like if the grabpoles consisted of two parallel lines instead of one oval, it would be a fair compromise to all the tall folks out there?

[@spaghetticode3107]

@@caines05 yeah, I think they were going for a design that makes it easier for people to go in. But in my observation people don't actually go in and like to stay near the doors

[@canto_v12]

I'm 6'1" (HK-American) and yeah the struggle be real with the new "Q" trains. They rather have people spread out more instead of crowd the doors, so unfortunately we tall folk get the handrail to the head.

[@spaghetticode3107]

@@canto_v12 and it ends up being that the people still crowd the doors so...

[@JonathanChan212]

From Hong Kong, and haven't been on the Q train yet, but I agree that the height really made it difficult compared to the old ones. I just went to Japan three months ago and I like how the interior was made taller to accompany taller people, even though average Japanese are shorter than Hong Kongers. MTR, do better

[@ghhg7584]

Also there is a problem is that the new train AC unit is very loud and vibrating

[@ProStevenPlayz]

this affects all people 175 cm+, which is really concerning (IF this was in Europe) But no, It's Hong Kong.

[@RyanLoHQ-lv8yq]

The new trains are also insanely loud, crammed and poorly ventilated for no reason😂 the old ones has been in service for nearly half a century (their models) and yet the new ones are still louder

[@spaghetticode3107]

Loud?! I think the one benefit is they're much quieter, at least when moving. But they're definitely wayyyy too bright inside.

[@sciaaak.2]

The old trains are even louder bruuuuuu

[@uu78kk]

its the air conditioning, the new train is quieter overall

[@aespactzen880]

@@spaghetticode3107The new train is quieter when moving, but louder in still

[@spaghetticode3107]

@@aespactzen880 hmm, didn't think of that. Let me pay closer attention. But when moving the old trains were insanely loud

[@MrAmirhk]

I've been taking the HK MTR for decades as a tall person. Never hit my head before, but it has already happened a few times with these new trains. They should have their ESG score lowered until this is fixed!

[@hkl4dplayer]

To be fair most people in hong kong are not as tall as you are..

[@HKtransportvidchan2009]

As a HK transport enthusiast, I agree with you

[@Warrior_Wulf]

Being 5'5 (165cm) I'm completely safe on the MTR. When I lived there as a teenager it was even easier, and free 😊

[@spaghetticode3107]

@@Warrior_Wulf cool, I didn't know it used to be free

[@Warrior_Wulf]

@spaghetticode3107 Free for a speedy 13yo with no travel pocket money 🤑

[@sigmaboy6987]

Which train will you choose New train or old train

[@spaghetticode3107]

@@sigmaboy6987 for commuting myself, definitely old one.

[@sigmaboy6987]

Oh

[@kiki_aya]

Q train is made in china. Thats the reason of the shit design. The more bar for standing is irrelevant since you can always grab the bar on top of the seat or the edge of the led panel on the old train. Not to mention the over lid Q train will gives you headache if you ride for more then 20 min. As someone who ride 3 lines every day. I will say M train > Q train > C train.

[@squidgame2021]

Design was by France's MBD. And the standing problem is due to MTR retaining 6 seats at the ends, rather than reducing to 5 seats and making more standing space at doors. The handrails themselves are not at fault

[@xpdev0]

The struggle of being 6'0+ and in Asia It's mostly a "You" problem and your size since i'm 5'0 and i could fit in that train easily.

[@DansCityBusAndRailYT]

yeah imo i also perfer the old trains that is made in the uk, I think the new train is just trying to fit more people thats why that added more handrails

[@eliot6836]

4:40 Lamo I can only say that these hk trains are designed for short hk people like me

[@pacfilming8117]

I have never noticed that problem on the vancover skytrain but I have noticed the problem in the buses when you sit on the edge of the bus window

[@nyffyn14]

The oval grabloops block the TV and other display for travel info. that's piss me off!! 😡

[@johannafeb]

The blue handles and bars are encouraging more people to move into the middle of compartments during rush hours. With the old single row handles, standing in the middle can't promise a grab

[@DanChan-qb2ec]

The reason for that design is to encourage people move away from the doorway and allow more people to able to hold the handrail. Though the loading gauge of Urban line is probably too small to raise the roof, let alone the height of the handrails

[@spaghetticode3107]

Unfortunately they didn't account for human behavior - just yesterday I was taking a Q train on ISL, doors open and the train is "full" - but of course not really , people just packed like sardines at the doors because no one wants to go in the middle... and now its just become harder to do so for taller people, whereas earlier you can kinda do it more easily

[@DanChan-qb2ec]

@@spaghetticode3107 Well one of the main point is to allow more place for people to grab so ig the height clearance sacrificed as a result

[@jl6735]

I am an average 1.75m. my head will hit the rubber hand rail. But in general, ehen the train is pack, the new ceiling satellite hanger provides more contact point for passengers to grip. The old M train is dim and noisier on tracks compared to the Q train, Air con wise the Q train is better. The shell of the old m train is some form of alloy compared to new trains in stainless steel, soem experts said the material is better and lighter.

