Bomb casing from WWII become popular photo spot on Exhibition Centre station open day

Citizens rushed to pose with World War II bomb casing displayed at Exhibition Centre station on Monday before the station will commence service on May 15.

The MTR on Monday launched an open day for the new station, with a total of 5,600 quotas available for seven sessions. All tickets were distributed for free via the MTR app and have been snatched up by citizens shortly after being available.

Many visitors were parents bringing along their children. Some residents in Sha Tin worried that the train may be too crowded at Sha Tin and Tai Wai stations as the number of carriages was reduced from twelve to nine.

A railroad fan praised the history wall that allows passengers to review the city's 100 years of railroad, adding the bombshell on display was a nice photo spot as they witnessed the history of Hong Kong.

Another railroad fan said the opening of the Tuen Ma Line had already been unforgettable, and he was looking forward to getting on the first train of the East Rail Line cross-harbor extension.

"There won't be any new railway opening in the near future, so I really have to take this opportunity."

The Exhibition Centre station adopts the MTR stations' classic mosaic style and its main color tone of turquoise green mixed with grey symbolizes the seawater of Victoria Harbour.
 
Running across the station platform, the historic photo display records the journey of the century-old East Rail Line from its beginning in 1910 to its extension to Hong Kong Island.
 
A bomb casing, from a 1,000-pound bomb, was showcased on the platform. It was one of three bombs found during the construction of the station in 2018.

Along the concourse, the artwork Water Memory by local artist Leung Chi-wo is being exhibited.

As the Exhibition Centre Station is the closest to the harbor among all MTR stations, the artist was inspired to take more than 8,000 pictures of the harbor at different times.

The East Rail Line cross-harbor extension will start services on next Sunday and the new Exhibition Centre Station will open on the same day.