Kowloon railway station (KCR)
| Company type | Railway station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Tsim Sha Tsui , Hong Kong |
Kowloon station (), historically referred to as the Old Tsim Sha Tsui Terminal, served as the original southern endpoint of the Kowloon–Canton Railway (KCR). It was situated in Tsim Sha Tsui on the land now occupied by the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
History
The first iteration of Kowloon station was a provisional structure established near the former Post Office on Salisbury Road in 1909, operating until the permanent facility was completed. Scheduled train services linking Canton and Kowloon commenced on 1 October 1910.
The enduring station, designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, was erected on newly reclaimed waterfront land. Foundation works began in May 1913, with construction starting on 1 March 1914 and concluding exactly two years later on 1 March 1916. The station officially opened its doors on 28 March 1916.
This terminal consisted of a two-storey, L-shaped structure topped with a clock tower, embodying Edwardian Classical Revival design principles. Its construction featured a steel framework clad in red bricks, complemented by white granite columns, architraves, and pediments. At the northern end, a covered walkway linked to two raised platforms, while a freight yard was positioned approximately one mile to the north.
Relocation
Owing to constraints on available space for growth, the railway's southern terminus was transferred from Tsim Sha Tsui to a newly developed station at Hung Hom, situated on reclaimed land from Hung Hom Bay in 1974. The original site was subsequently redeveloped to house the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. This relocation replaced the former Hung Hom station (operational between 1910 and 1921) and designated Hung Hom as the new southern terminus of the KCR, which was later rebranded as the KCR East Rail during the late 1990s.
Preservation campaign
Efforts were made to conserve the six-decade-old red brick terminal. Between 1970 and 1977, both the Kowloon Residents' Association and Tsim Sha Tsui Neighbourhood and Welfare Association appealed to the Colonial Secretary. Additionally, in July 1977, The Heritage Society submitted a petition backed by significant public endorsement to Governor Murray MacLehose.
The Government dismissed these appeals and declined to hold an independent review of the draft development plan, citing that a new cultural complex would fulfill the building’s function and that plans had progressed too far for amendments. The Heritage Society accused officials of employing deceptive tactics.
Intensifying their campaign, The Heritage Society forwarded a petition with approximately 15,000 signatures to Queen Elizabeth II in February 1978 seeking royal intervention. Nonetheless, demolition crews commenced dismantling work within 48 hours following the royal decision.
Clock Tower
The Clock Tower remains as the only surviving element of the original Tsim Sha Tsui station at its initial location. Six pillars from the former station were moved to the Urban Council Centenary Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui East. After being relocated multiple times—including a period at the East Rail depot at Ho Tung Lau—the clock tower’s bell was reinstated at its original site in September 2010.
See also
- Tsim Sha Tsui station
- Hung Hom station
- East Tsim Sha Tsui station
- Hong Kong West Kowloon railway station
External links
- Articles with short description
- Railway stations in Hong Kong no longer in operation
- Stations formerly part of Kowloon–Canton Railway
- Buildings and structures in Hong Kong that no longer exist
- Hong Kong monuments and memorials
- Railway stations inaugurated in Hong Kong in 1909
- Railway stations ceased operations in 1974
- 1974 closures in Hong Kong
- Tsim Sha Tsui
- Former Kowloon–Canton Railway stations