The South Island line (Chinese: 南港島綫), identified by light green on the MTR route map, is a rapid transit line of Hong Kong's MTRmetro system. This line connects the Hong Kong business district from Admiralty station to the Southern District of Hong Kong Island and the island of Ap Lei Chau, which was not served by any rail transport prior to the opening of this line.[2] The rolling stock of South Island line is purpose-built for driverless operation. Trains are remotely controlled from the Operations Control Centre in Tsing Yi. Approved by the Executive Council in 2007,[3] the line commenced service on 28 December 2016.[4]
This line was known during planning and construction as the South Island line (East) to distinguish from South Island line (West), which is still being planned.
The initial proposal for the line was developed in 2002, and went through a number of changes, at times combined with the West Island line and South Island line (West). The final alignment corresponds with "option B" of the 2005 revised scheme, with no intermediate station at Happy Valley included, in order to reduce the travel time to the central business district.
MTR defines the railway as a medium capacity system. The final order for rolling stock for the new line consisted of 10 new three-car MTR CNR Changchun EMUs using steel wheels. These trains are externally similar to the new existing sets in service on the Kwun Tong line, but are fully automatic and driverless – the second such line in the MTR system after the Disneyland Resort line, and the third such line in Hong Kong.[5] However, every train has at least one staff for patrol in the traffic hour who is qualified to control the train manually according to the requirements of the Fire Services Department since the commencement of the line.[6] Trains operate with a frequency of three minutes during rush hour.
Alignment
South Island line viaduct near Holy Spirit SeminaryCNR Changchun EMU with cartoon animals in the windows
South Island line begins in tunnel at Admiralty station, an underground station connecting to the pre-existing Tsuen Wan and Island lines. From Admiralty the line travels southeastwards beneath Mount Cameron through the 3.2 km (2.0 mi) Nam Fung Tunnel, emerging into a covered viaduct at a site between the portal of Aberdeen Tunnel and Gleneagles Hospital, just before Ocean Park station.
Station concourses are staffless, except those of Admiralty and Ocean Park stations. Customers are required to solve ticket problems with this Self Service Point machine. To its left is the information counter, which provides travel and street information only.
The trains do not have driver cabs, allowing passengers to see through the windows in the ends of the trains.
The public car park underneath Ocean Park station.
Construction
Construction progress
A test train approaching Wong Chuk Hang station in December 2015
Project Agreements and Entrustment Agreement for MTR South Island line and the Kwun Tong line extension were signed by the Hong Kong government and MTR Corporation on 18 May 2011.[7] In August 2012, drilling and blasting work began for constructing the Nam Fung Tunnel, between Admiralty and Ocean Park stations.[8] The line was built by a Leighton Asia – John Holland Group joint venture.[9][10]
On 9 December 2013, structural work for Ocean Park station was completed.[11][12] The first 3-car trainset arrived at MTR Siu Ho Wan Depot on 19 February 2014.[13] The project was 78% complete by late September 2014, and Nam Fung Tunnel was broken through on 17 October.[8] In 2015, trial runs began between Wong Chuk Hang and South Horizons stations. 84% of construction work was completed by the end of February 2015. Work in Lei Tung station was prolonged by geological problems, but the MTR claimed it would not postpone the line opening.[14]
Delayed opening
Expansion works at Admiralty station in November 2016. Underground are a new concourse, and the platforms of the South Island line and the North South Corridor. Harcourt Garden will be restored as a podium garden after the completion of the work.
The opening of the South Island line was originally planned for 2015. On 21 May 2014, an informant told Apple Daily that the commencement date of the line would be postponed by one and a half years. MTR Corporation asserted it would be opened as expected. Yet, the Transport and Housing Bureau revealed the delay of construction work and demanded MTR to review the commencement. Members of the Legislative Council and District Council criticised MTR for hiding the project's progress from the public and demanded a progress report at the Council's meeting.[15] Eight days later at the South District Council meeting, MTRC announced the delay was caused by the expansion work of Admiralty station. High-density building, underground public facilities and the existing Admiralty station would prolong the work progress, as "safety comes first". However, the claimed 2015 opening date remained unchanged.[16] In November 2014, a revised opening date of December 2016 was announced.[17]
In October 2016, MTRC chairman Frederick Ma warned that the opening of the South Island line could be delayed by three more months.[18] However, on 10 November 2016, he announced the South Island line would open by the end of 2016, saying the engineering team overcame the many challenges in expanding Admiralty Station.[19] Finally, MTRC chief executive Lincoln Leong officially declared the South Island line would begin operation on 28 December 2016.[4]
Commencement
On 28 December, before South Horizons station opened, many residents and enthusiasts gathered outside the entrance. MTR managerial officials, including CEO Lincoln Leong, welcomed passengers and rode on the first departure. The first train departed from South Horizons station at 5:55 am, five minutes earlier than usual. After 11 hours of operation, there had been over 92,000 passenger journeys.[20] However, the day after the line opened, an electrical fault triggered power outages at 2:15 pm, causing lighting systems, escalators, elevators, and fare gates to stop working. The driverless trains were switched into manual mode in order to maintain service. Normal operation resumed after half an hour.[21]
At Wong Chuk Hang, the platform structure was planned to be a double island platform with three tracks (like Choi Hung station). South Island line (West) trains would use the centre track while South Island line trains would use those on each side, allowing for convenient cross-platform interchanges. However, according to the final plan, any future South Island line (West) platforms were to be built above the existing platforms.
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