Sha Tin to Central Link
Encyclopedia
Shatin to Central Link is a proposed railway line in Hong Kong
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...

 which will run from Tai Wai Station
Tai Wai (KCR)
Tai Wai Station is an interchange station on the East Rail Line and the Ma On Shan Line of the Mass Transit Railway system in Hong Kong. The station is located in Tai Wai, Sha Tin District....

 in Tai Wai
Tai Wai
Tai Wai is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong, located between Sha Tin New Town and the Lion Rock. It is the largest part of the Sha Tin District....

 to Hung Hom. The original proposal had this line running to Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...

, but this will now be an extension of the East Rail Line.

The proposed route roughly follows the East Kowloon Line
East Kowloon Line (MTR)
East Kowloon Line was one of the original five MTR lines proposed in the late 1970s in Hong Kong, which would have connected Sheung Wan with East Kowloon, eventually becoming part of the proposed Sha Tin to Central Link.-Initial proposal :...

 (東九龍綫), which was proposed in the late 1960s. The railway will be operated by the MTR Corporation Limited and the final draft proposal issued to the government by end of 2007. Construction is planned to start no later than 2010 and operation to begin in 2015 (Hung Hom section).

Originally, construction and operation were awarded to the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation was established in 1982 under the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance for the purposes of operating the Kowloon–Canton Railway , and to construct and operate other new railways...

 (KCRC) after a bidding process. However, as the Hong Kong Government leased KCRC's transport operations to the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), KCRC's sole rival in the bidding, the railway will be operated by the MTRCL upon completion of construction.

History

On 25 June 2002, the government announced that the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation was established in 1982 under the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance for the purposes of operating the Kowloon–Canton Railway , and to construct and operate other new railways...

 (KCRC) had won its bid against the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) to build and operate the Shatin to Central Link. The route was originally planned to go from Tai Wai Station
Tai Wai (KCR)
Tai Wai Station is an interchange station on the East Rail Line and the Ma On Shan Line of the Mass Transit Railway system in Hong Kong. The station is located in Tai Wai, Sha Tin District....

 to Central West Station (a proposed station located under the Mid-Levels).

The KCRC announced modifications to the proposal in 2005, with the East Kowloon portion of the line joining KCR Ma On Shan Rail (Ma On Shan Line) at Tai Wai
Tai Wai (KCR)
Tai Wai Station is an interchange station on the East Rail Line and the Ma On Shan Line of the Mass Transit Railway system in Hong Kong. The station is located in Tai Wai, Sha Tin District....

 and West Rail (West Rail Line) at Hung Hom
Hung Hom (KCR)
Hung Hom Station, formerly known as Kowloon Station is a station on the East Rail Line and West Rail Line in Hong Kong. It is located in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, next to the Cross Harbour Tunnel...

, and the cross-harbour portion joining KCR East Rail (East Rail Line) at Hung Hom
Hung Hom (KCR)
Hung Hom Station, formerly known as Kowloon Station is a station on the East Rail Line and West Rail Line in Hong Kong. It is located in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, next to the Cross Harbour Tunnel...

. However, the KCRC's proposal had not yet been finalised.

At the same time, the MTRC submitted a new proposal to the government. According to the proposal, Kwun Tong Line would be extended from Yau Ma Tei Station to Whampoa Station in Whampoa Garden
Whampoa Garden
Whampoa Garden is the largest private housing estate located in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was built on the site of the former Whampoa Dockyards under Hutchison Whampoa Property's "garden city" concept and completed in 1991.-Features:...

. Also, the route of Shatin to Central Link will be built according to the original proposal instead of the KCRC's modified proposal.

On 11 April 2006, MTRC signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the Hong Kong Government, the owner of KCRC, to merge the operations of the territory's two railway networks. According to the memorandum, the current MTR lines may be fully integrated with the Shatin to Central Link. Also, the government intends to choose the KCRC's modified proposal to build the railway, that is, extending the current East Rail Line to the 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...

