Kwu Tung Station is expected to be topped out within this year, with a 1.5-meter-high flood barrier installed around the construction site to protect against potential flooding during typhoons and heavy rainfall.
With an estimated cost of HK$9.8 billion, the station is scheduled for completion in 2027 and will connect to the East Rail Line and the future Northern Link.
Construction commenced at the end of 2023, and large-scale excavation was completed last September. This year, the station structure faced its first rainy season, with the team deploying additional flood protection measures to prevent external rainwater infiltration.
“We have many facilities, such as pumps, ready on-site in case water needs to be drained,” said Dominic Law Tik-ko, Head of Project Delivery for the Northern Link (Phase 1) at MTR.
- Advanced Tech Guards Live Rail Tunnels
Since the construction is taking place above the operational East Rail Line tunnels, the rail operator has installed a fully automated under-slab drainage system that precisely controls groundwater levels and manages the water pressure beneath the tunnel structure.
Additionally, over 200 high-sensitivity monitoring instruments have been placed inside the tunnel section of Kwu Tung to monitor structural conditions, with accuracy down to the micrometer level.
Law explained that these instruments are connected to a real-time network system, providing continuous updates and automatic alerts.
To prepare for unforeseen circumstances, he added that the engineering team, in collaboration with the operations team, has developed various contingency plans, aiming to minimize disruptions and enable swift repairs in case any issues arise that could affect train services.
(Cheng Wong)
