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The West Island Line and South Island Line are two new proposed lines of the Hong Kong MTR metro system. Construction to the southern end of Hong Kong Island, which is at present not serviced by any rail transport, has been approved by the Executive Council of Hong Kong. Four schemes have been put forward, but so far there has not been a single plan that has not had significant drawbacks to it.

These new lines were originally proposed by the Second Railway Development Study (RDS-2) to provide direct linkage from the populated areas of Wah Fu and Ap Lei Chau in Southern District, to Central. Originally, the South Island Line project was not considered financially viable without additional developments for more residents and employment in the Southern District. The construction of the West Island line also depends on reclamation and redevelopment of Western District.

Original proposal

Route and stations

The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRC) submitted its first proposal for the West Island line and South Island line in May of 2002. The new lines were intended to be included in a promotion to promote tourism in Aberdeen. The West Island line is an extension of the Island Line. Construction of the new West Island line was 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.

The South Island Line is a semi-circular line with nine stations. The South Island line is intended to serve the southern end of Hong Kong Island towards Aberdeen. It interchanges with the Island line at University and at Wan Chai. From University to Wan Chai, the other stations on the line are Cyberport, Wah Fu, South Horizons, Lei Tung, Wong Chuk Hang, Ocean Park, and Happy Valley.

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, and made modifications on the South Island Line project to achieve a more cost-effective option and the parallel development of Route 4. 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 Vouex Road West. There would not be an Aberdeen station for serving the Aberdeen area. Transfer station at Wan Chai does not cater well for the needs of cross-harbour trips (they must change to Island Line heading Admiralty and another change to Tsuen Wan Line for cross-harbour trains).

Preliminary scheme

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 for the two new lines, with three options of alignment in the South Island Line part, to address the drawbacks in the initial scheme. The two lines proposed are medium capacity rail lines.

Alignment and Stations

The West Island line would follow a similar route to that of the original proposal.

West Island Line - from Sheung Wan to Wong Chuk Hang

South Island Line (Option A alignment) - from South Horizons to Admiralty

Alignment Options of South Island Line

Three alignment options of South Island Line:
  • Option A: Ocean Park > Happy Valley > Wan Chai > Admiralty
This alignment is the most expensive, but has the greatest catchment.
  • Option B: Ocean Park > Admiralty (no intermediate station)
  1. Reduces travel times from Southern District to CBD.
  2. Least expensive option.
  • Option C: Ocean Park > Admiralty (> Wan Chai > Happy Valley)
Similar to option B, but enables further extension to Happy Valley in the future.

Revised alignment scheme

Alignment and Stations

The corporation handed in the Revised Alignment Scheme in end-March 2004. The third proposal includes three rail lines.

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

South Island Line - Running from South Horizons to Admiralty, still has three alignment options

A depot will be built in the area of Wong Chuk Hang Estate, just next to Wong Chuk Hang station.

Interchange Stations

The above scheme has interchanges at Sai Ying Pun, Wong Chuk Hang, Admiralty and probably Wan Chai. They have the following characteristics to enhance transfers:

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. West Island Line trains uses the center track while South Island Line trains use those on the two sides. Convenient cross-platform transfer can be made in both directions.

Admiralty

A new island platform will be built under Queensway. Two 100-metre transfer passages are built to connect the new station with existing station. Shortened transfer time can be made possible by installing escalators and conveyors. Possible passage can be made to connect the station of KCR Sha Tin to Central Link rail project.

Construction Methods

Most of the sections of the three rail lines run underground, and most stations are underground stations too. The alignment across Cyberport and the segment along the nullah of Wong Chuk Hang will be on viaduct. A parallel bridge alongside the Ap Lei Chau Bridge will also be built.

More detailed construction methods on the running track and stations can be found here.

Rail System

MTR predicts that a 200,000 ridership during peak hours on the new lines. Hence, a medium capacity system will be used. The rolling stock can be steel wheel over steel rail, similar to what MTR and KCR lines used. Rubber-tyred stock is more common in medium systems, and more flexible to decide the alignment of the rail lines as they can run on steep gradients and tight curves.

New 60-m long stocks running on rubber tyres with frequency from 2-4 minutes could meet the predicted ridership. To fit in the shorter rolling stock, stations on the new lines can be shorter than heavy rail stations.

Scheduled opening of the lines

If an agreement can be made between the government of Hong Kong and MTRC to start building the line, the scheduled opening time for West Island Line and South Island Line is in 2009/2010.

Construction Cost

According to the summary report of the new lines, the construction cost is between HK$14.6-16.5 billion. MTR has asked for government funding of less than half of the total cost. The remaining cost and the operational cost will be covered by MTR.

The economic downturn after 1998 has turned the budget of the government into a deficit. So the government was somehow reluctant to provide fundings for rail construction.

Deferral of the scheme

On 28 May 2004, the Panel of Transport of Legislative Council 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 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.

Latest scheme

On 25 Feb 2005, the Panel of Transport of Legislative Council had a meeting discussing West and South Island Line. MTR has submitted a revived scheme on 22 Feb and an introdution to the scheme was conducted in the meeting.

Alignment and Stations

The latest scheme has the essence of the previous schemes. The whole project is divided into three parts:

West Island Line

This line corresponds to the Island Line extension of the Revised Alignment Scheme. It runs from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town:

South Island Line (West section)

It is a shortened version of West Island Line in the Revised Scheme. It is essentially the same alignment of the West line in the Preliminary Scheme, running from University to Wong Chuk Hang:

South Island Line (East section)

It runs on the same alignment of South Island Line in Revised Scheme, and the three options stated before are still choices. The line starts at South Horizons:

Detail construction methods and rail systems chosen are still unknown, but they will be the same as the Revised Alignment Scheme. West Island Line will use heavy rail systems while the two sections of South Island Line use medium rail systems.

Discussions on the new plan

The MTR promotes the latest scheme as having the following advantages:
  1. No reclamation needed, and it alleviates air and noise pollution
  2. Short journey time: 14 min from Kennedy Town to Tsim Sha Tsui
  3. Supporting tourism in Southern district: as Wong Chuk Hang will soon have nine new hotels and Ocean Park will be redeveloped

The total cost of the project is around HK$15 billion, and MTR is still asking the government to fund half of the construction cost.

The officials from Environmental, Transport and Works Bureau said that consideration of funding depends on the development of tourism in Southern district, especially after the submission of Ocean Park redevelopment project.

Panel members have urged the MTRC and the government to make a final agreement on the construction of the West Island Line as soon as possible.

Development Timeline

MTR said that there is a substantial need of rail transport in Western District. If agreement could be made, the new line can start operation in 2012. The eastern section of South Island Line will be constructed first to support tourism promotion. The remaining western section will be considered at a later date.

On 30 June 2005, The HKSAR Government Executive Council has given the green light for further planning of and preparations for the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) West Island Line (WIL), which will involve the extension of the existing MTR Island Line from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town with two intermediate stations at Sai Ying Pun and University.

See also

References

Papers from Government and Legislature

News Reports

Press Releases

External links

MTR lines

西港島綫

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "West Island Line and South Island Line".

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