. However, final decisions will not be made before conducting further studies on the proposal with the MTRC.

On 12 July 2007, both companies announced the new proposal
.

Ma On Shan Rail Extension (Tai Wai to Central West)

Originally, the KCRC chose to extend the current Ma On Shan Line from Tai Wai
Tai Wai (KCR)
Tai Wai Station is an interchange station on the East Rail Line and the Ma On Shan Line of the Mass Transit Railway system in Hong Kong. The station is located in Tai Wai, Sha Tin District....

 to Central West via stations in East Kowloon and northern shore of the 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...

 in the original bid for the line.

The following is a list of proposed stations in the KCRC's original bid for the line:
  • Tai Wai
    Tai Wai (KCR)
    Tai Wai Station is an interchange station on the East Rail Line and the Ma On Shan Line of the Mass Transit Railway system in Hong Kong. The station is located in Tai Wai, Sha Tin District....

     (大圍, Interchange to )
  • Tsz Wan Shan (慈雲山)
  • Diamond Hill (鑽石山)
  • Kai Tak (啟德, original site of Hong Kong International Airport)
  • Ma Tau Wai (馬頭圍)
  • To Kwa Wan (土瓜灣)
  • Ho Man Tin (何文田, Interchange to )
  • Whampoa Garden (黃埔花園)
  • Hung Hom
    Hung Hom (KCR)
    Hung Hom Station, formerly known as Kowloon Station is a station on the East Rail Line and West Rail Line in Hong Kong. It is located in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, next to the Cross Harbour Tunnel...

     (紅磡, Interchange to and )
  • Exhibition (會展, Interchange to )
  • Admiralty (金鐘)
  • Central West (中環西)

KCRC's modified proposal

In 2004, the KCRC sent a modified proposal of the railway to the government. According to the proposal, Ma On Shan Line will be extended to East Kowloon and join West Rail Line at Hung Hom
Hung Hom (KCR)
Hung Hom Station, formerly known as Kowloon Station is a station on the East Rail Line and West Rail Line in Hong Kong. It is located in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, next to the Cross Harbour Tunnel...

. In addition, the cross-harbour portion will become an extension of East Rail Line, running from Mong Kok
Mong Kok (KCR)
Mong Kok East Station is a station on Hong Kong's East Rail Line. Only out-of-system interchange is available with Kwun Tong Line and Tsuen Wan Line at Mong Kok Station via a footbridge. The station opened in 1910 as Yaumati Station , and a new building was built in 1968 to replace...

 to Central South.

Ma On Shan Rail East Kowloon Extension (Tai Wai to Hung Hom)

Ma On Shan Line will be extended from Tai Wai
Tai Wai (KCR)
Tai Wai Station is an interchange station on the East Rail Line and the Ma On Shan Line of the Mass Transit Railway system in Hong Kong. The station is located in Tai Wai, Sha Tin District....

 to Hung Hom
Hung Hom (KCR)
Hung Hom Station, formerly known as Kowloon Station is a station on the East Rail Line and West Rail Line in Hong Kong. It is located in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, next to the Cross Harbour Tunnel...

 via East Kowloon. The extension will join West Rail Line at Hung Hom
Hung Hom (KCR)
Hung Hom Station, formerly known as Kowloon Station is a station on the East Rail Line and West Rail Line in Hong Kong. It is located in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, next to the Cross Harbour Tunnel...

 to the northwest New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...

 via the Kowloon Southern Link and the current route of West Rail Line, forming an East-to-West railway corridor. Also, the KCRC had decided not to build stations in Tsz Wan Shan
Tsz Wan Shan
Tsz Wan Shan is a residential area in New Kowloon, Hong Kong. Located at the foot of Temple Hill, it is administratively part of Wong Tai Sin District....

 and Whampoa Garden
Whampoa Garden
Whampoa Garden is the largest private housing estate located in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was built on the site of the former Whampoa Dockyards under Hutchison Whampoa Property's "garden city" concept and completed in 1991.-Features:...

