Government and MTR Sign Northern Link Deal; HK$86.2B Budget, 2034 Target
HK01 · 6 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong government and MTR Corporation Limited signed the Northern Link full-line project agreement on Tuesday (November 10), officially commencing construction of both the main line and branch line. The Executive Council approved the second phase financial arrangement, with total construction costs budgeted at HK$86.2 billion—28% lower than the original estimate. The project aims for full operation by 2034 or earlier, significantly improving connectivity between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
Key Points
- The Northern Link's total construction cost is HK$86.2 billion, comprising HK$54.8 billion for Phase 2 plus Phase 1 costs, representing a 28% reduction from the original budget
- The government adopted a "Rail+Property" model, granting eight sites including Ngau Tam Mei (Zones 3A, 3D, 4A), San Tin (Zones 2A, 2G), and North Kwong Tong (Zones 23, 26 East) for residential and commercial development
- The main line spans 10.7 km underground with five stations, connecting the Tuen Ma Line at Kam Sheung Road and the East Rail Line at Kot Un, cutting travel time from 60 minutes to 12 minutes
- The branch line extends approximately 6 km from San Tin to Huanggang Port in Shenzhen (including 1.1 km in Shenzhen), with stations at Zhoutou, Hetao, and Huanggang Port, reducing travel time to just 11 minutes
- Transport Secretary Chan Mei-bo (陳美寶) highlighted three breakthrough measures: new railway standards, streamlined approval procedures under the Northern Metropolis Development Ordinance, and merging the main line and branch line as one project, accelerating the branch line by two years
Why It Matters
The Northern Link represents a strategic railway project under both Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the National 15th Five-Year Plan, providing crucial cross-border railway services that will integrate Hong Kong's rail network with Shenzhen's Metro system . The project will serve as the primary public transport backbone for the Northern Metropolis, connecting the San Tin Technology City and Hetao Innovation and Technology Zone while forming a circular railway network with the Tuen Ma Line and East Rail Line, substantially enhancing regional connectivity and infrastructure resilience .
The Northern Link represents a strategic railway project under both Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the National 15th Five-Year Plan, providing crucial cross-border railway services that will integrate Hong Kong's rail network with Shenzhen's Metro system . The project will serve as the primary public transport backbone for the Northern Metropolis, connecting the San Tin Technology City and Hetao Innovation and Technology Zone while forming a circular railway network with the Tuen Ma Line and East Rail Line, substantially enhancing regional connectivity and infrastructure resilience .