East Kowloon Line
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East Kowloon Line (Chinese: 東九龍綫) is a proposed Hong Kong rapid transit system to serve the East Kowloon area to Tseung Kwan O New Town via the hilly Sau Mau Ping residential area, which has yet to be covered by any local railway service directly. The scheme was first revealed by the Hong Kong Government in the "Railway Development Strategy 2014" in September 2014. The transit scheme is a part of the revitalisation of the East Kowloon area and the planned development in the Anderson Road/Sau Mau Ping district.
The construction cost of this line is the most expensive among all seven railway plans outlined in the railway strategy due to the steep terrain along its alignment. It is estimated to cost HK$27.5 billion (approximately US$3.5 billion) in 2013 prices, making it HK$3.5 billion (US$450 million) per kilometre for a 7.8 km system. It is recommended the line will begin construction in 2019 and finish in 2025. There will be six stations on the new railway, including four new stations and two interchange stations allowing connections to the Kwun Tong Line, Tseung Kwan O Line and East West Corridor.
The train would stop at Choi Wan, Shun Tin, Sau Mau Ping, Po Tat and other densely populated hillside areas, as well as the vicinity of large-scale new development projects including the Choi Wan Road and Jordan Valley development programme, the Anderson Road development plan, the Anderson Road Quarry development plan, the "Energising Kowloon East" programme, and so on. At the strategic level, it would serve as an alternative route of travel in the event of a stoppage on the Tseung Kwan O Line or Kwun Tong Line, thereby enhancing overall network stability. Project planners have noted the need to overcome technical difficulties caused by the mountainous terrain.
All stations would be underground. Sai Kung District Council suggested an additional station in the Hong King area between Po Tat and Po Lam Stations before leaving Tseung Kwan O New Town, meaning the government may take the suggestion into consideration.[1]
References
- Railway Development Strategy 2014, Transport and Housing Bureau, Hong Kong Government
- ↑ 西貢區會要求東九綫設康景站 [Sai Kung District Council demands Hong King Station on the East Kowloon Line] (in Chinese). Sina Corp. 19 September 2014.
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