The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China and the MTR Corporation Limited Sign the Full Alignment Construction Agreement for the Northern Link

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 10, the Transport and Logistics Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China and the MTR Corporation Limited signed the Part 2 Project Agreement for the Northern Link. The Chief Executive in Council simultaneously approved the Part 2 financial arrangements. The Northern Link main line and branch line have fully entered the construction phase, with the target of opening both in unison on or before 2034. The total construction cost budget for the full alignment is approximately HK$86.2 billion, calculated at July 2025 prices, representing a 28% reduction from the original budget; of which the construction cost budget for Part 2, confirmed through independent audit, is approximately HK$54.8 billion.

The Northern Link main line is 10.7 km long in total, constructed in underground railway form, with 5 stations. Among them, Kam Sheung Road Station connects to the Tuen Ma Line, Kwu Tung Station connects to the East Rail Line, and San Tin, Ngau Tam Mei and Au Tau are 3 intermediate stations. The alignment will connect western New Territories with the Northern Metropolis, forming a railway corridor between the Tuen Ma Line and the East Rail Line. After commissioning, the estimated peak-hour journey time from Kam Sheung Road to Kwu Tung will be shortened from the current approximately 60 minutes to 12 minutes.

The branch line diverges from San Tin Station on the main line, with a total length of approximately 6.2 km, also constructed underground, comprising approximately 5.1 km in the Hong Kong section and approximately 1.1 km in the Shenzhen section, with 3 stations at Chau Tau, the Loop and Shenzhen Huanggang Port. The alignment will pass through the San Tin Technopole and the Loop area, connecting to Shenzhen Huanggang Port, forming a cross-boundary connection between the railway networks of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The estimated railway journey time from San Tin to Huanggang Port is approximately 11 minutes. The main line and branch line will be implemented as a unified project, with the branch line's originally scheduled 2036 opening target advanced by approximately two years to 2034, operating in unison with the main line.

Engineering support facilities include a shared depot located at Ngau Tam Mei, as well as tunnels, stations, power supply, electrical and mechanical systems and related facilities required for both lines. Preliminary works for the main line have already commenced, with large-scale excavation underway at the launch shaft for the first tunnel boring machine, preparing for subsequent shield tunnelling construction; the substation serving the tunnel boring equipment has also been nearly completed. The Part 2 Project Agreement covers the remaining works of the main line, the design and construction of the branch line, commercial arrangements, and the operation, maintenance and asset management of both lines after opening.

The Part 2 works budget is approximately HK$54.8 billion, and together with the previously approved Part 1, the total construction cost budget for the project is approximately HK$86.2 billion. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China has simultaneously approved the grant of 8 land parcels in areas including Ngau Tam Mei, San Tin, Kwu Tung North and Au Tau to the MTR Corporation Limited for residential and commercial development, adopting the railway plus property model to support the Part 2 works.