Earlier this week, the Hong Kong government has authorised the Northern Link (NOL) Main Line railway scheme, which will link up the Tuen Ma Line and the East Rail Line. More specifically, the Kam Sheung Road MTR station will be connected to the planned Kwu Tung station.
The NOL project will be split into two phases, and the first phase – which is already underway – sees the Kwu Tung station being constructed on top of the tunnel structure of the East Rail Line. This new stop will be situated on a spur line ending at the Lok Ma Chau checkpoint, on a parcel of land between Sheung Shui and Lok Ma Chau. Its targeted completion date is in 2027.
Phase two will involve connecting Kam Sheung Road station to Kwu Tung station with a 10.7-km railway tunnel, with three intermediate stations at Au Tau, Ngau Tam Mei, and San Tin. This is all part of the major Northern Metropolis development that has been in the works for years, and the Northern Link is set to be completed by 2034.
Once fully functional, this northeastern corner of the New Territories will be better connected to urban areas of the Kowloon peninsula as well as to transport links going up to mainland China. According to the government, the expected travel time between Kam Sheung Road station and Kwu Tung station will be cut down from the current 60 to 80 minutes to a mere 12-minute journey.
The Conservancy Association has warned the government in 2021 that constructing this railway line could damage wetlands and marsh areas nearby and in Sha Po, but the government reminded stakeholders and concerned members of the public in the announcement this week that the MTR Corporation is required to comply with conditions set out in the environmental permit, and so will be monitored in mitigating the environmental impacts of this major project.
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