Lo Wu Station
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Lo Wu |
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 Lo Wu Station Platform 2 & 3 |
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Lo Wu Station (Chinese: 羅湖站) is the northern terminus of the East Rail Line 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.
When KCR first went into service, trains did not stop at Lo Wu, as there was no border patrol at the time. However, shortly after the People's Republic of China was created in October 1949, KCR announced that trains would terminate at Lo Wu, and passengers had to cross the border on foot.
Refurbishment work of the station started in 2002 and new facilities such as group waiting area and new ticket gates were introduced. Since 28 December 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 East Tsim Sha Tsui, as alternate trains pull into each paired platform. Such layout can be referenced to Spanish solution.
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[edit] Entrances/exits
The station has two exits:
- A single doorway that exits out to Lo Wu village, guarded by a police officer. To use this exit one must possess a Lo Wu Resident Card or a Closed Area Entry Permit, which must be obtained at the Sheung Shui Police Station in Fanling.
- The boundary crossing checkpoint to and from Luohu on the Shenzhen side. Passengers must have valid travel documents to use this exit.
[edit] Platforms
[edit] Station layout
| Footbridge | Upper Level Concourse (Mainland China to HK) |
Hong Kong Immigration Department and Customs and Excise Department checkpoints, Customer Service, HK Tourism Commission Office, Starbucks Coffee |
| Ground/Footbridge | Lower Level Concourse (HK to Mainland China) |
Fare adjustment, Immigration Department and Customs and Excise Department checkpoints, duty-free shop, Lo Wu resident exit |
| Platforms | ||
| - | Track for Intercity trains | |
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| Platform 1 | East Rail Line towards East Tsim Sha Tsui | |
| Platform 2 | East Rail Line termination platform | |
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| Platform 3 | East Rail Line termination platform | |
| Platform 4 | East Rail Line towards East Tsim Sha Tsui | |
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Platforms 1 and 4 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 during the time. The building of platform 4 and converting platform 1 (which was rarely used before the refurbishment) for boarding smoothed passenger flow. From then, trains have been emptied with doors opened towards platforms 2 and 3 and opened to platforms 1 and 4, the alighting platforms, ever since.
This particular system of loading/unloading is popular in Europe and many US subway systems and named Spanish solution.
[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
| Preceding station | MTR | Following station | ||
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towards East Tsim Sha Tsui
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East Rail Line | Terminus |