. However, both stations will be linked by the Automatic People Mover from Diamond Hill
Diamond Hill (MTR)
Diamond Hill Station is an MTR station located in Diamond Hill, Northern Kowloon. It is on the Kwun Tong Line. This station's livery is dark gray with silver stones symbolising diamonds. The station is incorporated into the large Plaza Hollywood development.-Station layout:Platforms 1 and 2...

 and Hung Hom
Hung Hom (KCR)
Hung Hom Station, formerly known as Kowloon Station is a station on the East Rail Line and West Rail Line in Hong Kong. It is located in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, next to the Cross Harbour Tunnel...

 respectively.

The following is a list of proposed stations of the Ma On Shan Rail East Kowloon Extension:
  • Tai Wai
    Tai Wai (KCR)
    Tai Wai Station is an interchange station on the East Rail Line and the Ma On Shan Line of the Mass Transit Railway system in Hong Kong. The station is located in Tai Wai, Sha Tin District....

     (Interchange to )
  • Diamond Hill (Interchange to Automatic People Mover to Tsz Wan Shan
    Tsz Wan Shan
    Tsz Wan Shan is a residential area in New Kowloon, Hong Kong. Located at the foot of Temple Hill, it is administratively part of Wong Tai Sin District....

    )
  • Kai Tak
  • To Kwa Wan / Ma Tau Wai
  • Ho Man Tin
  • Hung Hom
    Hung Hom (KCR)
    Hung Hom Station, formerly known as Kowloon Station is a station on the East Rail Line and West Rail Line in Hong Kong. It is located in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, next to the Cross Harbour Tunnel...

     (Interchange to and Automatic People Mover to Whampoa Garden
    Whampoa Garden
    Whampoa Garden is the largest private housing estate located in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was built on the site of the former Whampoa Dockyards under Hutchison Whampoa Property's "garden city" concept and completed in 1991.-Features:...

    ) - Joining to East Tsim Sha Tsui
    East Tsim Sha Tsui (KCR)
    East Tsim Sha Tsui Station is a station in the Mass Transit Railway system of Hong Kong. It is currently an intermediate station on the West Rail Line....


Cross-harbour Extension (Mong Kok to Central South)

According to the proposal, a new Mong Kok East station will be relocated a few hundred metres to the south of the current Mong Kok East
Mong Kok (KCR)
Mong Kok East Station is a station on Hong Kong's East Rail Line. Only out-of-system interchange is available with Kwun Tong Line and Tsuen Wan Line at Mong Kok Station via a footbridge. The station opened in 1910 as Yaumati Station , and a new building was built in 1968 to replace...

 station. Also, a new underground tunnel will be built to link between Mong Kok East and Hung Hom
Hung Hom (KCR)
Hung Hom Station, formerly known as Kowloon Station is a station on the East Rail Line and West Rail Line in Hong Kong. It is located in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, next to the Cross Harbour Tunnel...

, which will join the cross-harbour tunnel to the northern shore of 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...

, forming a North-to-South railway corridor.

The following is a list of proposed stations of the Cross-harbour Extension:
  • Mong Kok East
    Mong Kok (KCR)
    Mong Kok East Station is a station on Hong Kong's East Rail Line. Only out-of-system interchange is available with Kwun Tong Line and Tsuen Wan Line at Mong Kok Station via a footbridge. The station opened in 1910 as Yaumati Station , and a new building was built in 1968 to replace...

  • Hung Hom
    Hung Hom (KCR)
    Hung Hom Station, formerly known as Kowloon Station is a station on the East Rail Line and West Rail Line in Hong Kong. It is located in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, next to the Cross Harbour Tunnel...

     (Interchange to / and Automatic People Mover to Whampoa Garden
    Whampoa Garden
    Whampoa Garden is the largest private housing estate located in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was built on the site of the former Whampoa Dockyards under Hutchison Whampoa Property's "garden city" concept and completed in 1991.-Features:...

