Future projects of the MTR

File:FutureMTRNetworkAfterMerger.png
Several **future projects on the MTR** have been put forward by the MTR Corporation to the Hong Kong Government, with some already under construction.

With the rail merger with the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation in 2007, the combined network increased to 211.6 km. Committed and future railway projects will increase the network to over 270 km by 2019 while postponed projects may further increase it to over 300 km. Some other long term railway development possibilities should be further investigated if planning parameters change significantly.

## Infrastructure upgrade

### Pedestrian Links

Major pedestrian links in progress include the Lai Chi Kok Station Cheung Lai Street Pedestrian Subway & Entrance Works.

### Automatic platform gate

MTR plans to install automatic platform gates on platforms of 8 elevated stations (Tsuen Wan, Kwai Hing, Kwai Fong, Kowloon Bay, Ngau Tau Kok, Kwun Tong, Heng Fa Chuen and Chai Wan). This project is expected to be completed in 2012.Template:Citation needed

### East Rail Line stations renewal

East Rail Line (former KCR British Section) has been operating for more than one century. MTR has decided to renew 11 (above ground) stations on the system except the newest built ones. Refurbishment will be carried out under the motifs of nature and environmental protection. This project is expected to be complete in 2016.

### Public toilets

MTR has decided to build public toilets in 3 stations (Prince Edward, Ngau Tau Kok and Quarry Bay).Template:When

## New lines

### West Island Line, South Island Line (East & West)

See: **West Island Line**

 File:WIL-SIL-Proposal-4 20080131.svg
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 are suggested in the Second Railway Development Study (RDS-2) to provide direct links between the residential areas of Wah Fu and Ap Lei Chau in Southern District and the CBD of Hong Kong.

Three proposals were previously submitted, each addressing the drawbacks of the prior plan. In this planning stage a feasibility study was conducted to optimize the new lines in terms of cost-effectiveness, external benefits and the effect on other modes of transport. The plan was eventually 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 West Island Line extending the Island Line to Kennedy Town, South Island Line (East) from Admiralty to Ap Lei Chau and South Island Line (West) that connects the previous two lines. Legislative Councillors support an earlier completion of West Island Line. The West Island Line was finally approved by the HKSAR Government on 30 June 2005.

The 3-km West Island Line is expected to be completed in late 2014. Construction of the 7-km South Island Line (East) is expected to commence in 2011 for completion in 2015, but the remaining 8-km west section will not be completed before 2020.

### Shatin to Central Link and Kwun Tong Line Extension

See: **Sha Tin to Central Link**

 File:SCL-proposal1.svg
The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation won the bid to build and operate the Sha Tin to Central Link in 2002. The KCRC announced modification to the proposal. A 11-km Tai Wai to Hung Hom section connecting the Ma On Shan Line with the Kowloon Southern Link which connects to the West Rail Line will form the East-west Line while a 6-km cross-harbour section extending the East Rail Line to Hong Kong Island will form the North-South Line.

Another proposal was floated by MTR to extend the existing Kwun Tong Line to Whampoa Garden in Hung Hom. The 3-km extension will run from the current Yau Ma Tei terminus to Whampoa, with an interchange station with the Shatin to Central Link in Ho Man Tin.

Both projects now belongs to MTR after the 2007 rail merger. The section of the Sha Tin to Central Link between Tai Wai and Hung Hom is expected to open in 2015, and the remaining cross harbour section in 2019. The Kwun Tong Line Extension will also start operation 2015.

### Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Hong Kong Section)

See also: Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link
The Hong Kong Section of the Express Rail Link (XRL) will be a 26-km underground high-speed rail linking Hong Kong with the national express rail network. The journey time to Guangzhou and Beijing will be reduced to 48 minutes and 10 hours respectively. A terminus will be located under the West Kowloon Cultural District and parallel to the West Kowloon Station. The high-speed rail will not share its tracks with the West Rail Line and the Northern Link. The tracks are designed to support future operations which include frequent services and linking Hong Kong with other Chinese major cities at 250–350 km/h. However, the actual speed in the Hong Kong Section can hardly exceed 200 km/h because a tunnel section in ShenzhenTemplate:Citation needed is only designed for any speed below 200 km/h.

The proposal was submitted by MTR in June 2007 and funding of the Hong Kong Section, at HK$67 billion, is still under furious debate in the Legislative Council. The final decision is expected to be made on 15 January 2010. If the funding is passed, the XRL is expected to be completed in 2015, which will be 4 years behind the progress of the Mainland Section.

### Northern Link

See: **Northern Link (MTR)**

The Northern Link will provide a cross-boundary link for the West Rail Line and create a new railway corridor between the West Rail Line and the East Rail Line in northern New Territories. The completion of the project is likely to be deferred to 2020 because the government will not build two dedicated tracks for both the Express Rail Link and the Northern Link. The Express Line has taken priority over a rail line to service the commuting needs of the Western population of Hong Kong. Given the Express line will mainly be used by commuters the Northern Link may not now be viable without substantial housing developments in the New Territories to assist in building costs.

### North Island Line

 File:Nil proposal 20080507.svg
See: **North Island Line**

North Island Line involves the merging of the Island Line with Tung Chung Line and Tseung Kwan O Line. Its feasibility mainly depends on the development along the new coastline of the Victoria Harbour. It was previously rumoured that the completion of the project was deferred to beyond 2020 (exclusive). However, the gazettal of Exhibition Station, part of the future North-south line, has suggested that the year 2020 completion of the station might have the whole North Island line completed with the North-south line.

## Long Term Possibilities

Some rail schemes were suggested in the Railway Development Strategy 2000 and they should be further investigated if planning parameters change significantly. For example, the East-West Kowloon Link would provide a shortcut between Mong Kok and Kwun Tong while the Chek Lap Kok Link would provide a path between the Airport and Tuen Mun.

## Outsourcing

The MTR Corporation is planning to outsource its services centres of 14 stations on the Island Line. Around 100 employees will be arranged to work at the Disneyland Resort Line and the AsiaWorld-Expo station. Services centres on the new stations of Tseung Kwan O Line are already outsourced when it started its service.

## References

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1. ↑ MTR > Projects > Projects in Progress (Hong Kong) > Major Pedestrian Links
2. ↑ Press Release 0848 MTR Corporation Template:Zh icon
3. ↑ Projects - Shatin to Central Link. MTR Corporation. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.
4. ↑ {{cite web|url=http://www.mtr-shatincentrallink.hk/pdf/en/multimedia-gallery/publication/newsletter/hki\_newsletter\_122010\_e.pdf