:linkText: Shatin to Central Link

In March 2008, the Government approved the further planning and design of the Shatin to Central Link (SCL). The Executive Council decided to adopt a concession approach to enable the Corporation to proceed with the SCL project. The project will be funded by the Government, and the Corporation shall be entrusted with its design and construction. Whilst the development rights of the site of the former Tai Hom Village in Diamond Hill rest with the Government, the Planning Department is reviewing the zoning of the site. The Government sought design funding approval for the project from the Legislative Council in May 2008. Meanwhile, consultation with the community has been taking place.

In view of public concern raised by the local residents over the railway scheme, public consultation will need to be further carried out this year. Upon the completion of these public consultation activities, the proposed railway scheme will be gazetted in accordance with the Railways Ordinance for commencing the statutory consultation process.

The latest SCL roving exhibition is being held in various MTR stations and shopping malls. Please come to our exhibition and give us your comments on SCL before 30 September!

Project Description

The SCL is a strategic railway line that runs through multiple districts in Hong Kong. It comprises two sections. The first section will extend the existing Ma On Shan Line from Tai Wai to the West Rail Line through East Kowloon. The second section will bring East Rail Line across the harbour to Hong Kong Island. The SCL will strengthen the current railway networks by connecting several railway lines through a number of interchange stations. It will save travelling time and provide the community with faster and more convenient railway services.

Facts

Shatin to Central Link
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Strategic Rail Corridors

Upon completion of the SCL, passengers travelling between East Kowloon, East New Territories and Hong Kong Island North will benefit from significant reductions in travelling time.

The SCL will form two strategic railway corridors, namely the "East West Corridor" and the "North South Corridor".

The existing Ma On Shan Line (MOL) will extend from Tai Wai Station to Hung Hom and link up to Tuen Mun Station of the West Rail Line to form a East West Railway Corridor.

The North South Corridor will extend the East Rail Line from Hung Hom to Admiralty Station via the fourth cross harbour tunnel to form an integrated network across the Territory.

East West Corridor and North South Corridor
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Interchange Stations

The SCL serves the purpose of linking up the railway lines through the provision of six interchange stations, providing a more convenient and faster interchange arrangement for passengers.

Tai Wai Station

Tai Wai Station will become the interchange station in New Territories for the East West Corridor and the North South Corridor. Passengers riding on the Ma On Shan Line will be able to change here for the East Rail Line, and passengers from North New Territories will also be able to change here directly for trains heading towards East Kowloon.

Interchange Arrangement at Tai Wai Station
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Diamond Hill Station

As an interchange station between the SCL and the Kwun Tong Line, Diamond Hill Station will become the railway hub of East Kowloon. Passengers will be able to take trains on the East West Corridor and go from Ma On Shan directly to Diamond Hill without having to change lines at Kowloon Tong, and continue their journeys by interchanging to the Kwun Tong Line for East Kowloon. Passengers on the Kwun Tong Line will be able to change to the SCL northbound to the East New Territories, or southbound to Hung Hom and change there for trips across the harbour.

Ho Man Tin Station

Ho Man Tin Station will be an interchange station between the future Kwun Tong Line Extension and the SCL. Passengers will be able to take trains on the East West Corridor from Ma On Shan via Ho Man Tin and change to Kwun Tong Line for Whampoa and the town centre of Kowloon. Passengers departing from Whampoa will be able to change to the East West Corridor at Ho Man Tin for a direct link to the New Territories, or further change for trains on the North South Corridor at Hung Hom Station to Hong Kong Island

This station will provide an alternative cross-harbour route for passengers travelling between Central Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, avoiding the bottleneck on the cross-harbour section of Tsuen Wan Line or road traffic congestion at the Cross Harbour Tunnel in Hung Hom.

Interchange Arrangement at Ho Man Tin Station
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Hung Hom Station

Upon completion of the SCL project, Hung Hom Station will be transformed into an important railway hub for Hong Kong as an interchange station between the East West Corridor and North South Corridor, benefiting passengers to all destinations in Hong Kong. When the Hung Hom to Admiralty Section is completed, passengers from the boundary at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau will be able to take trains on North South Corridor to Hong Kong Island directly. Passengers on the West Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line may also change here for trains on the North South Corridor for destinations on Hong Kong Island.

This fast alternative cross-harbour route for passengers from the New Territories and Kowloon will not only save them travelling time, but also relieve the bottleneck at the cross-harbour section of the Tsuen Wan Line and road traffic congestion at the Cross Harbour Tunnel in Hung Hom.

Interchange Arrangement at Hung Hom Station
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Exhibition Station

Exhibition Station in northern Wan Chai will be the interchange station for the future North Island Line and the North South Corridor. Passengers from the New Territories or East Kowloon may change here for all destinations on the Island in the future.

Interchange Arrangement at Exhibition Station
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Admiralty Station

When the South Island Line (East) and SCL are completed, Admiralty Station will become the railway hub for Hong Kong Island. Passengers on the Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, South Island Line (East) and North South Corridor may change here for all destinations.

