On 16 April 2020, the MTR Corporation announced today that construction of the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) will achieve a new project milestone in mid-2020, with the commissioning of the new signalling system and the introduction of new 9-car trains into passenger service in preparing for the extension of the East Rail Line (EAL) across the harbour to Admiralty Station.
The new signalling system, which has undergone comprehensive system testing and safety validation, will enhance the train service headway on the SCL.
Meanwhile, the new 9-car trains will be introduced as a required standard to cope with space constraints on the tracks on Hong Kong Island. The existing 12-car trains will gradually be replaced by new 9-car trains under a programme that would take place by phases over the coming 18 months.
“After achieving the major milestone of opening the Tuen Ma Line Phase 1 on 14 February 2020, we are glad to proceed towards opening the full Tuen Ma Line in 2021 and the Hung Hom to Admiralty Section, that is the extension of the EAL, in the first quarter of 2022. These will see the completion of the SCL project for the benefit of the Hong Kong public. We have completed the tunneling works for the EAL extension across the harbour and are now about to start on the complex railway systems on the new and existing sections,” said Mr James Chow, Divisional General Manager — Projects Construction of MTR Corporation.
Extending the EAL under Victoria Harbour from Hung Hom to Admiralty, via the newly built fourth cross harbour rail tunnel with an intermediate station at Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai North will offer a fast, direct and convenient passenger service connecting Northeast New Territories and Hong Kong Island.
Besides the Mixed Fleet Operations, another critical piece of work is the bifurcation work, or track realignment, between Mong Kok East and Hung Hom Stations. Preparation is in hand with a target to commence this work in the third quarter of 2020. We shall continue to provide update on the matter.
The opening of the full Tuen Ma Line is expected to be in 2021. As for the Hung Hom to Admiralty Section (extending the EAL to Admiralty Station), the targeted completion date in the first quarter of 2022 faces a number of challenges, but the project team continues to work hard to achieve this programme. — Construction+ Online
