North Island line
| Company type | Rapid transit project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transport |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
| Products | Rapid transit service (planned) |
The North Island line represents a deferred initiative aimed at establishing a rapid transit connection between the current MTR Island line and the northern coast of Hong Kong Island, intended to ease overcrowding on the Island line.
As outlined in the 2000 publication Rail Projects Under Planning 2000 by the Highways Department, the plan involved extending the existing Tung Chung line eastward from Hong Kong station, incorporating two additional stops: Tamar station and Exhibition Centre station. This extension was designed to link with the Island line starting from Fortress Hill station through to its eastern endpoint at Chai Wan station. Concurrently, new tunnels would connect the terminus of the Tseung Kwan O line at North Point station to Fortress Hill station, continuing along the western segment of the Island line.
In 2013, a revised "interchange scheme" was suggested by the Highways Department, proposing that only the Tung Chung and Tseung Kwan O lines be extended to converge at Tamar station, which would function as an interchange hub without segmenting the Island line. This approach differed from the original "swap scheme."
2000 proposal
The extension of the Tung Chung line formed part of the third phase of land reclamation along Victoria Harbour on Hong Kong Island’s northern shoreline. Environmental considerations and usage assessments led the MTR Corporation to refrain from setting a commencement date. Additionally, plans were influenced by the proposed Sha Tin to Central Link and the merger between MTR and KCRC. As a result, in 2003, the Hong Kong Government deferred this project indefinitely.
Despite this, MTRC included elements related to both the Sha Tin to Central Link and North Island line within schematic illustrations for the West Island line and South Island line projects unveiled in 2008. These plans omitted stations that had since been cancelled, such as Central South and Racecourse Station in Happy Valley.
2013 proposal
On 21 February 2013, stage two of public consultation under Our Future Railway was initiated by the Highways Department, presenting two alternatives for the North Island line: the "Swap" scheme and the "Interchange" scheme.
"Swap" scheme
Under this plan, the existing Tung Chung line would be extended along Hong Kong Island’s northern shore, adding new stations at Tamar, Exhibition Centre, Causeway Bay North, and Fortress Hill. The extension would then connect eastward with the current Island line at Fortress Hill and continue to its terminus at Chai Wan station.
At the same time, the Tseung Kwan O line would be extended westward from North Point station to Fortress Hill, proceeding along the Island line towards Kennedy Town station.
This arrangement would increase direct service coverage by both Tung Chung and Tseung Kwan O lines across Hong Kong Island but would disrupt continuous east–west travel on the Island line, necessitating transfers. Moreover, train frequency between Fortress Hill and Chai Wan would decrease by eight trains per hour due to capacity constraints on the Tung Chung line over the Tsing Ma Bridge. Additional challenges arose from differences in signalling systems and train models across lines, which ultimately led to this scheme being excluded from further consideration.
"Interchange" scheme
The Tung Chung and Tseung Kwan O lines would both be extended along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, adding new stops at Tamar, Exhibition Centre, and Causeway Bay North. One of these stations, either Tamar or Causeway Bay North, would function as the interchange point between the two lines.
This approach preserves the current layout of the Island line and maintains commuting flows among the Central, Western, and Eastern Districts. Nevertheless, passengers would still be required to transfer as they do now since these lines would not operate directly on the Island line. Although this plan broadens service coverage, it is less effective than the "Swap" scheme in reducing congestion because it leaves existing Island line connections unchanged.
2014 plan
The "Railway Development Strategy 2014" endorsed the interchange option primarily due to its lower construction expenses and minimal impact on commuters using the Island line. With an estimated cost of HK$20 billion (2013 prices), the strategy emphasized affordability and uninterrupted service. The North Island Line's planning and construction were deferred until 2022 to align with the East Rail Line extension to Admiralty, given that the current Island Line capacity was considered adequate.