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Future projects of the MTR

From Alfawiki
MTR Corporation
Company typePublic
IndustryPublic transport
Headquarters
Hong Kong
,
Hong Kong
ProductsRailway services

Several upcoming initiatives for the MTR have been put forward by the MTR Corporation to the Hong Kong Government, with some still in the planning phase.

Since the 2007 rail merger with the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, the unified network extended to and 84 stations. Approved and planned projects have further increased this to more than and 98 stations, with potential growth surpassing .

Northern Link

The Northern Link is a 10.7 km rapid transit route intended to connect the Tuen Ma line and East Rail line across northern New Territories. This development consists of two stages: initially, the opening of Kwu Tung station; subsequently, building the main line featuring three additional stations and upgrading Kam Sheung Road station. The line will operate between Kwu Tung station and Kam Sheung Road station. The combined estimated expenditure for both phases was HK$62 billion as of 2015. Kwu Tung station is planned to begin service in 2027, with construction on the Northern Link scheduled from 2025 through 2034. The area around the line will be developed into a New Development Area.

In the 2022 Chief Executive's policy address, a new railway was proposed to link Kam Tin with Kowloon Tong via Kwai Chung, aiming to relieve congestion on the Tuen Ma line. This extension would lengthen the Northern Link and provide an interchange at Kowloon Tong station.

Gary Zhang, deputy chairman of the Legco subcommittee on railway matters, highlighted that the Tuen Ma line alone cannot accommodate commuter volumes from the planned Northern Metropolis traveling toward Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

Extension of the Tung Chung line

The Tung Chung line will be extended 1.3 kilometers westward beyond its existing terminus at Tung Chung station, reaching a new endpoint at Tung Chung West station. Additionally, an infill station named Tung Chung East station is planned between Tung Chung and .

In January 2023, the project received approval from Chief Executive John Lee and the Executive Council. Construction commenced in 2023, with the development of the two stations estimated to cost HK$24.2 billion. The contract for design and engineering was granted to British companies Arup and Atkins. The completion date is anticipated to be in 2029.

Oyster Bay station

Oyster Bay station, previously known as Siu Ho Wan station, is a proposed infill station situated between Sunny Bay station and the forthcoming Tung Chung East station. It is planned to open concurrently with the Siu Ho Wan Depot Topside Property Development Package 1, forming part of the Tung Chung line expansion, with an expected operational date around 2030.

Extension of the Tuen Ma line

The Tuen Mun South extension involves extending the Tuen Ma line by approximately 2.4 kilometers from its present terminus at Tuen Mun station further southward to a new stop at A16 station in Tuen Mun Area 16, continuing to a newly proposed northern terminus called Tuen Mun South station, located near Tuen Mun Ferry Pier. This segment will be constructed as an elevated viaduct.

Hung Shui Kiu station

A new station named Hung Shui Kiu is planned along the Tuen Ma line within the area of Hung Shui Kiu, Yuen Long. Its construction timeline is linked to the development progress of Hung Shui Kiu New Town. The proposal was formally published on 24 February 2023.

Completion of Airport Railway Extended Overrun Tunnel

The final 500-meter portion of the Airport Railway Extended Overrun Tunnel (AREOT) will be built east of Hong Kong station to provide additional overrun tracks. This enhancement will allow trains on both the Tung Chung line and Airport Express to turn around more smoothly, thereby improving service frequency. The project adds roughly 1.5 kilometers of track, with construction scheduled between 2025 and 2032.

In March 2022, MTR awarded the planning and design contract for this project to British firm Mott MacDonald.

Science Park/Pak Shek Kok station

Science Park station is a proposed infill stop on the East Rail line, positioned between University and Tai Po Market. The targeted completion year for this station is 2031.

Southern extension of Tseung Kwan O line

Announced during the 2022 policy address, plans include extending the Tseung Kwan O line southward to Area 137, an 80-hectare development zone designated for approximately 50,000 new residential units by 2030. However, no specific timeline has been established for when this extension or its stations will become operational.