    )
  • Causeway Bay North
  • Exhibition
  • Admiralty East
  • Central South

Shatin to Central Link (Tai Wai to Central)

The following is a list of stations proposed in the MTRC's original bid for the line:
  • Tai Wai (Interchange to and )
  • Tsz Wan Shan
    Tsz Wan Shan
    Tsz Wan Shan is a residential area in New Kowloon, Hong Kong. Located at the foot of Temple Hill, it is administratively part of Wong Tai Sin District....

  • Diamond Hill
    Diamond Hill (MTR)
    Diamond Hill Station is an MTR station located in Diamond Hill, Northern Kowloon. It is on the Kwun Tong Line. This station's livery is dark gray with silver stones symbolising diamonds. The station is incorporated into the large Plaza Hollywood development.-Station layout:Platforms 1 and 2...

     (Interchange to )
  • Kai Tak
  • Ma Tau Wai
    Ma Tau Wai
    Ma Tau Wai is an area in Kowloon City District, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was originally a walled village between present-day Argyle Street and Prince Edward Road West, east of St Teresa's Hospital....

  • To Kwa Wan
    To Kwa Wan
    To Kwa Wan is a bay and an area of the eastern shore of Kowloon peninsula of Hong Kong. The area is part of urban Hong Kong, and is adjacent to Hok Yuen, Hung Hom, Ma Tau Wai and Ma Tau Kok...

  • Ho Man Tin
    Ho Man Tin (MTR)
    Ho Man Tin Station is a proposed interchange station on the Hong Kong MTR's Kwun Tong Line Extension and Sha Tin to Central Link....

     (Interchange to )
  • Hung Hom (Interchange to and )
  • Exhibition
    Exhibition (MTR)
    Exhibition is a station on MTR's proposed North Island Line, an extension of Tung Chung Line, and also Sha Tin to Central Link. If built, it will serve the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre at Wan Chai North, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong....

  • Admiralty
    Admiralty (MTR)
    Admiralty station is an MTR station located on Hong Kong Island, in an area often referred to as Admiralty. The station's livery is dodger blue...

     (Interchange to )
  • Central West
    Central (MTR)
    Central station is an MTR station located in the Central area of Hong Kong Island. The station's livery is firebrick red, except for the station's Tsuen Wan Line platform where its livery is dark brown...

     (Interchange to , , and )


An underground train depot would be built beneath the passenger terminal of the former Kai Tak International Airport, adjacent to Prince Edward Road East in Kowloon City
Kowloon City
Kowloon City is an area in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is named after the Kowloon Walled City, and is administratively part of Kowloon City District....

.

Kwun Tong Line Extension (Yau Ma Tei to Whampoa)

In addition, the MTRC had previously proposed extending the Kwun Tong Line to Whampoa Garden
Whampoa Garden
Whampoa Garden is the largest private housing estate located in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was built on the site of the former Whampoa Dockyards under Hutchison Whampoa Property's "garden city" concept and completed in 1991.-Features:...

. As the KCRC had decided not to build a station in Whampoa Garden on the Shatin to Central Link, the MTRC sent this proposal again to the government.

The extension would run from the current Yau Ma Tei terminus to:
  • Ho Man Tin
    Ho Man Tin (MTR)
    Ho Man Tin Station is a proposed interchange station on the Hong Kong MTR's Kwun Tong Line Extension and Sha Tin to Central Link....

     (Interchange to Shatin to Central Link)
  • Whampoa

MTR-KCR merger proposal

As the 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...

 and 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...

 were merging, the two companies announced the new proposal on 12 July 2007.

East-west Line

The stations will be:
  • Tai Wai (大圍, interchange to and connects )
  • Diamond Hill (鑽石山, Interchange to )
  • Kai Tak
    Kai Tak Station
    Kai Tak is a station on the proposed East-west Line of the Sha Tin to Central Link. It is named after the former Kai Tak Airport.-Neighbouring stations:...

