Lo Wu station
| Company type | Railway station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Headquarters | Lo Wu, New Territories , Hong Kong |
| Products | Railway services, border checkpoint services |
Lo Wu serves as the northernmost station and terminus of the (Kowloon-Canton Railway) in Hong Kong. Positioned within Lo Wu inside the Closed Area along the northern border, this station primarily operates as a vital border checkpoint for rail travelers moving between Hong Kong and mainland China. It holds the distinction of being Hong Kong's furthest northern railway stop.
Original operation
At the time of the Kowloon–Canton Railway (KCR) inauguration, trains bypassed Lo Wu due to the lack of border inspection facilities. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in October 1949, KCR services terminated at Lo Wu, enabling passengers to cross into mainland China on foot.
With China's economic opening, through train services recommenced in 1979, leading to a notable rise in cross-border travel. The station underwent a full reconstruction in the 1980s, culminating in the opening of the revamped facility on 15 January 1987.
Station upgrades
A refurbishment carried out in 2002 introduced amenities such as a group waiting lounge and modernized ticket barriers. From 28 December 2004 onwards, Lo Wu station became an interchange point with the Shenzhen Metro at Luohu station, which shares its Chinese name.
In 2009, platform gap fillers were tested to improve passenger safety during boarding.
Temporary closure amid COVID-19
The station was closed on 4 February 2020 due to pandemic-related containment efforts. It continued limited operations between Lo Wu and Sheung Shui stations for local residents but remained inaccessible for cross-border travelers because of ongoing construction work. Starting 8 January 2023, passengers were advised to use Lok Ma Chau station instead.
Service during Ching Ming and Chung Yeung Festivals
To support visitors heading to Sandy Ridge for traditional grave-sweeping rituals, selected East Rail line trains ran to and from Lo Wu daily until 7 pm throughout the periods surrounding both Ching Ming Festival and Chung Yeung Festival.
Resumption of cross-border services
Cross-border train operations at Luohu Port recommenced on 6 February 2023, with train intervals ranging from four to eight minutes.
Station layout
Lo Wu station comprises three tracks: two dedicated to terminating MTR East Rail Line trains and one for intercity through trains that proceed northward into mainland China without stopping. These through trains do not have platforms at this location.
Platform arrangement
The East Rail Line platforms employ a Spanish solution configuration featuring two tracks served by both two side platforms and an island platform. The island platforms ( and ) are allocated for disembarking passengers, while boarding occurs from the side platforms ( and ). The island platform connects directly to the departure concourse (G), whereas side platforms link via escalators and lifts to the arrival concourse (L1). Both concourses provide access to the Lo Wu Control Point through the Lo Wu Bridge, which is equipped with moving walkways.
Passenger doors open first on the island platform side for alighting; after staff confirm all have disembarked, doors on side platforms open for boarding. This system replaced previous arrangements where simultaneous boarding and alighting on island platforms caused congestion. In 2004, platform was reconstructed and platform added to optimize passenger flow during boarding.
Within the arrivals concourse (L2), two corridors lead to escalators, lifts, and stairs serving side platforms. Large glass sliding doors automatically close approximately five minutes before train departure to manage passenger volume on narrow side platforms, mitigating overcrowding and safety hazards. Once one set closes, access shifts to the alternate side platform.
| L1 | Arrival Concourse |
Upper Level Concourse (Mainland China to Hong Kong) |
Hong Kong Immigration and Customs checkpoints, Customer Service, HK Tourism Commission Office, shops |
| G | Departure Concourse |
Ground Level Concourse (Hong Kong to mainland China) |
Fare adjustment, Immigration and Customs checkpoints, duty-free shop, Luohu Port, Lo Wu resident exit |
| Platforms | ← Decommissioned track locked to prevent unauthorized access → | ||
| Side platform (boarding), doors open right for entry | |||
| Platform Template:MTR platform ↑ / Template:MTR platform ↓ |
← Template:Rcb towards Template:STN (Template:STN) | ||
| Island platform (alighting), doors open left for exit | |||
| Platform Template:MTR platform ↑ / Template:MTR platform ↓ |
← East Rail line towards Admiralty (Sheung Shui) | ||
| Side platform (boarding), doors open left for entry | |||
Exits
The station features three distinct exits:
| Exit | Destinations | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Departure Exit | Lo Wu Immigration Control Point, Luohu Port | Travelers must pass through the Lo Wu Immigration Control Point to access mainland China, which requires valid travel documentation.[1]
Luohu Port (Shenzhen Metro Lua error: expandTemplate: template "SZM color" does not exist.: Luohu station, Lua error: expandTemplate: template "SZM color" does not exist.: Renmin South station and Shenzhen railway station) |
| Arrival Exit | ||
| A1 | Tak Yuet Lau, Liu Pok Village | These two secured exits lead to the Lo Wu vicinity. Entry is restricted to holders of a Lo Wu Resident Card or a Closed Road Permit, which can be obtained at the Sheung Shui Police Station in Fanling.[1] |
| A2 | Lo Wu Village, Sandy Ridge Cemetery |
Incidents
On 2 February 2020, service at Lo Wu station was halted following the discovery of two explosive devices on the premises.[2]
See also
- Lo Wu
- Lo Wu Bridge
- Lo Wu Control Point
- Luohu (Shenzhen side)
- Luohu station (Shenzhen side)