[@spaghetticode3107]

I personally think the Q train is too bright. As for the more handles, yes, there are more points to grip. However in my experience people are so inconsiderate, that they will pile up and crowd at the door anyway, and leave the middle part empty. As a result it is even harder for tall people to get in now, before you could kinda squeeze and stand in the middle section. If MTR staff educated the people better to move inside maybe it can end up more efficient

[@Skibidi_toilet4168]

the black and white color trains (q train/r train/1141A) are made in china And asian people are short so they made it on the side to let more people to hold on it

[@panng3504]

Those 5" tall would make another clip telling how MTRCL had wasted 6 billiions on infrastructure that can't fit the local.

[@susjohn6808]

as a HKer I do think these Q trains(new ones) are actually too short, their floor are even a bit higher than the platform, terrible

[@YTHaydenRail]

I think the old one is better

[@chancarman7634]

You're taller than the train bro MTR is good

[@Alex-ym7tr]

Yeah

[@insertnitration1]

ur tall, i’m from hong kong btw

[@iam4259]

if you are complaining that, I think you can't even bear to live in Japan.

[@mildwall752]

It's not surprising. It just makes the majority of people easier to grab the bar, unfortunately, in this case you are a tall guy.

[@pacfilming8117]

How tall are you?

[@spaghetticode3107]

I'm ~6'3" / ~190cm

[@sigmaboy6987]

But m train has been derailed, and it is 40+ years already

[@იან]

In my city they tried doing the same thing with the handgrips on certain train models before doing it away altogether in favour of putting it in three rows rather than doing it in this stupid oval configuration lol Then again CRRC (Sifang in particular) are absolutely incompetent train manufacturers and designers, looking at their track record here

[@cheukshingleung5759]

Actually you are too tall , not the MTR mistake. Some of the Hong Kong people they as you, so don’t be mad of it.

[@tonytang5452]

Interesting they forgot there are tall ppls exist 💀

[@danielm6319]

I have dream wgen I had a kid to see train only for children. Now, this is example.

[@ABCantonese]

We all know that he really really really wanted to go all out and say DLLM or PK every other sentence... But he can't. He'll get de-moned.

[@spaghetticode3107]

@@ABCantonese I need to improve my Cantonese, so I can do the whole video in canto. Then I think I've earned the right to DLLM

[@ABCantonese]

@@spaghetticode3107 Really? You wanna D my LM? It's fine. She speaks English too. 😂 Yeah, we've corrupted everyone on the Internet with the phrase. I don't know how deep you're into the language, and feel free to say it with people, just don't say it AT people. I don't live in HK, but I'm glad you enjoy living there. Happy Saturday.

[@spaghetticode3107]

@@ABCantonese I mean the right to "say DLLM" of course 😬😬 I keep trying to learn, but the English proficiency works here works the other way, since when people hear my bad canto they just switch to English 🤣

[@ABCantonese]

@@spaghetticode3107 Good luck! Gah you... Gah Yow... Add oil!

[@sigmaboy6987]

You can say -delay no more-

[@castorkwok6]

Trains aren't designed for people to walk through though. Passengers are supposed to enter the train, find a seat or perhaps a safe space to stand, grab a pole and stay until they arrive. Yes you have to duck once or twice to find a seat or stand right in the middle, and yes the new trains make you duck more, but that's it. But by that there are more rings for passengers to grab than the single bar of hanging grabpoles in the middle on the old ones, which is obviously safer for the riders. I believe you are not trying to whine as you sound calm in your video, but the title looks pretty much whining indeed. Maybe that's why there are some comments being a bit defensive (or aggressive?) to you. And unfortunately the reduced headroom in the gangway isn't new for MTR. Seems inevitable to lower the clearance by adapting a newer, safer gangway design starting from the Tung Chung Line trains.

