Future projects of the MTR

Proposed future network of the Hong Kong MTR in the Railway Development Strategy 2014.

Several future projects on the MTR have been put forward by the MTR Corporation to the Hong Kong Government. Some of these are still in planning stage.

With the rail merger with the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation in 2007, the combined network increased to 211.6 kilometres (131.5 mi) and 84 stations. Committed and future railway projects have increased the network to over 270 kilometres (170 mi) and 98 stations today while the rest of the projects may further increase it to over 540 kilometres (340 mi).

Current plans

New lines

Northern Link

Main article: Northern Link (MTR)

See also: Kwu Tung station

The Northern Link is a 10.7 km rapid transit line that once completed, will create a new railway corridor between the Tuen Ma line and the East Rail line in northern New Territories. This project consists of two phases; the first with the opening of Kwu Tung station and the second involves the construction of the Northern Link main line, 3 new stations and the expansion of the existing Kam Sheung Road station. The termini of the line will be Kwu Tung station and Kam Sheung Road station. The completion of both phases was estimated to cost HK$62 billion in 2015. ^{[1] [2]} Kwu Tung station will be commissioned in 2027, ^[3] while construction of the Northern Link is scheduled to start in 2025 and end in 2034. ^[4] The area surrounding the station will be developed into a New Development Area.

In the 2022 Chief Executive's policy address, a new railway line would be built to connect Kam Tin with Kowloon Tong through Kwai Chung to relieve capacity from the Tuen Ma line. It would act as an extension of the Northern Link and interchange at Kowloon Tong station. ^[3]

The deputy chairman of the Legco subcommittee on railway affairs, Gary Zhang, added that the Tuen Ma line alone could not provide the capacity needed for commuters travelling from the planned Northern Metropolis to Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. ^[5]

Line extensions and new stations

Tung Chung line extension

Main articles: Tung Chung line § Tung Chung line extension, Tung Chung East station, and Tung Chung West station

The Tung Chung line extension has two elements; The first, a 1.3 km westward extension from the existing Tung Chung line western terminus Tung Chung station for a new terminus, the Tung Chung West station and the construction of an infill station, Tung Chung East station in between the existing Tung Chung and Sunny Bay stations.

In January 2023, John Lee and the Executive Council authorised the Tung Chung Line Extension project. Its construction commenced in 2023, while the cost of the two new stations, Tung Chung East and Tung Chung West, are expected to cost HK$24.2 billion. ^{[6] [7]} The contract for the extension was awarded to British engineering companies Arup and Atkins. This extension is expected to be complete by 2029.

Oyster Bay station

Main article: Oyster Bay station (MTR)

Oyster Bay station, previously Siu Ho Wan station, is a planned infill station that will be situated in between Sunny Bay station and the future Tung Chung East station. It is expected to open with the Siu Ho Wan Depot Topside Property Development Package 1. The station will be part of the Tung Chung line. It is expected to open in 2030. ^[8]

Tuen Ma line extension

Main article: Tuen Mun South extension

See also: Tuen Mun South station and A16 station

The Tuen Mun South extension is a proposed 2.4-kilometre (1.5 mi) extension of the MTR network. It extends the Tuen Ma line to the planned A16 station in Tuen Mun Area 16 and ultimately a new northern terminus, Tuen Mun South, near Tuen Mun Ferry Pier. The extension will extend southwards from the current northern terminus, Tuen Mun station. The track is planned to run on a viaduct.

Hung Shui Kiu station

Main article: Hung Shui Kiu station

Hung Shui Kiu station is a planned station on the Tuen Ma line. It will be located at Hung Shui Kiu, Yuen Long. The station is still under planning, depending on the development of Hung Shui Kiu New Town. It was gazetted by the Government on 24 February 2023.

Remaining section of the Airport Railway Extended Overrun Tunnel

See also: Hong Kong station, Tung Chung line, and Airport Express (MTR)

The remaining section of the Airport Railway Extended Overrun Tunnel (AREOT), ^[9] around 500 metres long, will be built eastwards of Hong Kong station for overrun tracks. This will allow Tung Chung line and Airport Express trains to turn around, allowing the trains to easily switch directions, enhancing the potential frequency of operation. The project is expected to extend the track length by an additional 1.5 kilometers. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and finish in 2032.

In March 2022, MTR announced the planning and design contract had been awarded to British consultancy firm Mott MacDonald. ^[10]

Proposals

Line extensions and new stations

Science Park/Pak Shek Kok station

Main article: Science Park station (MTR)

Science Park station is a proposed infill station along the East Rail line located between University and Tai Po Market stations. This station will be ready by 2031.