South Island line (West)

On 21 January 2003, Hong Kong’s Executive Council authorized MTR Corporation to proceed with planning two additional lines: the West Island line and South Island line, as outlined in both the Second Railway Development Study and the Railway Development Strategy 2014. These lines are designed to directly link residential neighborhoods in Southern District such as Wah Fu and Ap Lei Chau with Hong Kong’s central business district, marking MTR’s inaugural service expansion into Southern District.

Following three initial proposals that were rejected in favor of highway construction in 2004, MTR submitted a fourth plan in February 2005 that integrated a westward extension of the Island line (West Island line) with the South Island line (East), connecting at HKU station and Wong Chuk Hang station, respectively.

The South Island line (East), now simply referred to as the South Island line, commenced operations on 28 December 2016.

The South Island Line (West) was included in the 2014 railway strategy report with a planned implementation period between 2022 and 2026. In December 2020, MTR submitted a proposal for this route to the Hong Kong Government. As of 2022, no construction timeline has been released.

North Island line

The proposed North Island line aims to link the Tung Chung line at Hong Kong station with the Tseung Kwan O line at North Point. Currently, there is no announced timeline for its construction.

East Kowloon line

Initially, the East Kowloon line was planned to connect Diamond Hill station through Hung Hom station to Sheung Wan station. However, this plan was integrated into the Tuen Ma line, which does not include a harbour crossing.

A revised proposal surfaced in 2014, suggesting the East Kowloon line would serve locations such as Po Lam station and HKUST station via Sau Mau Ping. The railway development strategy issued that year recommended beginning construction in 2019 with an expected completion by 2025. Despite this, no construction work has started nor has a schedule been set.

Tung Chung to Tai O light rail system

In December 2017, the CEDD initiated a study for a light rail connection between Tung Chung station and Tai O Fishing Village on Lantau Island. The proposed alignment would loop around Tung Chung, the airport, and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, cutting travel time from 45 minutes by bus to approximately 15 minutes. The projected cost stands at HK$15 billion.

LegCo Transport Panel member Michael Tien emphasized that the system’s use of overhead lines results in minimal environmental disruption. As of 2022, no official timeline for construction has been established.

Cable Car System from Ngong Ping to Tai O

In March 2019, CEDD published a feasibility study investigating a cable car extension from Ngong Ping village to Tai O, which could potentially be operated by the Hong Kong MTR.

Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway

The Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway is a proposed cross-border route designed to provide three separate services: a direct link between Hong Kong International Airport and Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, a cross-border service connecting Hung Shui Kiu with Qianhai, and a domestic service running between Tuen Mun and Siu Ho Wan.

Policy address 2021

In 2021, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced plans affecting the East Rail line and Tuen Ma line, including enhancements to the Northern Loop line.

2022 Policy Address

2023 Policy Address

  • Central Rail Link Optimization Scheme: Introduction of three new stops located in northeast Tsuen Wan, northeast Kwai Chung, and Tsuen King Circuit, facilitating interchange with the MTR Tsuen Wan line.
  • Northern Link East Extension: Expansion of the Northern Loop line extending to Ping Che via Lo Wu South and Man Kam To, enhancing connectivity to emerging development zones and border crossing points.
  • Northeast New Territories Line: A north-south rail corridor connecting the East Rail line at Heung Yuen Wai through Ping Che and Queen's Hill to Fanling station, unlocking strategic development areas.
  • Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen MRT Line: Serving the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen and Yuen Long South growth regions, this line will connect with the Tuen Ma line, light rail network, and key transport hubs.

Lantau Tomorrow Vision

The Lantau Tomorrow Vision initiative proposes direct railway connections from the artificial islands at Kau Yi Chau to Hong Kong Island West, North Lantau, and the coastal zone of Tuen Mun.

The current scheme outlines a rail link starting from HKU and Kennedy Town stations extending to the Kau Yi Chau Islands, then continuing to Sunny Bay with further connections to Tuen Mun East and Hung Shui Kiu. A "Green Mass Transit System" is also planned within the artificial islands.

Additional Stations

Expansion assessments have explored:

References

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