Government to invite MTR design South Island Line (West)
發佈日期: 2025-12-20 19:31
TVB News
The government will invite the MTR Corporation to proceed with detailed planning and design of the South Island Line (West) project.
Construction is set to commence in 2027, and is expected to be completed by 2034.
The Chief Executive in Council has given the green light for the government to invite the MTR Corporation to go ahead with the South Island Line (West) project.
The project will adopt a smart and green mass transit system which will run on dedicated elevated viaducts and tunnels.
Stretching 7.5 kilometres, the railway will connect Wong Chuk Hang station and HKU station -- forming a transit loop with the South Island Line (East) and Island Line.
It will consist of eight stations, including Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, Tin Wan, Wah Kwai, Wah Fu, Cyberport, Queen Mary Hospital and HKU.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan revealed on her weekly blog that the train will mostly run on elevated viaducts, except for the tunnel section between Queen Mary Hospital and HKU.
Instead of using traditional heavy rail, the transport chief said the smart and green system boasts a climbing ability that is 100 percent greater than that of heavy rail, making it well-suited for the hilly terrain of the Southern District.
So what do residents think?
NELIA said, "That's cool. That's really cool. That's really convenient for everyone, including the sick and the ones live around here."
Reporter: "How do you usually get here?"
NELIA said, "By bus, then I need to walk up. If you have a station here, it is much easier. Sometimes they have traffic here. You get into the traffic so sometimes it takes 30 minutes or more. If you are coming from Wan Chai, it is like 45 minutes."
This man who lives in Chi Fu Fa Yuen, which is higher up the hill from the railway, said the railway may not offer much convenience to him, but he is still looking forward to it.
Ms. Ho sometimes visits her family members in Queen Mary Hospital. She believes patients will have greater flexibility in scheduling appointments thanks to the higher frequency of trains.
This medical staff mentioned the minibuses from the hospital to Central are usually crowded, and sometimes he has to wait as long as an hour.
He believes the railway could be a big help for the disabled.
Lawmaker Judy Chan, who has just been elected to represent Island West in the coming Legco term, pledges she will urge the authorities to speed up the project.
Chan said, "I think the government and the MTR could explore options, maybe have one station (opened) at a time. For example, Wong Chuk Hang going to Aberdeen, they could probably start that first. And from HKU to Queen Mary Hospital, they could start that first, as soon as the stations are ready. It doesn't have to wait until the whole loop is completed."
The extension of the South Island Line is designed to offer residents an alternative traveling option to road transport, resulting in reduced travel times.
