From Wong Chuk Hang to HKU in 20 minutes! Preliminary route plan of South Island Line (West Section) revealed

The Transport and Logistics Bureau submitted documents to the Legislative Council today (Dec. 2), indicating that due to the undulating terrain along the alignment of the South Island Line (West Section), after discussion, it has been confirmed that the implementation of Smart and Green Mass Transit System is a feasible alternative to the original heavy rail proposal.

20 minutes from Wong Chuk Hang to HKU

The proposed South Island Line (West Section) has a preliminary alignment of approximately 7.5 kilometers, providing convenient transport services for the western and southern regions of Hong Kong Island, facilitating access for residents to Wong Chuk Hang Station on the MTR South Island Line and HKU Station on the Island Line. It will pass through areas such as Aberdeen, Wah Fu, Cyberport, and Pok Fu Lam, serving around 130,000 residents and approximately 50,000 job positions in the area.

The proposed South Island Line (West Section) will form a circular network with the South Island Line (East Section) and the Island Line. Once the South Island Line (West Section) is operational, the estimated travel time from Wong Chuk Hang to the University of Hong Kong is approximately 20 minutes. Passengers can transfer between the South Island Line and the Island Line at Wong Chuk Hang and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to reach other areas.

Dedicated viaducts and tunnel designs

The government stated that the proposed Smart and Green Mass Transit System is a medium-capacity system primarily running on dedicated viaducts, completely separated from surface traffic, and thus unaffected by existing road traffic. Due to the steep terrain from Queen Mary Hospital to HKU, it is preliminarily suggested that part of the alignment should be designed using tunnels.

The authorities will continue to evaluate the project's financial arrangements, including further optimizing the alignment and enhancing cost-effectiveness, aiming to commence detailed planning and design by 2025 and start preliminary construction works by 2027 to align with the schedule for the influx of population under the Wah Fu Estate redevelopment plan.

During the detailed planning and design phase, the government will review the construction plans and schedules of the project, taking into account the opinions and suggestions put forward by council members and the public, and will continue to consider and assess various ways to expedite the project for efficiency gains.

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