The Chief Executive in Council authorized the scheme of the MTR West Island Line (WIL) under the Railways Ordinance. The authorized scheme was gazetted in March 2009.
In May 2009, the Executive Council endorsed the funding arrangement of the MTR WIL Project and funding approval was obtained from the Legislative Council in July 2009.
The construction of WIL commenced in July 2009 and will be completed in 2014.
Key Information
Alignment
Underground extension of the existing MTR Island Line from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town
Stations
3 underground stations at Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong University, Kennedy Town
Route
Length
Approximately 3 km
Train
Frequency and capacity
In line with existing MTR Island Line, with a capacity of up to 85,000 passengers per hour per direction.
Fare
Follows the same MTR fare structure
Interchange
As an extension of the Island Line, the WIL requires no interchange at Sheung Wan station.
Route Map
Re-provisioning, Remedial and Improvement Works
The construction of WIL across the densely populated areas of the Western District will inevitably affect some existing public facilities. The Corporation will re-provision some of these facilities in conjunction with the construction of WIL.
Reprovisioning of facilities in Centre Street Market West Block;
Reprovisioning of playgrounds/sitting out areas/amenity areas permanently closed for making way for station entrances or other railway facilities;
Reprovisioning of Hong Kong Central Dental Laboratory;
Modification of Centre Street Market East Block (comprising both temporary and permanent reprovisioning works);
Modification of a footbridge linking Haking Wong Building of the University of Hong Kong across Pok Fu Lam Road;
Reprovisioning of the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool; and
Reprovisioning of the David Trench Rehabilitation Centre.
Photomontage of the
new Kennedy Town
Swimming Pool
Photomontage of the
new David Trench
Rehabilitation Centre
Essential Public Infrastructure Works
To enhance the accessibility to the WIL, a number of public pedestrian and transport links to the WIL will be constructed in conjunction with the project.
Construction of a covered pedestrian link at Sands Street which includes:
two lifts in a single lift tower at the junction of Sands Street and Rock Hill Street with a linked platform at the upper level at Sands Street;
a 30 m long one-way escalator at the upper reach of Sands Street;
a 20 m long walkway between the linked platform and the escalator; and
associated works including road, drainage and geotechnical works.
Construction of a covered footbridge link to the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Centennial Campus which includes:
a 30 m long footbridge across Pok Fu Lam Road linking the proposed Hong Kong University Station to the HKU Centennial Campus; and
associated works including road, drainage and landscaping works.
Construction of a public transport interchange at Kennedy Town Station which includes:
seven bays for the operation of franchised buses and green minibuses with passenger shelters;
modification of the junction of Smithfield and Forbes Street; and
associated works including road, drainage, street lighting, E&M and landscaping works.
Programme / Timetable
Gazettal under the Railways Ordinance
Oct 2007
Scheme authorization under the Railways Ordinance
Mar 2009
Commencement of construction
Jul 2009
Completion of new David Trench Rehabilitation Centre and Kennedy Town Swimming Pool (Phase 1)
