Hung Hom (Chinese: 紅磡; Cantonese Yale: Hùngham) is a passenger[1] railway station in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is an interchange station between the East Rail line and the Tuen Ma line domestic services of the MTR network, as well as the southern terminus of cross-border through-trains to mainland China which has been suspended since 4 February 2020. The station is one of four Hong Kongports of entry on the MTR network; the others are Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau, and West Kowloon. This station serves the southern terminus of the East Rail Line in early morning before the first northbound train from Admiralty arrives. As the station is located next to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel's northern portal, it is also served by many cross-harbour bus routes.
Opened as the new southern terminus of the Kowloon–Canton Railway (KCR) on 30 November 1975 by Queen Elizabeth II, The station was substantially expanded in the 1990s, at which time it was given its present name. The KCR British Section was also renamed KCR East Rail in order to differentiate it from the new KCR West Rail, which opened on 20 December 2003 and was extended to Hung Hom station on 16 August 2009.
This old Hung Hom station, a temporary wooden structure, operated from 1 October 1910 (the day the Kowloon–Canton Railway began operation) until 15 September 1921[2] It was later demolished and replaced by this station on 30 November 1975.
Relocation of Kowloon station
Plaque unveiled by Elizabeth II commemorating the opening of the station.
The old Kowloon station in Tsim Sha Tsui began operation in 1910.[clarify] After decades of economic growth in Hong Kong, the station, situated at the seafront of Victoria Harbour, became too small and had no room for expansion. A new Kowloon station (the current Hung Hom station), situated to the east, was officially inaugurated by Chief Secretary Denys Roberts on 24 November 1975 as the new southern terminus of the East Rail line. However, it did not start operating until a few days later. The old terminal at Tsim Sha Tsui was closed on 29 November 1975.
The first passenger train pulled out of Hung Hom the following morning at 8:26 am. On 5 May 1975, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening of the new terminal.[3][image needed] The new station cost HK$150 million and offered modern new facilities including a spacious waiting hall, a restaurant, a bar, a bookstore, a bank, escalators, and closed circuit television. It was built along with a bus terminus and a multi-storey car park.[3]
The controversial demolition of the old station commenced on 7 June 1978;[4] a new complex of a concert hall and museums were built on Kowloon station's original site, but the clock tower was preserved as a Declared Monument.
Through trains to mainland China started running from Hung Hom station on 4 April 1979.
Renaming and expansion
Lobby of Hung Hom station (2006)
The new station was renamed Hung Hom station around February or March 1996.[citation needed][why?] The KCRBritish Section was renamed KCR East Rail in 1996, and subsequently the East Rail line upon the merger of the MTR (metro services) and the Kowloon-Canton Railway (suburban train services) in December 2007.
A HK$1.3 billion expansion of Hung Hom station began on 16 March 1995, which included a new concourse designed by Foster and Partners.[5] The expansion was completed in 1998. The passenger terminal now hosts ticket offices, waiting areas, shops and restaurants.
Hung Hom station under construction
The construction of the East Rail extension to East Tsim Sha Tsui station began on 20 April 2001.[6] Work was undertaken at Hung Hom station to extend tracks 2 and 3 southward, and to demolish the southern concourse of the station and replace it with a new mid-level concourse. Some structural columns, supporting the Hong Kong Coliseum above, had to be demolished and underpinned to make way for the construction of the tracks. Throughout the works, at least three of the four East Rail platforms had to be kept in operation.[7] The extension was opened on 24 October 2004, turning Hung Hom into an intermediate station for the first time.
On 16 August 2009, East Tsim Sha Tsui was transferred to the West Rail line following the opening of the Kowloon Southern Link, and Hung Hom became the southbound terminus station of both the East Rail and West Rail lines. Platforms 2 and 3 were transferred to the West Rail line, and Platform 1 and 4 became the termination platform of the East Rail line.
As part of the Sha Tin to Central Link project, two new island platforms were constructed under the eastern side of the existing station podium.[8][9] The West Rail line was relocated to its new platforms on 20 June 2021, a week ahead of the full opening of the Tuen Ma line. Temporary walkways were placed across the original West Rail line tracks, now defunct, to connect the East Rail line's platforms.[10][11] On 27 June 2021, the West Rail line was absorbed into the Tuen Ma line.
The East Rail line moved to the new underground platforms beneath the Tuen Ma line platforms on 15 May 2022, upon the opening of the line's extension to Admiralty. The last train departed from the old platforms at 00:28 on 15 May 2022, and the original East Rail, West Rail line and through train platforms were permanently closed to passengers thereafter. Hung Hom is now an intermediate station on both the East Rail and Tuen Ma lines.
On 25 October 2023, it was announced that the MTR Corporation would be invited by the government of Hong Kong to conduct a preliminary study and submit proposals in 2024 for the redevelopment of an approximately 10-hectare area centred on the station.[12][13]
In 2024, an exhibition named “Station Rail Voyage” was held at Hung Hom station as part of the celebration events for the 45th anniversary of the MTR company, with three types of retired trains displayed at the original platforms, namely the unrefurbished Metro Cammel E44 unit, an MLR train and the EMD G16 locomotive no. 56 “I. B. Trevor”. The exhibition was planned to be held from 27 April to the end of the year.[14]
To facilitate this expansion, new platforms were built underneath the Hung Hom station Exit C concourse. The Tuen Ma line platforms sit above the East Rail line platforms.[15] New approach tracks have also been built north and south of the station.
Construction safety scandal
In 2018, a major scandal emerged regarding construction malpractice at the Hung Hom station construction site. In 2015, contractors building the concrete slab forming the Tuen Ma line platform level reportedly cut off the ends of reinforcing bars that were supposed to be screwed into couplers within the diaphragm wall forming the side of the underground station box. The contractor then poured the concrete even though the bars were not connected to the couplers. As a result, engineers have cast doubt on the long-term structural safety of the slab.[16]
The government has demanded that MTR Corporation submit a report on the safety of the station. An independent engineer, C M Wong & Associates Ltd., will conduct safety tests.[17] On 12 June 2018, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that she will appoint a commission on inquiry, headed by Hong Kong judge Michael Hartmann, to investigate the scandal.[18]
Station layout
5
Podium
Station Carpark
U3
Loft
Restaurants
C/U2/3
Intercity Through Train Concourse/ Main Station Concourse
An interchange for buses (lower level) and public light buses and taxis (upper level) is located outside the station building. The lower-level bus station is situated at the Kowloon entrance of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. Elevated walkways connect the station to the Hong Kong Coliseum; Hong Kong Polytechnic University; the residential area of Hung Hom; and tourist attractions in eastern Tsim Sha Tsui, such as the Science Museum and the Avenue of Stars along Victoria Harbour.[20]
^ abAnnual Departmental Report by the General Manager, Railway and Chief Resident Engineer for the Financial Year 1975-76. Hong Kong: Government Information Services. 1976.
^AECOM (24 November 2011). "Consideration of Alternatives"(PDF). Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study for Shatin to Central Link - Mong Kok East to Hung Hom Section. Environmental Protection Department. p. 11. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
^AECOM (24 November 2011). "Typical Cross Section for Hung Hom Station"(PDF). Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study for Shatin to Central Link - Mong Kok East to Hung Hom Section. Environmental Protection Department. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
Stations that are proposed, under planning or under construction are shown in italics. * Not at the same locations as the current stations with the same names.
MTR rapid transit station
China Railway station
