The MTR Metro Cammell carriage units were first introduced into Hong Kong's railway system in 1982. They were manufactured by the Kowloon Canton Railway company between 1982 and 1990. Between 1996 and 1999, they were refurbished by Alstom. The total number of Metro Cammell Carriage built to date is 351. The original trains were famous for their yellow cabs, resulting in their nickname -- "yellow head."
The Metro Cammell carriage units were originally built with two different kinds of interiors. One design was meant for inner suburban service, and looked much like a subway car. The other design was meant for outer suburban service and included toilets and robust luggage compartments. During the refurbishment, the toilets and luggage compartments were removed and the number of doors per carriage was increased from three to five per side. It also resulted in the removal of many seats to allow for more standing room. The remaining seats are now restricted to running parallel to the carriage walls. This is called "longitudinal seating."
The SP1900 carriage unit was introduced in 2001. It was built by three Japanese firms -- ITOCHU, Kinki Sharyo and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Only eight 12-car train sets were built, making 96 SP1900 carriages in total. Its design was also used for carriages run by KCR (which merged with MTR in 2007) and Ma On Shan Rail.
The interior of the SP1900's standard carriage is much like the interior of the refurbished Metro Cammell. Both have longitudinal seating, ample standing room and five doors per side. These trains also include first class compartments with padded, forward-facing seats. These carriages are much more akin to long-distance trains than commuter trains. Access to these carriages is accompanied by a higher ticket price. They are most attractive to passengers with long end-to-end travel times.
