Executive Council approves construction of Northern Link railway main line

The Executive Council has given green light to the construction of the Northern Link Main Line, which will connect Kam Sheung Road Station on the Tuen Ma Line and a new Kwu Tung Station on the East Rail Line.

The Chief Executive in Council on Tuesday authorized the railway scheme under the Railways Ordinance with the completion targeted for 2034.

The project will be implemented in two phases. Phase one, currently underway, involves building Kwu Tung Station above the existing Lok Ma Chau Spur Line tunnel.

Construction began in September 2023 and should finish by 2027 to serve the Kwu Tung North New Development Area.

Phase two will construct the 10.7-kilometer main line connecting Kam Sheung Road Station on the Tuen Ma Line to Kwu Tung Station, with intermediate stops at Au Tau, Ngau Tam Mei and San Tin. 

Advanced works have already started, with the full line expected to open by 2034.

A government spokesperson said the new line will connect the Tuen Ma and East Rail Lines, creating a rail loop between the New Territories and Kowloon.

Once operational, travel time between Kam Sheung Road and Kwu Tung stations is projected to drop from 60 to 80 minutes during peak hours to just 12 minutes.

Public consultations through district councils and community outreach showed broad support for the project. 

The original plan was gazetted in October 2023 and amended twice in 2024 to address concerns.

All unresolved objections were submitted to the Executive Council for consideration.

"The Northern Link Main Line will become the main transportation backbone of the Northern Metropolis, unleashing the development potential of land along the railway,” the spokesperson said.

MTR welcomed the authorization, stating it will finalize the project agreement with the government promptly while continuing stakeholder engagement.

The company has already begun advance work for the main line project to expedite progress toward the 2034 completion target.

(Ayra Wang)