By ashleykaren
On September 5, MTR Corp, the Hong Kong metro operator, signed agreements with the Special Administrative Region’s government to cover the financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the scheduled Kwu Tung station on the East Rail Line and the Tuen Mun South Extension.
The Kwu Tung infill station will be located between the current Lok Ma Chau and Sheung Shui stations and is planned as the primary transport hub for the future Kwu Tung North New Development Area.
The underground station will be the first new station in Hong Kong to be constructed near an operational tunnel, which MTR claimed would include ‘highly complex construction procedures’ to ensure services could continue during the work. The completion is expected to be in 2027.
The Tuen Mun South Extension will develop the western end of the Tuen Ma Line by 2·4 km from its present terminus. The extension will operate on a viaduct, serving two new stations at Area 16 and Tuen Mun South around the ferry terminal.
The stretch will be constructed via a developed area, and MTR said it would endeavor to minimize the impact of the work on the neighborhood. The completion of this project is envisioned to be in 2030. Also as reported, the projects will be financed using MTR Corp’s ‘Rail plus Property’ model.
CEO Jacob Kam expressed: “The Corporation looks forward to continuing to expand and enhance the railway network to facilitate the city’s long-term sustainable development, drive economic growth, and build thriving and prosperous communities with the railway as the backbone, putting into practice the vision of ‘Go Beyond Boundaries’ with new railway services.”
