West Island Line

West Island Line 西港島綫
Overview
Type	Heavy rail (rapid transit)
System	MTR
Locale	Districts: Central and Western
Termini	Kennedy Town Sheung Wan
Stations	3
Operation
Opened	28 December 2014 (HKU and Kennedy Town) 29 March 2015 (Sai Ying Pun)
Technical
Track gauge	1,432 mm (4 ft 8 3⁄8 in)
Electrification	1.5 kV DC
Route map Legend Colour legend West Island Line Kennedy Town South Island Line (West) to Wong Chuk Hang HKU Sai Ying Pun Sheung Wan Island Line to Chai Wan

The West Island Line is the three-station western extension of the Hong Kong MTR's Island Line. Construction of the line began on 10 August 2009, and the two westernmost stations on line opened on 28 December 2014; the intermediary Sai Ying Pun Station opened on 29 March 2015.^[1][2] The first train went into service that day at 6:00 a.m. Hong Kong time.

Original proposal

Alignment of Original Scheme

The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRC) submitted its first proposal for the West Island line in May 2002. The West Island line would be an extension of the Island Line. Construction of the new West Island line would be divided into two phases.

Phase one would begin at the already existing Sheung Wan station. A further two stations, Sai Ying Pun and University (near The University of Hong Kong) 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.

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. 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 Voeux Road West.

Preliminary scheme

Alignment of Preliminary Scheme, with option A for South Island Line

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.

2002 Alignment and stations

The West Island line took the western section of the South Island Line in the previous proposal, and becoming a medium capacity rail line from Sheung Wan to Wong Chuk Hang.

• Sheung Wan (Interchange to Island Line)
• Sai Ying Pun
• University
• Cyberport
• Wah Fu
• Aberdeen
• Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to South Island Line)

2004 revised alignment scheme

Alignment of Revised Alignment Scheme

The corporation handed in the Revised Alignment Scheme in end-March 2004. West Island Line in the previous proposal was separated into two parts: the northern part of which became an extension to Island Line, and the southern part which remained a line of its own.

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)
• HKU
• Kennedy Town
• Queen Mary Hospital (Future Stop)
• Cyberport
• Wah Fu
• Tin Wan (Future Stop)
• Aberdeen
• Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to South Island Line)

Final scheme

Alignment of the final 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 revised scheme on 22 February and an introduction to the scheme was conducted in the meeting.

In the scheme, West Island Line included only the extension to Island Line. The rest became the west section of South Island Line. The new West Island Line would run from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town:

• Sheung Wan
• Sai Ying Pun
• HKU (Interchange to South Island Line (West))
• Kennedy Town

The scheme was gazetted in October 2007 and given final authorisation in March 2009.^[2] Construction of the 3-kilometre extension started on 10 August 2009, for completion in 2014.^[2] The cost of the line is estimated to be HK$15.4 billion.^[2]

Project details

Construction cost

According to the summary report of the new lines, the construction cost of the West Island Line would be HK$15.4 billion (as at Dec 2008). MTR asked for government funding of less than half of the total cost. The remaining cost and the operational cost would be covered by MTR.

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 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.

• 
  New reserved signs for WIL at Sheung Wan Station
• 
  Sai Ying Pun Station Exit A1 on April 2014
• 
  Under construction HKU Station concourse
• 
  Under construction HKU Station Exit A

See also

• MTR
• Future projects of the MTR
• South Island Line

References

1. ↑ "West Island Line targets to open in December 2014, 90% of works complete" (PDF). MTR Corporation. 29 May 2014. 
2. 1 2 3 4 http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-09-093-E.pdf

Papers from Government and Legislature

• "Second Railway Development Study (RDS-2)" (PDF).  From Highways Department Hong Kong. Retrieved 27 February 2005.
• "Information paper about the Feb 2005 scheme" (PDF).  From Panel of Transport, Legislative Council. 21 February 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2005.
• "Background brief on Route 4, South Hong Kong Island Line and West Hong Kong Island Line" (PDF).  From Panel of Transport, Legislative Council. 21 February 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2005.
• "Presentation of Feb 2005 scheme by MTR" (PDF).  From Panel of Transport, Legislative Council. 25 February 2005. Retrieved 5 March 2005.

News reports

• Yung, Chester and Chung, Danny. "Western on the MTR track. (1 July 2005). The Standard.

Press releases

• "MTR Corporation welcomes Government's decision on West Island Line and South Island Line" (PDF). . (30 June 2005). From MTR Corporation.
• MTRCL to proceed with preparations for West Island Line. (30 June 2005). From Information Services Department, Government of Hong Kong.

External links

• Official website
• Papers from Legislative Council concerning West Island Line and South Island Line