Interchange Arrangement at Admiralty Station
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Protection Works

The SCL interfaces with some major infrastructure projects, including Kwun Tong Line Extension, Central-Wanchai Bypass (CWB), Wan Chai Development Phase II (WDII) and South Island Line (East). In order to coordinate the construction schedule of these projects, and minimize the nuisance to the community and environment caused by repetition of works, the SCL has to undertake protection works for respective projects.

Protection works at Ho Man Tin Station for the Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section:

Ho Man Tin Station, with a cross-shaped station box, will be the interchange station between the future Kwun Tong Line Extension and the SCL. It will strategically enhance the overall railway network service and relieve congestion at the cross harbour section of the Tsuen Wan Line during peak hours.

Since the platform of the KTE will be constructed underneath that of the SCL and both lines will share some railway facilities (e.g. concourse and entrances) of the Ho Man Tin Station, it is proposed to carry out the protection works (e.g. platform) for the SCL together with the construction of the KTE so as to minimize the impact to the community, environment and road traffic. This could also minimize the potential impact on those operating railways from the construction works of the SCL.

Protection works for Hung Hom to Admiralty Section:

1. Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter
2. Reclamation area of WDII project
3. Admiralty Station

Protection Works in Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter

The SCL will connect Hung Hom and Admiralty through the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter (CBTS). The SCL tunnel will run above the Central-Wanchai Bypass (CWB) tunnel, which has already started construction, at the west corner of the CBTS. Since cut-and cover method will be adopted for constructing the tunnels in the CBTS, temporary reclamations will be needed during the construction.

The construction of the CBTS section of the CWB project will commence in mid 2010 prior to the SCL project. To minimise the extent of reclamation so as to comply with the Protection of Harbour Ordinance, and to ensure the feasibility of construction of future SCL without damaging or affecting the operations of the CWB tunnel, the Corporation has proposed to carry out protection works for a 160m section of SCL tunnel overlapping with the CWB tunnel to the CWB project so as to minimize the disturbance to the community.

Since the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club jetty and pontoon will be taken up by the temporary reclamations in CBTS, hence the reprovisioning of these facilities are regarded as part of the protection works.

In order to ensure a smooth interfacing of this SCL protection works with the construction schedule of the CWB project, the proposed temporary reclamation for the protection works has been gazetted on 16 July 2010 under the Foreshore and Seabed (Reclamation) Ordinance. For more details please click here. The Corporation has submitted the project profile of the protection works to the Environmental Protection Department, and relevant Environmental Impact Assessment studies has commenced.

Protection Works in Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter
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Protection Works in Wan Chai Development Phase II project

Commenced in December 2009, the Wan Chai Development Phase II (WDII) project aims at providing land for building the CWB and the Island Eastern Corridor Link to alleviate traffic congestion in the area.

The SCL will pass under the water mains to be laid at WDII new reclamation area. These water mains, which will be in service in 2012, provide fresh water supply to the whole Hong Kong Island as well as cooling water for major buildings in North Wan Chai.

To minimise the impact on these water mains, the Corporation will entrust the WDII project to build two rows of diaphragm walls, each about 70-metre long with a top slab to support the abovementioned water mains at the intersection with the SCL tunnels. Construction of the future SCL can be done within the underground space reserving under the protective structure.

The protection works will be implemented at the construction sites of WDII project and mostly under the new reclaimed land, hence will not impose extra impact to road traffic. The structure will be under the ground, so it will create no visual impact to the environment. Results of the environmental impact assessment for the protection works has shown that the SCL protection works only account for a small part of the WDII project, and its impact to the environment is acceptable.

Protection Works in Wan Chai Development Phase II
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Protection works in Admiralty Station

Admiralty Station will become the interchange station for the Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, future South Island Line (East) (SIL(E)) and SCL. To enhance the interchange arrangement, the existing Admiralty Station will be extended under the Harcourt Garden, where a landscape deck will be built connecting the vicinity with flyovers.

The future Harcourt Garden
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Since SCL and SIL(E) will share some of their new railway facilities in the Admiralty Station, and these facilities will be built at the same location or adjacent to each other, the Corporation proposed to carry out the SCL protection works and the Admiralty Station extension works simultaneously to shorten the overall construction time, and to minimise the disturbance to community, environment as well as traffic. The work site to be occupied and the construction time for SCL can be further reduced.

The SCL protection works in Admiralty include:

• To build SCL platform in the extended Admiralty Station as well as reserve space for temporary construction access;
• To reserve space under Harcourt Garden for railway facilities and temporary storage for machines and construction materials;
• To construct a section of the overrun tunnel between Admiralty Station and Hong Kong Park; and
• To reserve the temporary construction access at Hong Kong Park for building the SCL overrun tunnel locating south of the park in the future.

Protection works in Admiralty Station
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Railway System

As an extension of existing railway lines, the SCL train frequency will be line with the existing urban lines.

Funding Arrangement

Concession approach is adopted for the project.

Community Relation

The Corporation considers that participation of the community is important in the development of railway extensions. The Corporation will join the HKSAR Government to consult the local communities and to listen to their views so that the new railway lines will be built to meet the needs of the communities.

