The Hong Kong government has no plans to build a second high-speed rail station in the city, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said in a written reply to a LegCo member's question today (June 10), despite continued significant growth in cross-boundary passenger demand between Hong Kong and the mainland.
Chan noted that the West Kowloon Station has seen single-day passenger numbers approach 140,000. However, she stated that the current station is operating adequately, and the government has no immediate plans for another station.
The Secretary said the government has been closely monitoring the operations of the West Kowloon station and has been working to improve its clearance capacity through flexible manpower deployment, greater use of information technology, and enhanced facilities, all aimed at making cross-boundary travel more convenient. On the operational front, MTR Corporation has been keeping a close watch on actual passenger volumes and market demand, and regularly discusses with mainland authorities the possibility of adjusting schedules or train frequencies as needed. For example, additional short-distance services to popular destinations are added during holiday periods to cope with passenger demand.
Chan also highlighted two cross-boundary rail projects being actively pursued by the Hong Kong SAR government and Shenzhen authorities: the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link and the Northern Link Spur Line. Both projects are designed to serve both cross-boundary travel and local commuting needs.
She further noted that West Kowloon Station has 15 platforms, of which 10 are currently in operation, more than sufficient to meet operational requirements. Therefore, the government has no plans for the time being to build another high-speed rail station.
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