Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway

Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway (Chinese: 港深西部快速軌道) is a proposed cross-border railway offering three future distinct services, direct connection between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport; cross-border service between Hung Shui Kiu and Qianhai; and domestic service between Tuen Mun and Siu Ho Wan.

Railway plan according to 2012 study

History

In a 2000 Hong Kong governmental study, two separate rail links were proposed as the Deep Bay Link (后海灣線) and the Chek Lap Kok Link (赤鱲角線). It was envisaged that the Deep Bay Link could connect Nanshan, Shenzhen with the new developing areas in Hung Shui Kiu, possibly interchanging with West Rail line (now Tuen Ma line). The Chek Lap Kok Link would connect Hong Kong Airport and Lantau Island with Tuen Mun.[1] However it was determined that the projects were not warranted at the development levels of the served areas at that time.

Shenzhen authorities also derived a similar railway project, initially named "Western Shenzhen–Hong Kong intercity railway" (Chinese: 西部深港城际线) as a branch of Guangzhou–Shenzhen intercity railway.[2] The revised plan in 2007 described the railway running from Qianhaiwan station and branching at northwestern New Territories, separately linking the airport and the central business district in Central. In the same year Sir Donald Tsang, Hong Kong Chief Executive, also suggested linking the two airports with railway in the Policy Address "to fully complement each other" in addition to the existing high-speed ferry services ply, which was strongly supported by the Shenzhen Municipal Government.[3]

In 2012, the government combined the projects and renamed it the "Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway", which includes three services of Airport Rail Link (Hong Kong International Airport to Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport), cross-boundary spur line (Hung Shui Kiu to Qianhai), and domestic spur line (Tuen Mun to Siu Ho Wan).[4]

The railway project was abandoned in 2014 due to multiple factors including "complicated technical constraints involved in constructing an under-sea railway tunnel" and that the "economic benefits have yet to be proven".[5]

However, the Chinese authorities in 2019 revealed ongoing "collaboration with Hong Kong over Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway",[6] following Shenzhen's intention to restart the project.[7] The conceptual intercity plan appeared again in a 2020 official document of National Development and Reform Commission.[8] Two years later the Hong Kong Government confirmed the active planning of the Hong Kong – Shenzhen Western Rail Link, running between Hung Shui Kiu and Qianhai, and announced the proposal of extending the railway to HKU station via Tuen Mun East, Sunny Bay, and Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands.[9]

References
  1. Railway Development Strategy (PDF). Hong Kong: Government of Hong Kong. 2000. p. 20.
  2. "深圳远期城际轨道网络将连起深穗莞惠". Shenzhen Metro. 2007-02-28. Archived from the original on 2008-09-28.
  3. "2007-08 Policy Address". Government of Hong Kong. p. 20. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  4. Review and Update of the Railway Development Strategy 2000 (PDF). Hong Kong: Highways Department. 2014. pp. 27–29.
  5. Railway Development Strategy 2014 (PDF). Hong Kong: Transport and Housing Bureau. 2014. pp. 66–68.
  6. 潘嘉寶 (2019-07-10). "已「壽終正寢」港深西部鐵路 粵規劃重提擬翻生 團體憂變大白象". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  7. "【米已成炊？】深圳市已預備起「深港西部快軌」 | 本土研究社 | 立場新聞". Stand News. Archived from the original on 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  8. "国家发展改革委关于粤港澳大湾区城际铁路建设规划的批复". National Development and Reform Commission. 2020-08-03. Archived from the original on 2020-08-07. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  9. "Study on the Artificial Islands in the Central Waters" (PDF). Legislative Council of Hong Kong. 2022-12-29.
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