West Island Line
Encyclopedia
The West Island Line is a rapid transit line under construction of the Hong Kong
MTR
metro system
. Planned as an extension to Island Line
, the construction of the West Island line depended on reclamation and redevelopment of Western District
.
Construction of the line began on 10 August 2009, for opening in 2014.
. Construction of the new West Island line would be divided into two phases.
Phase one would begin at the already existing Sheung Wan station. A further two stations, Sai Ying Pun and University would be added to extend the length of the Island Line. University will also serve as an interchange for the South Island Line. Phase two would include an extension to Kennedy Town. The construction of phase two, which will include a depot near Kennedy Town station, is subject to the land availability of the western reclamation
.
On 21 January 2003, the Executive Council of Hong Kong
gave MTRC permission to proceed with further planning on Phase 1 of West Island Line. However, the first proposal has some major drawbacks. Specifically, construction of West Island Line as heavy railway type tunnels and stations would not include Kennedy Town if there is no Western reclamation. There would also be great environmental impact and traffic management challenge if West Island Line goes under Des Voeux Road West.
In order to respond to the criticism directed towards the original proposal, the MTRC started a feasibility study of the lines in mid-2003 to look for cost-effective options to improve the system. The study also evaluated the external benefits of the project and its impact on other modes of public transport. The company derived a modified proposal in November 2003.
.
, and the southern part which remained a line of its own.
Island Line extension
A short extension from Sheung Wan to Sai Ying Pun, in which the latter station provides a transfer to the West Island Line.
West Island Line - Running from Sai Ying Pun to Wong Chuk Hang
Sai Ying Pun
Wong Chuk Hang
held a meeting to consider the development of West and South Island Lines alongside with the highway link (Route 4).
Residential, environmental, and some professional organisations support building the lines instead of highway. Rail links are more environmentally friendly, and will help ease congestion of the Aberdeen Tunnel. The lines can also help sustainable development and will preserve the shoreline along western and southern Hong Kong Island
.
Other transport operators and various organisations oppose the rail link, claiming that the rail link could lead to severe competition between different modes of transport, and that reduction of road transport might eventually cause job losses. Some panel members stated that the projected population growth in the south cannot support the new lines, and that the government should have a thorough plan on how to develop the Southern District before implementing the rail links.
However, some panel members suggested that the new lines could help promote tourism in the area. They asked the government to moderate the various modes of transport upon the new lines' inaugurations so as to relieve concerns from the transport operators.
Government officials stated that the low ridership of KCR
West Rail Line and its rail incidents warrant extra planning on the new rail lines to ensure enough ridership and appropriate, cost-effective system design. Therefore, the West Island Line and South Island line project was deferred, and "green lights" have been given to the detailed planning of the highway.
had a meeting discussing West and South Island Line. MTR
has submitted a revised scheme on 22 February and an introduction to the scheme was conducted in the meeting.
In the scheme, West Island Line included only the extension to Island Line. The rest became the west section of South Island Line. The new West Island Line would run from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town:
The scheme was gazetted in October 2007 and given final authorization in March 2009. Construction of the 3-kilometre extension started on August 10, 2009, for completion in 2014. The cost of the line is estimated to be HK$15.4 billion.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
metro system
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
. Planned as an extension to Island Line
Island Line (MTR)
The Island Line is one of 10 lines of the MTR, the mass transit system in Hong Kong. It runs from Sheung Wan in the Central and Western District to Chai Wan in the Eastern District. The line first opened in 31 May 1985...
, the construction of the West Island line depended on reclamation and redevelopment of Western District
Sai Wan
Sai Wan , or Western District, or simply Western, is an area in Hong Kong that corresponds to Sai Ying Pun, Shek Tong Tsui, Belcher Bay and Kennedy Town....
.
Construction of the line began on 10 August 2009, for opening in 2014.
Original proposal
Route and stations
The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRC) submitted its first proposal for the West Island line in May 2002. The West Island line would be an extension of the Island LineIsland Line (MTR)
The Island Line is one of 10 lines of the MTR, the mass transit system in Hong Kong. It runs from Sheung Wan in the Central and Western District to Chai Wan in the Eastern District. The line first opened in 31 May 1985...
. Construction of the new West Island line would be divided into two phases.
Phase one would begin at the already existing Sheung Wan station. A further two stations, Sai Ying Pun and University would be added to extend the length of the Island Line. University will also serve as an interchange for the South Island Line. Phase two would include an extension to Kennedy Town. The construction of phase two, which will include a depot near Kennedy Town station, is subject to the land availability of the western reclamation
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
.
On 21 January 2003, the Executive Council of Hong Kong
Executive Council of Hong Kong
The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...
gave MTRC permission to proceed with further planning on Phase 1 of West Island Line. However, the first proposal has some major drawbacks. Specifically, construction of West Island Line as heavy railway type tunnels and stations would not include Kennedy Town if there is no Western reclamation. There would also be great environmental impact and traffic management challenge if West Island Line goes under Des Voeux Road West.
Preliminary scheme
Alignment and stations
The West Island line took the western section of the South Island Line in the previous proposal, and becoming a medium capacity rail line from Sheung Wan to Wong Chuk HangWong Chuk Hang
Wong Chuk Hang is an industrial and residential town to the east of Aberdeen and to the north of Nam Long Shan and to the west of Shouson Hill, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong...
.
- Sheung Wan (Interchange to Island LineIsland Line (MTR)The Island Line is one of 10 lines of the MTR, the mass transit system in Hong Kong. It runs from Sheung Wan in the Central and Western District to Chai Wan in the Eastern District. The line first opened in 31 May 1985...