[@spaghetticode3107]

I figured the title would make it obvious that I'm not too serious. But I guess some people really think that I believe it is a $6 billion mistake. Can't have both sides I guess :smile:

[@BingChiling378]

It's not its problem, it's your problem of being too tall😂

[@GY_T]

It is because Hong Kong people is like 10 cm shorter than USA people

[@GY_T]

And they want people to stand in the milddle since a lot of people like standing near the door

[@spaghetticode3107]

Yeah, the door standing is still a problem

[@Sacto1654]

This is *NOT* good. Even the 1000 Series subway trains on Tokyo Metro's Ginza Line aren't as bad as this.

[@skythecyansprunki]

bro 我是香港人(im from hong kong) and as a 5’7 guy its not a problem

[@peterwan816]

these old train are indeed too short IMO. I feel it being way too short, making it feeling more crowded...... I dont like the new Q train either XD

[@JGTheUser]

not a problem for 160-167cm

[@someoneIikedyourcomment]

in other word they dont welcome you

[@spaghetticode3107]

I doubt its malice

[@osteoferocious7187]

Average height is 5foot this random foreigner on the train complaining is like a mantis gettin on the bus for ants and complaining 😂

[@spaghetticode3107]

@@osteoferocious7187 not sure how far in you got, but I'm just pointing out that the old trains had a higher clearance, and they reduced it on the new ones.

[@Sorbie_summr]

But at least sp1900 is more space so ur head will not been touch the ceiling lol

[@Direkin]

Yeah, I'm constantly having to duck as well.

[@Braveplantt]

thanks, I support metro cammel / now Alstom trains, they're better and not chinese made lol also um, I might say 🤓 asian head clearance is very short compared to europeans XD as a person who lived both in the UK and originally from HK and a rail enthusiast, I'd say... blame the people who designed it, which are the producers in Canton/Guangzhou China note: I am not from MTR but eh, I'm also still young XD but, goodluck I do wish you success in making them refurbish the fully new stocks in island line, it will be very hard since it's not like in the UK where heritage railways exists and would rather do refurbrishment(also called more money spending) than the cheaper option called getting new trains I can't do anything at my age but, I will sub to ur channel bc, money for persuation :D anyways :salut:

[@APPLP1E]

I think Alstom got way too used to making smol trains after manufacturing so many of them for London Underground

[@spaghetticode3107]

Haha yea, well the video was just meant to be kinda silly, ofc I don't really blame MTR for it. But it is interesting that they purposely(?) lowered the height, especially in the part between train doors. London was another surprise, when I went there last year, the picaddily line is so tiny I can't stand straight even in the middle (not to mention all the random closures etc... being used to MTR, trying to use the subway there was an exercise in navigating closures).

[@APPLP1E]

@@spaghetticode3107 Yeah London Underground is literally the oldest one in the world, and smaller tunnels = less costs to make them, so everything there is smol up to this day

[@Braveplantt]

​@@APPLP1E nah, those trains were made before metro cammel got merged into Alstom hehe

[@Alex-ym7tr]

I love this train (new). I’m short so idc. And the average hker is not too tall, so it doesn’t matter.

[@YTHaydenRail]

How short are you?

[@yanminho9686]

No offence bro but maybe you are too tall :D You know, Asian dudes are usually around 1.6-1.7m, so we will, technically fit perfectly under the roof and in this case, the rings. But younger generations like myself are usually well over 1.7m which we are starting to have the same issue like you! I remember one time I rushed into the train after school and I slapped my face onto the handrings... def not a fun experience

[@spaghetticode3107]

I definitely get that I'm taller than average

[@jonathanleong4115]

Sydney's Brand New Metro kzbin.info/www/bejne/nobdZ39ofdOWjJo

[@samtoo444]

Bro ur just taller,stop complaining

[@sigmaboy6987]

Because now mtr buying china trains

[@LolanPlayz]

Well u see, hk people grow a bit only and people from other countries, they grow quick like u. So…

[@ieietsodryutxchoi7294]

There will be a risk of difficult to evacuate in emergency because of the obstacles. To keep the doorway clear,they can only remove the pole between the doors. Unfortunately, Hong Kong MTR is a quiet silly company...

[@Alex-ym7tr]

Hong Kongers are not that tall, it does not matter. MTR is great.

[@ieietsodryutxchoi7294]

@@Alex-ym7tr I heights 174cm and very likely to knock the handrails by my head...

[@jeffreylmAu]

Lol How about just stop being so tall?

[@heungchatchoi4645]

mtr

[@Hannsliu419]

Ur just too tall

[@LeonCornelll]

You so big

[@mandomgamming9035]

this is hk bro! Bro just tall and don't u think u are cringe 💀

[@TheClunkingFist]

"Anything to declare?" "Yeah: don't go to London!" 🤣 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snatch_(film)