Tuen Ma line
| Company type | Rapid transit line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transport |
| Founded | 14 February 2020 |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
Area served | Hong Kong |
| Products | Commuter rail, rapid transit |
| Website | https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/main/index.html |
The Tuen Ma line () forms part of Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway network, serving as a commuter rail and rapid transit route. Stretching over , it holds the distinction of being the longest line within the MTR system, encompassing 27 stations—the greatest number found on any single MTR line. On official MTR maps, it is represented by the color Brown.
This line was created through the unification of the former West Rail line and Ma On Shan line, connected by an almost entirely subterranean segment known as the "Tai Wai to Hung Hom section" (), which is part of the larger Sha Tin to Central Link initiative. This addition contributed of new track along with six fresh stations. The portion from Tai Wai to Kai Tak began operations on 14 February 2020, while the remaining stretch from Kai Tak to Hung Hom was inaugurated on 27 June 2021.
During its planning phase, this corridor was referred to as the "East West Corridor" (). The designation "Tuen Ma line" was officially adopted by MTR Corporation on 25 May 2018, reflecting its terminal points at Tuen Mun (previously the West Rail terminus) and Ma On Shan (from which the original Ma On Shan Line took its name). Traveling the entire length of the line requires approximately 73 minutes.
Overview
Extending from Tuen Mun station, located in Tuen Mun, to in Wu Kai Sha, within Ma On Shan, the line covers a distance of , featuring 27 stations and a total journey time close to 73 minutes. It incorporates ten major interchange stations that provide connections to other MTR lines as well as the Light Rail system, thereby improving overall network connectivity. Maintenance facilities are situated at Tai Wai and Pat Heung depots.
The route is fully grade-separated, running underground through densely populated areas of Kowloon and Tsuen Wan, then shifting to at-grade or elevated tracks within the New Territories. The original Ma On Shan segment predominantly consists of viaducts constructed on land reserved during the development of Ma On Shan New Town. Certain stretches run at ground level between highway lanes or on embankments adjacent to other MTR routes. The alignment traverses significant urban locations such as Lion Rock Country Park, Kowloon City, Hung Hom, and West Kowloon, employing a combination of bored tunnels, cut-and-cover techniques, and drill-and-blast excavation methods.
A distinctive operational feature occurs on the eastern section between Sung Wong Toi and Wu Kai Sha stations, where trains run on the right-hand track to enable cross-platform transfers at Tai Wai with the East Rail Line. This arrangement streamlines passenger movement during peak travel times. Near To Kwa Wan station, a split platform design facilitates a transition back to left-hand running.
Since becoming part of the KCR network, Tai Wai station has offered uninterrupted transfers without ticket barriers between Ma On Shan Rail and East Rail Line platforms, treating trips across these two lines as continuous journeys. However, during the KCR period, no direct interchange was provided with the West Rail line.
Rolling stock
Originally designated as a medium-capacity system within Hong Kong, the Ma On Shan line was engineered to accommodate passenger flows up to 32,000 individuals per hour per direction (PPHPD), aligning with the throughput of full rapid transit networks. Prior to the integration with the Sha Tin to Central Link, which will extend the line into Kowloon and connect it with the full-capacity West Rail line, the Ma On Shan line underwent an upgrade to meet full-capacity criteria.
The KCRC initially procured 18 four-car SP1950 trainsets from Kinki Sharyo for service on the Ma On Shan line; these have since been expanded into eight-car formations. These units are identical in model to the SP1900 trains operating on the East Rail and West Rail lines, which run in twelve-car and eight-car layouts respectively. In March 2017, brand-new eight-car Tuen Ma line trains manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles entered operation on the Ma On Shan line. Both train types have a peak velocity of , with a typical service speed of on extended stretches. Unlike those on the East Rail line, these trains do not feature first-class compartments. Maintenance for all rolling stock is conducted at Tai Wai depot, and they utilize the SelTrac IS moving-block signalling system, designed with future upgrades to radio-based SelTrac CBTC in mind to boost capacity.
The initial pair of converted eight-car SP1900 trains commenced service on 15 January 2017. During the period when both four- and eight-car trainsets operated concurrently, passengers were guided by platform LCD displays and audio announcements to ensure proper boarding. From December 2017 onwards, only eight-car trains have been in operation on the Ma On Shan line, accompanied by station-wide installation of automatic platform gates consistent with those on other elevated MTR routes.
The former West Rail line employed a fleet of 33 eight-car SP1900 trains, produced by a Japanese partnership between Kinki Sharyo and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Initially, twenty-two were seven-car sets ordered by KCRC at the line’s inauguration. During peak morning hours, up to 26 sets operate at intervals of approximately 171 seconds; MTRC specifies each car's capacity as 52 seated plus 286 standing passengers. Beginning in January 2016, all seven-car West Rail trains were lengthened to eight cars in preparation for integration into the Sha Tin to Central Link, a process completed by May 2018. Throughout this conversion phase, platform information systems assisted passengers in appropriate boarding. These SP1900 trains remained exclusive on the line until March 2020, when new eight-car EMUs supplied by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles were introduced.
