The Shatin to Central Link (SCL) is one of the strategic railway lines recommended in the Railway Development Strategy 2000. The 17km railway will expand the existing railway network and form two strategic corridors, in which the Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section will link up the existing Ma On Shan Line with the West Rail Line to form the “East West Corridor”, and the Hung Hom to Admiralty Section will extend the existing East Rail Line from Hung Hom across the harbour to Wan Chai North and Admiralty to form the “North South Corridor”. It will also provide rail service to Kai Tak, To Kwa Wan, Ma Tau Wai and Ho Man Tin which are not yet covered by the current railway network.
The line will feature ten stations, of which six will be interchange stations. Most of the sections would be underground except for the Shatin and Hung Hom Sections, where the alignments need to be raised and linked with the Ma On Shan Line and the West Rail Line respectively. The works also involve the construction of rail tunnels, underground stations, pedestrian subways, the stabling sidings at Diamond Hill, elevated tracks and elevated stations. Depending on local geology, construction methods such as blasting, tunnel boring and cut-and-cover will be used.
Upon completion, passengers will have more options for reaching their destinations, which will help relieve the congestion currently experienced on the East Rail Line, the Kwun Tong Line and the Tsuen Wan Line, as well as road transport in the areas surrounding the Cross Harbour Tunnel. It will also facilitate the revitalisation and development of old districts such as Hung Hom, Ho Man Tin, Kai Tak, To Kwa Wan and Ma Tau Wai.