Tseung Kwan O Line Southern Extension

In the Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address, it was announced that the Tseung Kwan O line would be extended southwards to Tseung Kwan O Area 137, an 80 hectare plot of land the Development Bureau has identified suitable for the development of 50,000 new housing units. Area 137 is expected to take in new populations in 2030, but there has been no expected timeline for the completion of the extensions or the opening of the new station. ^{[11] [12]}

New lines

South Island line (West)

Main article: South Island line (West)

Alignment of the latest scheme (December 2007) of West Island line and South Island line.

On 21 January 2003, the Executive Council of Hong Kong granted MTR Corporation Limited permission to proceed with further planning on two proposed lines: West Island line and South Island line. These new lines were suggested in the Second Railway Development Study and the Railway Development Strategy 2014 report. ^[13] to provide direct links between the residential areas of Wah Fu and Ap Lei Chau in Southern District and the CBD of Hong Kong. This was the first project within the MTR network that serves the Southern District. ^[14]

Three proposals were previously submitted, each addressing the drawbacks of the prior plan. The plans were turned down by the government in favour of constructing highways in late March 2004. The MTRC's fourth proposal was given in February 2005. This consisted of a westward extension of the Island line (referred to as West Island line in early planning) and the South Island line (East), which would be connected to the South Island line (West) at HKU station and Wong Chuk Hang station, respectively.

The South Island line (East), currently simply referred to as the South Island line, opened on 28 December 2016. ^[15]

Plans for the South Island Line (West) were mentioned and revised in the 2014 governmental railway strategy report and an "implementation window" of 2022 to 2026 was identified. ^[14] A proposal for South Island line (West) was submitted by MTR to the Government of Hong Kong in December 2020. ^{[16] [17]} As of 2022, there is no schedule for construction.

North Island line

Alignment of North Island line

Main article: North Island line

This would link the Tung Chung line (Hong Kong station) and the Tseung Kwan O line (at North Point). There is currently no schedule for construction.

East Kowloon line

Main article: East Kowloon line

The original scheme of the East Kowloon line would connect Diamond Hill station via Hung Hom station to Sheung Wan station. It was refined and merged into what is today known as the East West Corridor without crossing the harbour to Sheung Wan.

In 2014, another railway scheme of the same name was unveiled by the government which would provide metro service in the opposite direction to Po Lam station, HKUST Station, via Sau Mau Ping. The 2014 railway development strategy recommended the new line should begin construction in 2019 and be finished in 2025. ^[14] However, construction has yet to begin and there is no schedule for construction.

Tung Chung to Tai O Light Rail System

In December 2017, CEDD hired a consultant to study the possibility of a light rail link between Tung Chung station and Tai O Fishing Village on Lantau Island. The light rail will go around Tung Chung, the airport and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge and will take only 15 minutes to make the trip, opposed to the 45 minute bus ride along a small, winding road from Tung Chung or Mui Wo. The estimated cost of this proposal is HK$15 billion. The consultancy was expected to be completed within the year 2019. LegCo Transport Panel member Michael Tien ^[18] said as light rail systems run on overhead lines, it would have a light environmental footprint. ^{[19] [20]}

As of 2022, there is no schedule for its construction.

Cable Car System from Ngong Ping to Tai O

In March 2019, CEDD released an executive study outlining an option of the proposed Cable Car extending from Ngong Ping village to Tai O. This proposal was suggested to be run by Hong Kong MTR.

Northern Metropolis Related Propsals

Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway

Main article: Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway

Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway is a proposed cross-border railway offering three future distinct services, Hong Kong International Airport – Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport direct connection, Hung Shui Kiu–Qianhai cross border services and domestic service between Tuen Mun and Siu Ho Wan.

Policy Address 2021

In 2021, the then Chief Executive Carrie Lam published the Hong Kong Policy Address East Rail Line and Tuen Ma Line, including the expansion of Northern Loop Line.

Northern Metropolitan Area with railway as the main backbone of transportation system

• East Rail Line (Bai Shek Kok Station, Lo Wu South Station and relocation Lo Wu Station) ': In teaching The East Rail Line Bai Shek Kok Station will be built near the Grand Sports Center, and the extension of the East Rail Line to Shenzhen Lo Wu will be explored and the establishment of a " One Country, Two Systems” port, and the addition of a new railway station with non-transit railway service between the existing Lo Wu Station and Sheung Shui Station.
• Northern Loop : The Northern Loop Line extends northward and connects to Shenzhen's new Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in Lok Ma Chau Loop ; Northern Loop Line extends eastward from Ku Tong Station, connecting Lo Wu, Man Kam To and Heung Yuen Wai area, then go south via Ta Kwu Ling, Queen’s Hill to Fanling.
• Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway : Connects Hung Shui Kiu, Ha Tsuen to Shenzhen Qianhai.
• Tsim Bei Tsui to Bak Nai Automatic MRT System: Exploring the feasibility of building an Tsim Bei Tsui to Pak Nai automatic MRT system to drive the area and Lau Fau Shan development.

