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MTR to start preliminary planning and design of South Island Line (East)
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    The Executive Council has given the green light for preliminary planning and design of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) South Island Line (SIL) (East).

     A Government spokesman said today (December 19) that the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) would be asked to proceed with preliminary planning and design of the seven-kilometre South Island Line eastern section, which will run from Admiralty to South Horizons, with three intermediate stations at Ocean Park, Wong Chuk Hang and Lei Tung.  

     The SIL is one of the 10 major infrastructure projects set out in the Chief Executive's Policy Address.  It represents a key component of the government's overall strategy of developing an efficient rail-based transportation system for Hong Kong.

     The proposed railway line will provide a fast, convenient and reliable means of public transport between Admiralty and South Horizons, bringing substantial transport, economic and environmental benefits to the community.  

     "SIL (East) will help reduce traffic on the roads, particularly the Aberdeen Tunnel during peak hours, and will provide the public with an alternative means of transport to and from Southern District," the spokesman said.

     On a normal weekday, the peak hour northbound traffic flow in the morning through Aberdeen Tunnel is about 2,900 passenger car units per hour, very close to its maximum throughput at 3,000.

     "With the new railway line, passengers can travel from South Horizons to Admiralty in nine minutes, as compared with the 25 to 45 minutes taken by using road transport during rush hours now,"the spokesman said.

     The proposed railway line will serve the new tourism and commercial developments as well as the population centres in Aberdeen, Wong Chuk Hang and Ap Lei Chau, he added.  

     It is estimated that by 2016, the 500-metre catchment population of the four stations in Southern District will be about 121,000 and the corresponding catchment employment will be 46,000.

     "The project will relieve the pressure due to the anticipated increase in traffic in Southern District as a result of the redevelopment of Ocean Park and the proposed tourist facilities along both sides of Aberdeen harbour under the Aberdeen Tourism Project," the spokesman said.

     Ocean Park is being redeveloped into a world-class tourism facility.  Visitors to the park are expected to increase from the current annual total of about 4.9 million to over 7 million by 2021/22.

     "The new rail extension will also help boost the development potential of the Wong Chuk Hang area for new hotels and commercial and office space," he added.

     It is estimated that SIL (East) will save the public on average about 12 million hours per year and the economic benefits over 30 years of the railway operation could reach $32 billion.

     "The preliminary estimated capital cost of the SIL (East) will exceed $7 billion and the current assessment is that it is not financially viable.  Funding support is necessary and we are looking at ways to fill the funding gap.  

     "However, we need to carry out preliminary planning and detailed design to ascertain the construction cost.  Further studies will also need to be conducted on the planning parameters and scope of development at the railway stations and depot sites.  

     "In this respect, the Government will continue to study the proposal of granting the property development rights at railway stations and depot sites to bridge the funding gap of the project," the spokesman said.

     He added that the MTRCL will be asked to explore with the Hong Kong Jockey Club within the next six months whether a Happy Valley Racecourse Station should be built.

     "They will look at both the feasibility and possible funding arrangements.  If such a station is to be included, the additional cost should be borne by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.  The construction of the station should not affect the timetable of the project and must be acceptable to the local community," he said.  

     It is expected that construction of the railway line will start in 2011 for completion by 2015.

Ends/Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:08

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