Green light for new MTR project - Tung Chung East and West stations

Michael Shum

The extension of the MTR Tung Chung Line will finally begin construction in three years, bringing two new stations at the cost of HK$18.7 billion.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and the Executive Council approved a government invitation for MTR Corp to proceed with the detailed planning and design of the Tung Chung Line Extension project.

"The [project] will offer direct railway access to the Tung Chung New Town Extension area and support the long-term sustainable growth in population, as well as employment opportunities in that area," a government spokesman said. "[The area] is an important medium-to-long term source of land supply to meet Hong Kong's housing, economic and social needs."

In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, the Transport and Housing Bureau said the main purpose of the extension is to serve the Tung Chung New Town Extension - a town expansion project consisting of the Tung Chung west area and a 130-hectare reclamation in the Tung Chung east area.

The expanded new town is expected to support an additional population of 126,000 starting from as early as 2024.

It is estimated that the extension will save the public about 792 million hours over 50 years of operation, while the economic benefits - including the time, public transport operating costs and accident costs saved - are estimated to be about HK$61.4 billion in 2016 prices.

According to drawings in the paper, the Tung Chung East station will be located in the reclaimed Tung Chung east, near Ying Tung Estate and Caribbean Coast, and the Tung Chung West station will be located near Yat Tung Estate.

Taking into account the time needed for planning and design, construction is expected to begin in 2023. The construction of the two stations and its associated railways is expected to be complete by 2029.

Under the same project, a 500-meter underground tunnel will be built beneath Lung Wo Road, east of Hong Kong station. The tunnel will enable Tung Chung Line and Airport Express trains to turn around at the back of the station.

Targeted to be in place by 2032, the tunnel will allow trains from the two lines to change directions swiftly and attain maximum design carrying capacity, enhancing train operation efficiency.

But lawmakers are not satisfied with the new project's long planning and construction time.

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong lawmaker Ben Chan Han-pan said: "The railway will not run before 2029 and residents of Yat Tung Estate have already waited for around 20 years for the Tung Chung West station.

"Even residents of the new developments in Tung Chung will need to wait five years before the Tung Chung East station is ready, which shows that the government's transport planning is always behind and that the government disregards the transportation needs of citizens."

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com