MTR : Track-laying Completed for East West Corridor of Shatin to Central Link

PR069/17

20 August 2017

The Shatin to Central Link (SCL) project celebrates another milestone - the completion of track-laying for the 11-kilometre "Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section". This marks the completion of the track-laying for the entire East West Corridor, which is progressing on course towards target completion in mid-2019.

"Since the commencement of track work for the 'Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section' in September 2015, the SCL project team has been working tirelessly throughout the process from the transportation of rails to welding, laying concrete sleepers, and surveying. Each and every step was planned meticulously and implemented with top-notch precision and coordination," said Mr TM Lee, General Manager - SCL and Head of E&M Construction of MTR Corporation.

The dual tracks for the "Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section" have a total length of 22 kilometres and weigh more than 2,500 tonnes, which is about the same weight as 14 jumbo jets.

Moving ahead, works trains are now running between Tai Wai and Hung Hom to facilitate the installation of electrical and mechanical systems, including overhead lines, telecommunications as well as signalling systems. Testing and commissioning of the power supply system and the test running of trains will be conducted following the completion of all track-related works.

"The SCL East West Corridor will face up to challenges in its journey to bring the two busy existing railway lines together into the urban area. As previously reported, the archaeological works at To Kwa Wan Station have caused a delay of 11 months to the original programme and delay recovery measures are implemented to mitigate some of the delays," added Mr Lee. "In addition, as this new link will connect to the existing West Rail and Ma On Shan lines, the commissioning and testing works of the rail corridor are immensely complex which involve multi-disciplinary interfaces and integration with various new and old systems in the operating railway. To ensure normal operation of existing railway lines are not affected, the team has to race against time to conduct necessary works and dynamic tests overnight. We will continue to be cautious and endeavour to keep our good progress towards the target commissioning in mid-2019."

The "Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section" of the SCL is an extension of the existing Ma On Shan Line from Tai Wai Station through East Kowloon to connect with the West Rail Line at Hung Hom Station. Upon commissioning, the SCL East West Corridor will become the longest railway line in the city linking up the West Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line via the "Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section", with a total length of 54 kilometres and 27 stations. Passengers will now be able to travel directly between the east and west of the New Territories without interchange.

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About MTR Corporation

MTR Corporation is regarded as one of the world's leading railway operators for safety, reliability, customer service and cost efficiency. In its home base of Hong Kong, the Corporation operates ten commuter railway lines, a Light Rail network and a high-speed Airport Express link on which about 5.6 million passenger trips are made on a normal week day. Another 5.6 million passenger trips are made on the rail services it operates outside Hong Kong in the Mainland of China, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Australia. In addition, the Corporation is involved in a range of railway construction projects as well as railway consultancy and contracting services around the world. Leveraging on its railway expertise, the Corporation is involved in the development of transit-related residential and commercial property projects, property management, shopping malls leasing and management, advertising media and telecommunication services.

For more information about MTR Corporation, please visit www.mtr.com.hk.

Photo Captions:

1. Track-laying works along the full length of the 11-kilometre SCL "Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section" have been completed.

2. SCL on track: Works trains are now being deployed to facilitate track-related works at the East West Corridor of the SCL project.