Estimated Journey Time

Benefits

The SCL will expand railway services to areas not yet served by railway. It will provide more convenient interchange points for respective lines, allowing more flexibility for passengers to access every corner of the territory. It will generate great value to the community through :

• Savings in travelling time generated by fast and reliable railway service
• Environmental benefits brought about by a reduction in road traffic congestion
• Acting as a catalyst for redevelopment of older districts
• New employment opportunities from potential tourism and commercial development
• Increase in the value of properties along the railway corridor

Transport Benefits

The SCL will provide a fast, reliable and convenient mode of transport running through the eastern, western and northern New Territories, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

The SCL will relieve the bottlenecks at the Beacon Hill Tunnel Section of the East Rail Line, the Shek Kip Mei to Prince Edward Section of the Kwun Tong Line and the Nathan Road/cross-harbour section of the Tsuen Wan Line.

All the travelling public, whether using railway or not, will benefit either from the speedy service provided by the railway or from the less congested road network.

Environmental, Health & Safety Benefits

Trains are powered electrically and are emission-free. The rail link will help relieving road traffic congestion, which will lead to improvements in air quality, noise pollution, on-road safety and quality of living at large.

Social & Economic Benefits

The development of To Kwa Wan and Kowloon City has long been constrained by the lack of a mass transit solution. The SCL will remove this constraint and allow these areas to rejuvenate and prosper.

The rail link should support the Kai Tak Development by providing reliable transport service to the area, especially for the travelling public to and from the proposed Multi-Purpose Stadium Complex and other leisure facilities at Kai Tak. Significant new employment opportunities will be generated by improved transportation.

The SCL will carry about one million passengers per day and generate annual transport benefits of HK$4.1 billion in terms of time saving to the travelling public.

Responses to Some Queries

1) Is Government funding justified?

• The Government has a role to play in providing the transport infrastructure for Hong Kong to meet the transport needs and support the economic growth.
• Commuters will benefit from the safe, reliable and speedy service of the railway and the less congested road network.
• The extension will also generate substantial economic and social benefits:
  - urban rejuvenation within To Kwa Wan and Kowloon City areas;
  - enhancement of Kai Tak Development;
  - 11,000 new jobs during construction;
  - annual transport benefit is about HK$4.1 billion.
• Government will receive their returns of the project via concession payment from MTR and the economic benefits generated by the project.

2) Why concession approach? Why not ownership approach?

• The SCL components are extensions of the existing KCR lines i.e. ERL and MOL which have been leased to the Corporation under the Service Concession Agreement.

3) Could we make use the existing depot facilities and take away the stabling sidings in Diamond Hill?

• The depots at Pat Heung and Tai Wai are far away from the Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section of the SCL, and trains cannot be deployed to meet the demand during morning peak hours. Also. in consideration of the existing depot locations, direction of trains and distance between stations along the SCL, stabling sidings for the SCL has to be located along the Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section.

4) Will property be developed above the stabling sidings at Diamond Hill?

• Planning Department is reviewing the proposed land use of the stabling sidings site.
• Planning Department will consult District Council and local community on the proposed land use.

5) Why does the North South Line (the future East Rail) has to change from 12 car to 9 car?

• Areas around Exhibition Station and Admiralty Station are extremely crowded with many buildings and infrastructures, hence there is not enough space to accommodate a platform for 12-car trains. To suit the operation of the Hung Hom to Admiralty Section, the existing East Rail (EAL) will be converted to 9-car train operation.
• The existing signalling system will be upgraded to allow trains to operate at a better headway and to increase its capacity. Modification of existing EAL stations will be required.

6) Will the boats in the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter (CBTS) be affected by the construction of SCL?

• Apart from the SCL, the Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB) will undertake constructions in the CBTS prior to the SCL, and some of the users will be moored to other typhoon shelters offered by the Government during construction of CWB.
• Owing to the alignment and working space limitations, the construction of a section of the SCL tunnels in the middle of the CBTS cannot start until the removal of all the temporary reclamation under the CWB. This will prolong the existence of the temporary reclamation within the CBTS by about 18 months. The Corporation and the Government is trying to allow all private mooring area users to move back to the CBTS after the construction of CWB.
• The Corporation and the Government have been consulting the users in the CBTS to collect their views and concerns. The Corporation will continue to communicate with the stakeholders, to make the SCL a more desired railway for the community.

7) How big is the temporary reclamation under the SCL?

• Since cut-and-cover method has been adopted for building the Cross Harbour Section of the SCL, hence temporary reclamation is needed.
• Temporary reclamation in the CBTS: 2.2 hectare, and Hung Hom seashore: 1 hectare.
• Apart from the removal and reinstatement of Hung Hom Bypass fender piles, all temporary reclamations will be removed after the construction.

8) What will be the impact on other public transport operators?

• Road based transport operators will be affected as some of their passengers will switch to the SCL.
• As the SCL will not be available in 7 to 8 years, it will pose no immediate impact to the existing operators.
• There will be adequate time to carry out any required planning for better co-ordination of transport services to minimize the impact before the railway opens.