East Kowloon line


The East Kowloon line is a proposed Hong Kong rapid transit line that would run from Diamond Hill to Tseung Kwan O New Town. The route would pass through the hilly Sau Mau Ping residential area, which is not directly served by any local railway service at present. The scheme was first revealed by the Hong Kong Government in the "Railway Development Strategy 2014", published September 2014. The transit scheme is related to government-led redevelopment of the East Kowloon area as well as planned residential development in the Anderson Road/Sau Mau Ping district.

Overview

The estimated construction cost of this line is highest among all seven railway plans proposed in the railway strategy due to the steep terrain along its alignment. The estimated cost is HK$27.5 billion at 2013 prices, making it HK$3.5 billion per kilometre for a 7.8 km system. It is recommended the line will begin construction in 2019 and finish in 2025. There will be six stations on the new railway, including four new stations and two interchange stations allowing connections to the Kwun Tong line, Tseung Kwan O line and Tuen Ma line.
Stations are planned for Choi Wan, Shun Tin, Sau Mau Ping and Po Tat, as well as the vicinity of large-scale new development projects including the Choi Wan Road and Jordan Valley development programme, the Anderson Road development plan, the Anderson Road Quarry development plan, the "Energising Kowloon East" programme, and so on. At the strategic level, it would serve as an alternative route of travel in the event of a stoppage on the Tseung Kwan O Line or Kwun Tong Line, thereby enhancing overall network stability.
All stations would be underground. Sai Kung District Council suggested an additional station in the Hong King area between Po Tat and Po Lam Stations before leaving Tseung Kwan O New Town, meaning the government may take the suggestion into consideration.
As of 2020, construction has not begun while technical design proposals are still under consideration.