Northern Link (MTR)

The Northern Link is a proposed 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 Lok Ma Chau and Kwu Tung, and would be constructed either as a direct shuttle or with intermediate stations.

Northern Link
北環綫
Overview
Other name(s)NOL
Status
  • Phase 1: Approved, construction expected to begin 2023
  • Phase 2: Under planning
OwnerKowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
LocaleDistricts: Yuen Long
Termini
Stations5
Service
SystemMTR
Operator(s)MTR Corporation
History
Planned opening
  • Phase 1: 2027 (2027)
  • Phase 2: 2034 (2034)
Technical
Line length10.7 km (6.6 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Route map
East Rail line
Up arrow to Lok Ma Chau
 Kwu Tung     
proposed extension
East Rail line
Right arrow to Admiralty
proposed spur line to Huanggang Port
San Tin
 Ngau Tam Mei
 Au Tau
Left arrow
Tuen Ma line
to Tuen Mun South
 Kam Sheung Road     
Pat Heung Depot
Down arrow
Tuen Ma line
to Wu Kai Sha
Northern Link
Traditional Chinese北環綫
Simplified Chinese北环线

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.

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) is 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 two phases.

Phase 1
See also: Kwu Tung station

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 is scheduled to commence in 2023 with completion due in 2027.[6]

It is expected to cost HK$3.5 billion in December 2015 prices.[7][8]

Phase 2

Phase 2 consists of the building of the Northern Link main line tracks 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.[9]

It is expected to cost HK$58.5 billion in December 2015 prices.[10][11]

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.[12]

Stations
Development of Northern Link was mentioned in the 2021 Policy Address, which a spur line and an extension would be built
Station Name Connections Opening date District
English Chinese
Phase 1
(Construction expected to begin 2023)
Kwu Tung 古洞      East Rail line 2027 North
Phase 2
Kam Sheung Road 錦上路      Tuen Ma line 20 December 2003 Yuen Long
Au Tau 凹頭 2034
Ngau Tam Mei 牛潭尾
San Tin 新田
Eastern Extension
Lo Wu South 羅湖南      East Rail line N/A North
Man Kam To 文錦渡
Lo Shue Ling 老鼠嶺
Heung Yuen Wai 香園圍
Ta Kwu Ling 打鼓嶺
Ping Che 坪輋
Queen's Hill 皇后山
On Lok Tsuen 安樂村
Fanling 粉嶺      East Rail line 1 October 1910
Northern Link Spur Line
San Tin 新田 2034 North
Chau Tau 洲頭 N/A
HK-SZ Innovation and Technology Park 港深創科園
Huanggang 皇崗

References
  1. "MTR > Home".
  2. Legislative Council - Northern Link and Regional Express February 2006
  3. Railway Development Strategy 2014, Transport and Housing Bureau, Hong Kong Government
  4. 2023 Interim Results (PDF) (Report). MTR Corporation. 10 August 2023. p. 12. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  5. Shum, Michael; Cheung, Jane (17 December 2020). "MTR Northern Link project gets go-ahead". The Standard.
  6. "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.
  7. 2023 Interim Results (PDF) (Report). MTR Corporation. 10 August 2023. p. 12. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. Shum, Michael; Cheung, Jane (17 December 2020). "MTR Northern Link project gets go-ahead". The Standard.
  9. "Hong Kong's planned Northern Link makes progress". 17 December 2020.
  10. 2023 Interim Results (PDF) (Report). MTR Corporation. 10 August 2023. p. 12. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  11. Shum, Michael; Cheung, Jane (17 December 2020). "MTR Northern Link project gets go-ahead". The Standard.
  12. 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.
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