) - Sai Ying Pun
- UniversityUniversityA university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
- CyberportCyberportCyberport is a creative digital community with a cluster of technology and digital content tenants. It is owned and managed by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited which is wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government...
- Wah FuWah FuWah Fu is an area located in Southern District, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.Wah Fu mainly consists of the public housing estates, Wah Fu Estate and Wah Kwai Estate. They were built near Waterfall Bay and Kellett Bay ....
- Aberdeen
- Wong Chuk HangWong Chuk HangWong Chuk Hang is an industrial and residential town to the east of Aberdeen and to the north of Nam Long Shan and to the west of Shouson Hill, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong...
(Interchange to South Island Line)
Revised alignment scheme
Alignment and stations
The corporation handed in the Revised Alignment Scheme in end-March 2004. West Island Line in the previous proposal was separated into two parts: the northern part of which became an extension to Island LineIsland Line (MTR)
The Island Line is one of 10 lines of the MTR, the mass transit system in Hong Kong. It runs from Sheung Wan in the Central and Western District to Chai Wan in the Eastern District. The line first opened in 31 May 1985...
, and the southern part which remained a line of its own.
Island Line extension
A short extension from Sheung Wan to Sai Ying Pun, in which the latter station provides a transfer to the West Island Line.
West Island Line - Running from Sai Ying Pun to Wong Chuk Hang
Wong Chuk Hang
Wong Chuk Hang is an industrial and residential town to the east of Aberdeen and to the north of Nam Long Shan and to the west of Shouson Hill, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong...
- Sai Ying Pun (Interchange to Island LineIsland Line (MTR)The Island Line is one of 10 lines of the MTR, the mass transit system in Hong Kong. It runs from Sheung Wan in the Central and Western District to Chai Wan in the Eastern District. The line first opened in 31 May 1985...
) (View 3D Urban model Animation)
- University (View 3D Urban model Animation)
- Kennedy Town (View 3D Urban model Animation)
- Queen Mary Hospital (Future Stop)
- CyberportCyberportCyberport is a creative digital community with a cluster of technology and digital content tenants. It is owned and managed by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited which is wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government...
- Wah FuWah FuWah Fu is an area located in Southern District, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.Wah Fu mainly consists of the public housing estates, Wah Fu Estate and Wah Kwai Estate. They were built near Waterfall Bay and Kellett Bay ....
- Tin WanTin WanTin Wan is a place at the south of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It is at the west of Aberdeen and the east of Kellett Bay .A public housing estate in there, Tin Wan Estate , is also named from Tin Wan....
(Future Stop) - AberdeenAberdeenAberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
- Wong Chuk HangWong Chuk HangWong Chuk Hang is an industrial and residential town to the east of Aberdeen and to the north of Nam Long Shan and to the west of Shouson Hill, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong...
(Interchange to South Island Line)
Interchange stations
West Island Line would have interchanges at Sai Ying Pun (with Island Line) and Wong Chuk Hang (with South Island Line).Sai Ying Pun
- West Island Line on upper island platform, Island Line on lower island platform. Transfer by short escalator ride.
Wong Chuk Hang
- Double island platform with three tracks. South Island Line (West Section) trains uses the center track while South Island Line (East Section) trains use those on the two sides. Convenient cross-platform transfer can be made in both directions.
Construction cost
According to the summary report of the new lines, the construction cost including the South Island Line would be between HK$14.6-16.5 billion. MTR asked for government funding of less than half of the total cost. The remaining cost and the operational cost would be covered by MTR.Deferral of the scheme
On 28 May 2004, the Panel of Transport of Legislative CouncilLegislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
held a meeting to consider the development of West and South Island Lines alongside with the highway link (Route 4).
Residential, environmental, and some professional organisations support building the lines instead of highway. Rail links are more environmentally friendly, and will help ease congestion of the Aberdeen Tunnel. The lines can also help sustainable development and will preserve the shoreline along western and southern Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
.
Other transport operators and various organisations oppose the rail link, claiming that the rail link could lead to severe competition between different modes of transport, and that reduction of road transport might eventually cause job losses. Some panel members stated that the projected population growth in the south cannot support the new lines, and that the government should have a thorough plan on how to develop the Southern District before implementing the rail links.
However, some panel members suggested that the new lines could help promote tourism in the area. They asked the government to moderate the various modes of transport upon the new lines' inaugurations so as to relieve concerns from the transport operators.
Government officials stated that the low ridership of KCR
Kowloon-Canton Railway
The Kowloon–Canton Railway refers to a railway network in Hong Kong which is now combined with the MTR railway system, comprising rapid transit services, a light rail system and feeder bus routes within Hong Kong, and intercity passenger and freight train services to the rest of China...
West Rail Line and its rail incidents warrant extra planning on the new rail lines to ensure enough ridership and appropriate, cost-effective system design. Therefore, the West Island Line and South Island line project was deferred, and "green lights" have been given to the detailed planning of the highway.
Final scheme
On 25 February 2005, the Panel of Transport of Legislative CouncilLegislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
had a meeting discussing West and South Island Line. MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
has submitted a revised scheme on 22 February and an introduction to the scheme was conducted in the meeting.
Alignment and stations
- Sheung Wan
- Sai Ying Pun
- University (Interchange to South Island Line (W))
- Kennedy Town
The scheme was gazetted in October 2007 and given final authorization in March 2009. Construction of the 3-kilometre extension started on August 10, 2009, for completion in 2014. The cost of the line is estimated to be HK$15.4 billion.