https://industrialhistoryhk.org/west-rail-part-10-operations-the-ghost-train/
West Rail had been designed to operate a 9-car train service. However, the forecast for the initial patronage indicated it could be accommodated with a 7-car configuration with the train later extended to 8-cars and ultimately 9-cars as demand grew. During the development of the Kowloon Southern Link in 2004, the updated patronage forecast indicated that the ultimate demand for the line could be accommodated with an 8-car train negating the need to ever adopt a 9-car train. Thus, Austin Station was designed for 8-car trains to reduce cost.
https://hk.linkedin.com/in/tymon-mellor-67b43a57
1. 9卡可過每平方米6人,原本12卡若同樣班次仍可過4人。始終要西部外走廊兩條線駁市區,加上區域快線中鐵線。9卡以至12卡係因為要直通北環線支線運作。
2. 東九龍段及馬鐵段只需要4~6卡。兩鐵建議大圍--荔景連線下,西鐵應該可9卡鑽石山總站(亦係第2次鐵路發展研究其中一選項),預留北延沙田鑽石山連線。