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The Government today (September 24) invited the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) to proceed with the detailed planning and design of the Kowloon Southern Link.
The Kowloon Southern Link (KSL) is a rail project recommended in Government's Railway Development Strategy 2000 (RDS-2000). It extends the West Rail from Nam Cheong Station to Hung Hom via West Kowloon and Tsim Sha Tsui. RDS-2000 sets its target completion date in 2008 to 2013. When the KSL is completed, the West Rail will take over the Tsim Sha Tsui Extension currently being constructed, and both East Rail and West Rail will terminate at Hung Hom with cross-platform interchanges provided.
A Government spokesman said: "With this Link, not only can 700,000 population now and one million in the future along the West Rail's catchment have more direct access to the main employment/business areas in urban Kowloon, but passengers also can travel conveniently between West Rail and East Rail through their common terminus at Hung Hum."
"KCRC's Project Proposal for the KSL is both technically and financially sound. The recommended railway alignment along and station layout at Canton Road can better serve the passengers whilst minimizing land resumption and disruption to land use and the harbour. The project allows passengers from Northwest New Territories to pay an additional fare no more than $1 to travel to the new stations in the heart of Kowloon. At an estimated cost of $9.2 billion (in 2000 prices), the project is financially viable and no property development support from Government is required. KCRC intends to finance the project through internal resources and commercial debt," the spokesman said.
The proposed KSL will run along the eastern side of the Tung Chung Line, diverge at West Kowloon to go underneath Canton Road, and then turn to join up with the East Tsim Sha Tsui Station at Salisbury Road. It will be in tunnel, which can help mitigate environmental implications. The project will provide two new stations, one at West Kowloon and the other underneath Canton Road where they can be connected by pedestrian linkages to the Airport Railway's Kowloon Station and the MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station respectively.
Construction work is scheduled to start in mid 2004 for completion around end 2008/early 2009. The project is expected to create about 3,000 job opportunities at its construction peak in the next few years.
"Proceeding with the KSL reflects Government's commitment to continuous rail network expansion to meet the community's long term needs beyond the current cyclical economic downturns. Its construction will also help boost the economy and create job opportunities. Government and KCRC will work in partnership and consult the public in developing the railway scheme so as to speed up the work, where practicable, and ensure a sustainable design with public acceptance." the spokesman added.
End/Tuesday, September 24, 2002
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