Is your commute a bitch? Your prayers may be answered…in like, a minimum of 12 years time.
The Hong Kong government has revealed plans for seven new rails lines linking outlying areas of the territory. The blue prints include a East Kowloon line, South Island line (western part), North Island line, Northern Link and Kwu Tung station, Tung Chung West extension, Tuen Mun South line extension, and plans for an additional station at Hung Shui Kiu, between the West Rail Tin Shui Wai station and Siu Hong station.
If put into action, the total combined cost is estimated at HKD100 billion…so we’re talking waaay more than that in actual reality.
The plans were made following a public consultation in which people said, guess what, they wanted more rail lines. Ideas suggested but not deemed economically viable at present, however, include the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Express Line, the Coastal Railway between Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan, and the Siu Sai Wan Line. Downer if that’s your patch.
Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, said he recommends the projects get started in 2016, but admits they probably won’t be finished until 2026…so we’re talking around 2030. Some of us will be dead.
Professor Cheung said, “When these seven recommended projects are completed, the total length of Hong Kong’s railway network would grow to over 300 kilometres, covering areas inhabited by about 75 percent of the total population and about 85 percent of job opportunities. The expanded railway network would help shorten journey times of commuters, bringing direct economic benefits of HKD3 billion to HKD4 billion a year.
“As to environmental benefits, roadside air pollutants and greenhouse gases would be reduced by two percent to four percent per year. The new railway projects would also bring strategic social and economic benefits, such as integrating land planning, releasing the development potential of peripheral areas, strengthening connectivity among districts, creating job opportunities and relieving road traffic congestion.”
Let’s hope this lot fares better than the current MTR projects, including the cross-border link to Guangzhou, which have seen massive overrun both in terms of time and budget.
On the plus side, however, it has been confirmed that the MTR Corporation won’t necessarily get the tenders for the new links, and that each proposed project will be subject to detailed studies and review before any move towards implementation.