2022 Policy Address

• Kau Yi Chau Artificial Island Railway: Connecting Western Hong Kong Island, Lantau and Northwest New Territories .
• Central Rail Link: Construction of the 12th railway line, connecting Kowloon Tong via Yuen Long Kam Sheung Road via Kwai Chung, to relieve the carrying pressure of Tuen Ma Line.

Policy Address 2023

• Central Rail Link Optimization Scheme: Set up three intermediate stops in Northeast Tsuen Wan, Northeast Kwai Chung and Tsuen King Wai for transfer to MTR Tsuen Wan Line.
• Northern Link East Extension: The Northern Loop Line extends to Ping Che via Lo Wu South, Man Kam To and other areas, connecting the new development area and different ports.
• Northeast New Territories Line: North-south rail section, connected East Rail Line by Heung Yuen Wai via Ping Che and Queen's Hill and other areas Railway to Fanling Station, opening up the main development nodes.
• Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen MRT Line : runs through Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen new development area and Yuen Long South development, connecting to Tuen Ma Line, Light Rail and major public transport interchanges.

Lantau Tomorrow Vision

Main article: Lantau Tomorrow Vision

The Lantau Tomorrow Vision plan involves creating direct railway links from the Kau Yi Chau artificial islands to Hong Kong Island West, North Lantau and coastal areas of Tuen Mun. ^[21]

The latest plan calls for a rail link from HKU and Kennedy Town station to the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands, before then going to Sunny Bay and connecting with Tuen Mun East and Hung Shui Kiu. A "Green Mass Transit System" is also proposed to be built within the islands. ^[22]

Other stations

Other studied areas for expansion include:

• A short extension of the Island line to Siu Sai Wan station was proposed in 2001 but later shelved in 2014. ^{[14] [23]}

References

1. 2023 Interim Results (PDF) (Report). MTR Corporation. 10 August 2023. p. 12. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
2. Shum, Michael; Cheung, Jane (17 December 2020). "MTR Northern Link project gets go-ahead". The Standard.
3. Lee, Peter (19 October 2022). "Hong Kong Policy Address: New rail link among 6 major infrastructure projects, public subsidty extended". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
4. "Project Timeline - MTR Northern Link Project". mtrnorthernlink.hk. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
5. Preston, Robert (28 October 2022). "Hong Kong gives priority to Tseung Kwan O Southern Extension". International railway Journal. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
6. 2023 Interim Results (PDF) (Report). MTR Corporation. 10 August 2023. p. 12. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
7. Burroughs, David (2 June 2023). "Construction of Tung Chung Line Extension begins". International Railway Journal . Retrieved 23 August 2023.
8. "Siu Ho Wan Station and Siu Ho Wan Depot Replanning Works – Executive Summary" (PDF). Environmental Protection Department of the Government of Hong Kong. July 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
9. "MTR > Network Improvements". www.mtr.com.hk. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
10. "Planning and Preliminary Design Works of Airport Railway Extended Overrun Tunnel Commences" (PDF) (Press release). MTR Corporation. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
11. Liu, Oscar (24 October 2022). "Hong Kong Authorities to prioritise Tseung Kwan O rail line's extension over other mega projects, but no timeline yet for new plans' completion". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
12. Lee, Peter (19 October 2022). "Hong Kong Policy Address: New rail link among 6 major infrastructure projects, public transport subsidy extended". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
13. Second Railway Development Study (RDS-2) (PDF) (Report). Transport Bureau, The Government of Hong Kong SAR. May 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2006.
14. Railway Development Strategy 2014 (PDF) (Report). Transport and Housing Bureau. September 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2015.
15. "Launch date set for Hong Kong MTR's new South Island Line". South China Morning Post . 5 December 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
16. "Annual Report 2021: Excellence in Motion" (PDF). MTR Corporation. 10 March 2022. p. 26. Retrieved 18 August 2022. We MTR Corporation also continue to discuss with Government our proposal for the South Island Line (West), which was submitted in December 2020.
17. "Economy revival fears over major delays to Hong Kong rail projects". South China Morning Post. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
18. "Panel on Transport (Membership) 2017-2018". Legislative Council of Hong Kong.
19. "大嶼山輕軌方案 最快後年完成評估" [Lantau LRT project to complete assessment as soon as next year]. Sing Tao Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Hong Kong. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
20. "CEDD studying light rail link to Tai O". Lantau News. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
21. "LCQ5: Lantau Tomorrow Vision". Government of Hong Kong. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
22. "Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands". www.centralwaters.hk. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
23. Railway Development Strategy 2014 (PDF) (Report). September 2014. pp. 71–74.