1 Station topping-out celebration at Kowloon Southern Link
MTR Press Release, 30 April 2008

The MTR Corporation (MTR) today celebrated the station topping out for the Kowloon Southern Link (KSL) project, marking a significant milestone for the project.

The four-level station at the junction of Jordan Road and Canton Road in Kowloon is the only station to be built for the 3.8-kilometre KSL. The station will have five entrances, making it easily accessible from nearby areas, subways and pedestrian flyovers.

At the ceremony to celebrate the station topping out today, Mr C K Chow, Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation said, “The Kowloon Southern Link will connect Nam Cheong Station with East Tsim Sha Tsui Station, thus link up West Rail Line with East Rail Line.

Upon its completion in 2009, it will provide a more enhanced transport network for Kowloon and the New Territories, thus improving the road traffic.”

Building the railway on reclaimed land in the middle of a well-developed area presented the MTR project team with challenges. Through detailed planning and careful implementation, every construction challenge has been overcome. The project is progressing well and is well on schedule. “The station topping-out is an important milestone, marking the transition from the phase of civil construction to the phase that focuses on railway systems installations. The Kowloon Southern Link is on schedule for completion in 2009,” Mr Chow said.

He said, “Following the Kowloon Southern Link project, a number of new railway projects will be kicked off. These include the West Island Line, South Island Line (East), Shatin to Central Link, Kwun Tong Line Extension to Whampoa, and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Hong Kong Section). They will together provide a more convenient and co-ordinated rail network for the passengers, ”

Mr Chow said. The MTR team will continue to work closely with government departments, local communities, and it’s working partners in realising these new rail lines for the people of Hong Kong.

Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport), Mr Francis Ho, who was also officiating at the ceremony, said, “The new station of KSL is located next to the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) which will be the new landmark for Hong Kong. It is also adjacent to the station of Airport Express and the future terminus of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Hong Kong Section). This convenient rail network will not only enhance the connection between Hong Kong and the Mainland, but also make West Kowloon an important transportation hub that will help promoting Hong Kong’s economic development.”

“I would like to congratulate the MTR Corporation and the Contractor for the smooth topping out of the KSL station. I am sure everyone in Hong Kong including myself are looking forward to the completion of KSL in 2009,” he added.

Other guests officiating at the ceremony included the Hon Miriam Lau, Chairperson of Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways, Panel on Transport, Legislative Council; Mr Edmund Chung, Chairman of Yau Tsim Mong District Council; Ir James Blake, Chief Officer of Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation; Mr Russell Black, Projects Director of MTR Corporation; Mr K K Lee, Deputy Projects Director of MTR Corporation; Mr Henry Lam, General Manager – KSL, MTR Corporation; and Mr David Westwood, Project Director of Link 200 Joint Venture Contractor.

KSL is well on its way for completion in 2009, when it will provide a direct rail link to Tsim Sha Tsui for residents in the Northwest New Territories, including Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. By then, it will only take 30 minutes to travel from Yuen Long to East Tsim Sha Tsui, without the need to change trains.