     (啟德)
  • Ma Tau Wai
    Ma Tau Wai Station
    Ma Tau Wai is a station on the proposed East-west Line of the Sha Tin to Central Link. It will serve the central To Kwa Wan area.-Neighbouring stations:...

     (馬頭圍)
  • To Kwa Wan
    To Kwa Wan Station
    To Kwa Wan is a station on the proposed East-west Line of the Sha Tin to Central Link in Hong Kong. It will serve the Kowloon City, Ma Tau Wai and northern To Kwa Wan area.-Location:...

     (土瓜灣)
  • Ho Man Tin (何文田, Interchange to )
  • Hung Hom (紅磡, Interchange to North-south Line and connects )

North-south Line

The original Causeway Bay North (銅鑼灣北) station was cancelled due to potential effects on traffic during the construction of the station.
  • Hung Hom (紅磡, Interchange to East-west Line and connects )
  • Exhibition (會展)
  • Admiralty
    Admiralty (MTR)
    Admiralty station is an MTR station located on Hong Kong Island, in an area often referred to as Admiralty. The station's livery is dodger blue...

     (金鐘, Interchange to and )
  • Central South
    Central South Station
    Central South was a planned MTR station on the Sha Tin to Central Link. When completed, the station will be serviced by East Rail Line and will serve as its southern terminus...

     (中環南)

Kwun Tong Line extension

  • Yau Ma Tei (油麻地, Interchange to and connects )
  • Ho Man Tin (何文田, Interchange to East-west Line)
  • Whampoa Garden (黃埔)

MTR-KCR revised proposal

The MTRC announced a revised proposal on 11 March 2008. The Government will fund all of the required HK$37.4 billion for construction.

East-west Line

For the section assigned to East-west Line, the stations will be:
  • Tai Wai (大圍, interchange to and connects )
  • Hin Keng
    Hin Keng Station
    Hin Keng Station is a proposed MTR station in Shatin to Central Link located near Hin Keng Estate, Tai Wai, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong.-Neighbouring stations:...

     (顯徑)
  • Diamond Hill (鑽石山, Interchange to )
  • Kai Tak
    Kai Tak Station
    Kai Tak is a station on the proposed East-west Line of the Sha Tin to Central Link. It is named after the former Kai Tak Airport.-Neighbouring stations:...

     (啟德)
  • Ma Tau Wai
    Ma Tau Wai Station
    Ma Tau Wai is a station on the proposed East-west Line of the Sha Tin to Central Link. It will serve the central To Kwa Wan area.-Neighbouring stations:...

     (馬頭圍)
  • To Kwa Wan
    To Kwa Wan Station
    To Kwa Wan is a station on the proposed East-west Line of the Sha Tin to Central Link in Hong Kong. It will serve the Kowloon City, Ma Tau Wai and northern To Kwa Wan area.-Location:...

     (土瓜灣)
  • Ho Man Tin (何文田, Interchange to )
  • Hung Hom (紅磡, Interchange to North-south Line and connects )

Construction will be started in 2012 and completed in 2018.

North-south Line

The original Causeway Bay North (銅鑼灣北) station was cancelled due to potential effects on traffic during the construction of the station.
  • Hung Hom (紅磡, Interchange to East-west Line and connects )
  • Exhibition (會展)
  • Admiralty
    Admiralty (MTR)
    Admiralty station is an MTR station located on Hong Kong Island, in an area often referred to as Admiralty. The station's livery is dodger blue...

     (金鐘, Interchange to and )


Central South
Central South Station
Central South was a planned MTR station on the Sha Tin to Central Link. When completed, the station will be serviced by East Rail Line and will serve as its southern terminus...

 (中環南) has not been cancelled, but excluded in the modified plan because no suitable sites have been found at this stage. Construction will be completed in 2020.

Kwun Tong Line extension

  • Yau Ma Tei (油麻地, Interchange to and connects )
  • Ho Man Tin (何文田, Interchange to East-west Line)
  • Whampoa (黃埔)

Construction will be finished in 2015.
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