Everything about South Island Line totally explained
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 hasn't been a single plan that hasn't had significant drawbacks to it.
These new lines were originally proposed by the 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 wasn't 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 wouldn't include
Kennedy Town if there's 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 wouldn't be an Aberdeen station for serving the Aberdeen area. Transfer station at
Wan Chai doesn't 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
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)
Reduces travel times from Southern District to CBD.
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
Sai Ying Pun (Interchange to Island Line)
University
Kennedy Town
Queen Mary Hospital (Future Stop)
Cyberport
Wah Fu
Tin Wan (Future Stop)
Aberdeen
Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to South Island Line)
South Island Line - Running from South Horizons to Admiralty, still has three alignment options
South Horizons
Lei Tung
Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to West Island Line)
Ocean Park
Happy Valley (Option B, C)
Wan Chai (Interchange to Island Line) (Option C)
Admiralty (Interchange to Tsuen Wan Line & Island Line) (Option A, B, C)
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. South Island Line (West Section) trains uses the center track while South Island Line (East Section) 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. As a result, the government was somehow reluctant to provide funding 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 can't 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 Line 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.
February 2005 scheme
On 25 February 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 February and an introduction to the scheme was conducted in the meeting.
Alignment and stations
The 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:
Sheung Wan
Sai Ying Pun
University (Interchange to South Island Line (W))
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:
University (Interchange to West Island Line)
Cyberport
Wah Fu
Aberdeen
Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to South Island Line (E))
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:
South Horizons
Lei Tung
Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to South Island Line (W))
Ocean Park Station
Happy Valley (Option B, C)
Wan Chai (Option B only)
Admiralty (Option A, B, C)
Detail construction methods and rail systems chosen are still unknown, but that'll 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:
No reclamation needed, and it alleviates air and noise pollution
Short journey time: 14 min from Kennedy Town to Tsim Sha Tsui
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's a substantial need of rail transport in Western District. If an agreement could be made, the new line could start operating in 2012. The eastern section of the 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 had given the green light for further planning of and preparations for the 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.
In February 2007, the government announced in a Southern District Council meeting that the South Island Line is currently at a 4th priority when it comes to future railway projects, much to the anger of the district councillors present. This implies that the South Island Line is unlikely to be opened to the public before 2015.
On 10 October 2007, Chief Executive Donald Tsang announced in the policy address that the South Island Line will start construction in around 2011, and will be open in 2015. On 27 October 2007, MTR announced that stations will be built in Wong Chuk Hang and around Ocean Park, but MTR didn't confirm whether the line will pass through Wan Chai and Happy Valley.
Executive Council scheme
On 18 December 2007, the Executive Council of Hong Kong approved the construction of the east section of South Island Line. A total of five stations will be built. The railway will be 7 km long, and takes 10 minutes to travel from South Horizons Station to Admiralty Station. The railway will be medium capacity system, which costs HK$7 billion. Comparing with previous schemes, Wan Chai Station won't be built, and the construction of Happy Valley Station is under negotiation between MTR Corporation and Hong Kong Jockey Club, suggests renaming the station to "Racecourse Station" which is already used by another existing station on East Rail Line. The construction of the west section of South Island Line hasn't been confirmed yet.
Alignment and stations
South Island Line (East section)
It runs on the same alignment of option B in Revised Alignment Scheme, with Happy Valley Station under planning:
South Horizons
Lei Tung
Wong Chuk Hang (Future interchange to South Island Line (W))
Ocean Park
Happy Valley / Racecourse (Planning)
AdmiraltyFurther Information
Get more info on 'South Island Line'.
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