Sai Ying Pun station
| Company type | MTR station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transport |
| Founded | 2015-03-29 |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
| Products | Mass transit services |
Sai Ying Pun is an MTR stop on the Island line, situated between HKU and Sheung Wan. It caters to the Sai Ying Pun district and the western Mid-Levels area on the northwestern part of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The station commenced operations on 29 March 2015, coinciding with the completion of the West Island line expansion.
History
The station was initially proposed in the 1970 publication Hong Kong Mass Transit: Further Studies, although the Island line constructed in the mid-1980s did not include any stops west of Sheung Wan.
Proposed locations
According to Outline Zoning Plan No. S/H3/20 (December 2003), the Planning Department identified a potential site beneath Des Voeux Road West near Ko Shing Street. Evidence such as a ventilation shaft and a sealed void at a nearby medical facility suggests this was the original intended location.
Nonetheless, MTR’s proposal in May 2002 relocated the station westward to the junction of Des Voeux Road West and Water Street. By March 2004, MTR repositioned it eastward again beneath King George V Memorial Park to reduce disturbances on main thoroughfares and better serve residents in Mid-Levels.
Design and construction
The construction contract for Sai Ying Pun and HKU stations along with 2.2 kilometers of tunnel was tendered by MTR. The design phase was awarded in 2009 to a collaboration between Aedas and AECOM. In March 2010, a joint venture between Gammon Construction and Nishimatsu Construction secured the HK$4.7 billion contract for building works. Construction started in 2010 and concluded by 2015.
Sai Ying Pun station’s opening was delayed compared to other West Island Line stations due to challenging soft soil conditions that affected progress, including delays in completing Exit B3. The construction process required demolishing the Centre Street cooked food centre, Ki Ling Lane playground, and Whitty Street public restroom.
The station houses "Street Scenes of Sai Ying Pun," a black-and-white photographic collage created by artist Tse Ming-chong in partnership with the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation, displayed between the concourse and Exits B1/B2.
Residents have expressed dissatisfaction regarding the lengthy pedestrian corridor connecting Exit A to the concourse.
Although the western extension of the Island line began service on 28 December 2014, Sai Ying Pun station officially opened on 29 March 2015.
Station layout
| G | Ground level | Entrances/Exits |
| C | Concourse | Customer Service, MTRShops |
| P Platforms |
Platform 1 | Template:Rcb towards Chai Wan (Sheung Wan) → |
| Island platform, doors open on right side | ||
| Platform 2 | ← Template:Rcb Island line towards Kennedy Town (HKU) | |
Entrances and exits
Situated beneath the Mid-Levels, Sai Ying Pun station is equipped with six access points linked by extensive passageways. The principal exits are as follows:
- A1: Queen's Road West (adjacent to Sai Woo Lane), Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View, Tung Wah Hospital
- A2: Des Voeux Road West, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, Eco Tree Hotel
- B1: First Street, Centre Street Market
- B2: Second Street, 1/F Centre Street Market, Island Crest
- B3: Ki Ling Lane (ArtLane), Andes Plaza, Third Street, Western District Headquarters and Police Station
- C: Bonham Road, David Trench Rehabilitation Centre, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
After encountering difficult subsurface conditions that caused delays, Exit B3 was finally opened on 27 March 2016. The associated lifts began operation on 25 June 2016.
In popular culture
Sai Ying Pun Station has been featured in notable films including Cold War 2. Moreover, web author Echo of Heart created Sai Ying Pun, a horror fantasy narrative inspired by the station’s postponed opening and the urban myths linked to nearby Whitty Station and Rumsey Station.