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The busy Lo Wu Station during night time
Lo Wu (Chinese: 羅湖, Jyutping: Lo4 Wu4, Pinyin: Luóhú) is the northern terminus of the KCR East Rail of Hong Kong, sitting in Lo Wu within the Closed Area on Hong Kong's northern frontier. The station serves as a primary checkpoint for rail passengers between Hong Kong and mainland China and vice-versa, rather than serving a specific residential/commercial area like the other stations do.
Refurbishment work of the station started in 2002 and new facilities such as group waiting area, new ticket gates, etc., were introduced. Since December 28, 2004, this station also serves as the interchange station for the Shenzhen Metro Luohu station, which has the same Chinese name.
This station is also unique to any rail systems of any kind in that, sliding doors limit the number of people that are allowed on the platform. Two large glass sliding doors close after a minute or so elapsing from the train pulling in for boarding. These doors are located after validating at the ticket barriers, but before the platforms. Even with this system in place, many passengers have to wait for the 2nd next train to arrive before they can travel back towards Tsim Tsa Tsui East, as alternate trains pull into each paired platform.
The station has two exits:
- A single doorway that exits out to Lo Wu village, guarded by a Hong Kong police officer. To use this entrance one must possess a Lo Wu Resident Card or a Closed Area Entry Permit, the latter must be obtained at the Sheung Shui Police Station in Fanling.
- The boundary crossing checkpoint to and from Luohu on the Shenzhen side.
Passengers are advised not to travel to Lo Wu station unless they have the intention of crossing the border to Shenzhen, for it is against Hong Kong law to be in the Closed Area without a permit.
[edit] Platforms
[edit] Station Layout
Footbridge (Uppper Level)
China to HK |
Upper Level Concourse |
HK Immigration and Customs Patrol, Fare Adjustment, HK Tourism Commission Office, Starbucks Coffee |
Ground/Footbridge (Lower Level)
HK to China |
Lower Level Concourse |
Fare adjustment, HK Immigration Patrol, Lo Wu resident exit |
| Platforms |
|
Side platform, doors will open on the left
|
| Platform 1 |
KCR East Rail towards East Tsim Sha Tsui |
| Platform 2 |
KCR East Rail termination platform |
|
Island platform, doors will open on left/right
|
| Platform 3 |
KCR East Rail termination platform |
| Platform 4 |
KCR East Rail towards East Tsim Sha Tsui |
|
Side platform, doors will open on the right
|
Platforms 1 and 4 are were newly built in recent years to accommodate the increasing patronage. Before the completion of refurbishment works, trains would stop at the island platform for simultaneous alighting and boarding. The platform was always crowded. The building of platform 4 and converting platform 1 (which was rarely used before the refurbishment) for boarding smoothened passenger flow. From then, trains are emptied with doors opened towards platforms 2 and 3. Doors are then opened to the side of the alighting platforms.
This particular system of loading/unloading is popular in Europe and many US subway systems.
[edit] Terminal building background information
The project comprised of the construction of platform, canopies, a subway, some road and track works.
- The contractor: Shui On Construction Company Limited
- Contract Value (HKD): $105 280 000
- Construction Period: Apr, 85 - Dec, 87
- Client: Railway Development Office, Engineering Development Dept
- Architect: Spencer Robinson
- Structural Engineer: Maunsell Consultants Asia
- Building Services Engineer: Rankine and Hill Consulting Services Engineers
- Quantity Surveyor: Langdon Every & Seah
[edit] Neighbouring stations
[edit] See also
