Northern Link (MTR)
| Northern Link 北環綫 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Status |
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| Owner | Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Districts: Yuen Long, North | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connecting lines |
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| Stations | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| System | MTR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | MTR Corporation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Planned opening |
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| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 16.9 km (10.5 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Northern Link | |||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 北環綫 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 北环线 | ||||||
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The Northern Link is a proposed commuter rail / rapid transit line of the MTR[1] system of Hong Kong which would connect the Tuen Ma line and the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line of the East Rail line. The link would also serve as a connection to the border checkpoint to mainland China for passengers to and from the western New Territories.[2] The Northern Link would start at Kam Sheung Road and end at Kwu Tung, with 3 intermediate stations.
Other benefits for constructing this project are significantly shorter journey times for certain trips (for example, the Yuen Long to Fanling route would be reduced in length from 20 stations to 5), significantly reducing costs for these trips, as well as relieving the large number of passengers using the East Rail line by diverting some passengers to the Tuen Ma line.
History
According to the Railway Development Strategy 2014, a shuttle service between Kam Sheung Road station and Kwu Tung station spanning 10.7 km (6.6 mi) was expected to begin construction in 2018 and be inaugurated in 2023.[3]
The initial line is expected to cost HK$62 billion in December 2015 prices, with an average of HK$500 million/km.[4][5]
Phases
The Northern Link (NOL) project is expected to consist of four phases.
Phase 1
Phase 1 consists of the construction and completion of Kwu Tung station that will initially serve the East Rail line after its opening, then later the Northern Link after the completion of Phase 2. It had been partially built by KCR Corporation during the construction of the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line. Construction of Kwu Tung station was approved by the government in 2022, started constrution in September 29, 2023[6], with completion due in 2027.[7]
The station was expected to cost HK$3.5 billion as of December 2015.[8][5] As of July 2023, the estimated cost had risen to HK$5.9 billion.[9]
Phase 2
Phase 2 consists of the building of the 10.7 km main line from Kam Sheung Road station to Kwu Tung station. It also includes the construction of 3 new stations (Au Tau, Ngau Tam Mei and San Tin) along with the expansion of Kam Sheung Road station to accommodate the new tracks and platforms. Planning and designing began in 2021. Construction of the mainline is planned to begin in 2025 and be completed in 2034.[10]
It is expected to cost HK$58.5 billion in December 2015 prices.[11][5]
Northern Link Spur Line
The 5.8 km Northern Link Spur Line starts from San Tin station and connects to San Tin Technopole, Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (station name is not confirmed) before terminating at the Huanggang Port in Shenzhen. In 2025, MTR has confirmed construction of both phase 2 and spur line to be completed together. Aiming to open no later than 2034.[12]
Northern Link Eastern Extension
The 9.5 km eastern extension extends eastward from Kwu Tung to Ping Che via Lo Wu South and Man Kam To.[13] Originally planned as part of the extension, the section from Heung Yuen Wai to Fanling station will form the new 8.5 km Northeast New Territories Line.[14]
Stations
| Station Name | Connections | Opening date | District | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station Colour | English | Chinese | |||
| Phase 1 (Under construction) | |||||
| Kwu Tung | 古洞 | 2027 | North | ||
| Phase 2 | |||||
| Kam Sheung Road | 錦上路 | 20 December 2003 | Yuen Long | ||
| Au Tau | 凹頭 | — | 2034 | ||
| Ngau Tam Mei | 牛潭尾 | ||||
| San Tin | 新田 | ||||
| Northern Link Spur Line | |||||
| San Tin | 新田 | — | 2034 | North | |
| Chau Tau | 洲頭 | ||||
| The Loop | 河套 | ||||
| Huanggang Port | 皇崗口岸 |
|
Futian | ||
| Eastern Extension | |||||
| Lo Wu South | 羅湖南 | TBA | North | ||
| Man Kam To | 文錦渡 | ||||
| Hung Lung Hang | 恐龍坑 | — | |||
| Ping Che | 坪輋 | ||||
Controversies
Land hoarding
In July 2021, Liber Research Community found that developers had begun to hoard land alongside the Northern Link line, buying at least 80 hectares of land near the line.[15]
References
- ^ "MTR > Home".
- ^ Legislative Council - Northern Link and Regional Express February 2006
- ^ Railway Development Strategy 2014, Transport and Housing Bureau, Hong Kong Government
- ^ 2023 Interim Results (PDF) (Report). MTR Corporation. 10 August 2023. p. 12. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Shum, Michael; Cheung, Jane (17 December 2020). "MTR Northern Link project gets go-ahead". The Standard.
- ^ "Construction of Kwu Tung Station on the East Rail Line Commences". 29 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "Annual Report 2021: Excellence in Motion" (PDF). MTR Corporation. 10 March 2022. p. 25. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
A design consultant was appointed for Kwu Tung Station on the East Rail Line in April 2021, with construction targeted to commence in 2023 for completion in 2027.
- ^ 2023 Interim Results (PDF) (Report). MTR Corporation. 10 August 2023. p. 12. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "古洞站造價2年急升七成 田北辰：離晒大譜". 20 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "Hong Kong's planned Northern Link makes progress". 17 December 2020.
- ^ 2023 Interim Results (PDF) (Report). MTR Corporation. 10 August 2023. p. 12. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Press Release: MTR Northern Link Project Officially Launched" (PDF). MTR Corporation. 3 October 2025. p. 4.
- ^ "Transport Infrastructure". Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "行政長官向立法會發表《行政長官2023年施政報告》發言全文（七）". 25 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ lrcresearcher. "【解剖「囤地線」】以鐵路為骨幹 撐起了誰的未來? #永續港鐵霸權 #7月專研". Liber Research Community (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 18 August 2021.