History
Prior to the 2007 consolidation of Hong Kong’s two primary railway operators—the MTR Corporation (MTRC) and Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC)—the West Rail (launched in 2003) and Ma On Shan Rail (opened in 2004) were managed by KCRC. Both lines were constructed with provisions for future expansion, including reserved platform areas along the Ma On Shan route.
Both MTRC and KCRC submitted proposals for the Sha Tin to Central Link (SCL) project to the Hong Kong government, intending to extend their respective networks. After several iterations, approval was granted for KCRC’s proposal connecting West Rail and Ma On Shan Rail via Wong Tai Sin and Kowloon City districts (phase one East West Corridor), along with an extension of the East Rail line reaching Hong Kong Island’s central business district (phase two North South Corridor).
Following their merger in 2007, MTRC obtained a 50-year lease over all KCRC transport operations—including East Rail, West Rail, Ma On Shan Rail, Light Rail, feeder bus services, and Guangzhou–Kowloon through train—and rebranded these three commuter lines under its system. Consequently, responsibility for SCL projects shifted to MTRC’s oversight.
Construction work on the East West Corridor commenced in August 2016 along a route largely mirroring an alignment originally proposed by MTRC during the 1970s as part of the East Kowloon line. The corridor’s naming remained uncertain until an "EWL" (東西綫) information plate was briefly visible at Ho Man Tin station during construction but was removed prior to opening. On 25 May 2018, MTRC officially announced that this route would operate under the name Tuen Ma line.
Construction flaws and postponement
Initially planned to be fully operational by 2019, the launch of the Tuen Ma line was postponed by nearly two years due to safety inspection failures involving newly constructed platforms at Hung Hom station during December 2018 and January 2019.
Leighton Asia, a subsidiary of CIMIC Group and the primary contractor for the SCL construction, was accused of concealing defects until a subcontractor whistleblower disclosed photographic evidence. This revelation prompted thorough investigations to determine whether the compromised concrete structures needed to be demolished. The Hong Kong government publicly criticized MTRC for inadequate oversight.
Former KCRC chairman Michael Tien initially suggested extending the Ma On Shan line from Tai Wai to Diamond Hill as a measure to ease congestion on the East Rail Line between Tai Wai and Kowloon Tong during peak periods. Nevertheless, then MTRC chairman Frederick Ma advocated for opening the entire line simultaneously by mid-2019 to avoid incurring extra operational expenses.
On 18 July 2019, the Transport and Housing Bureau declared a phased opening approach. Phase 1 commenced on 14 February 2020, extending the Ma On Shan Line from Tai Wai to Kai Tak station, with Kai Tak’s crossover track serving as a temporary terminus. This extension was intended to alleviate crowding on the East Rail line ahead of train length reductions for its cross-harbour extension. The final segment from Kai Tak to Hung Hom became operational on 27 June 2021.
Planned future expansions
In May 2020, the Government presented the proposal for the Tuen Mun South Extension to the Legislative Council Subcommittee on Railway Matters. Beyond the "Railway Development Strategy 2014" blueprint for Tuen Mun South station near Tuen Mun Ferry Pier, MTRCL's updated plan includes an additional station in Tuen Mun Area 16. To build this intermediate segment, relocating the Tuen Mun Swimming Pool is necessary, with a potential move to the Tuen Mun Golf Centre subject to technical feasibility assessments. If this site proves unsuitable, other locations will be explored. The detailed planning and design phase is expected to take two to three years; construction began in 2023 with a target completion date around 2030. The government has tasked MTRCL with comprehensive planning and design responsibilities and will negotiate funding arrangements based on an "ownership" model.
Train operations
- Weekdays
- Morning peak: 20-23 trains per hour (intervals of 2.7-3.0 minutes)
- Evening peak: 18-19 trains per hour (intervals of 3.2-3.5 minutes)
- Weekdays off-peak / Sundays and public holidays: 9-10 trains per hour (intervals of 6-7.3 minutes)
- Saturdays: 9-13 trains per hour (intervals of 4.7-7.3 minutes)
Not every Tuen Ma line service covers the entire route; shorter journeys are frequently scheduled during peak times as well as at the beginning or end of daily operations:
| Origin | Destination |
|---|---|
| Eastbound | |
| Tuen Mun | Hung Hom, Diamond Hill, or Wu Kai Sha |
| Tin Shui Wai, Tsuen Wan West, East Tsim Sha Tsui or Tai Wai | Wu Kai Sha |
| Westbound | |
| Wu Kai Sha | Tai Wai, Hung Hom, Mei Foo or Tuen Mun |
| City One, Ho Man Tin, Hung Hom, East Tsim Sha Tsui, Nam Cheong or Kam Sheung Road | Tuen Mun |
Stations
Below is a compilation of the stations served by the Tuen Ma line.
... [Stations list continues as in original with unchanged formatting] ...| Station Name and Livery | Interchanges | Date Opened | District | Former Line | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Chinese | |||||
| Tuen Ma Line (TML) | ||||||
| Template:STN | 烏溪沙 | — | 21 December 2004 | Sha Tin | Template:Rcb | |
| Template:STN | 馬鞍山 | |||||