The history of the South Island line and West Island line encompasses a number of proposals which were made for extending the Hong Kong MTR metro system to the south and west of Hong Kong Island, which were not serviced by any rail transport before 2014. The West Island line opened as an extension of the Island line on 28 December 2014. The South Island line has completed construction and commenced service on 28 December 2016. In 2025, the Government gave approval for detailed planning work to begin for the South Island line (West). Construction is targeted to begin in 2027, with completion targeted for 2034.
+ Timeline of South Island line and West Island line Date Event 1960 Stations of West Island line were proposed as part of Island line project 1980 West Island line stations were deferred due to ageing population of Western District and debts of MTRC 2000 West Island line was proposed in Railway Development Strategy 2002 MTRC submitted its first proposal to government for the South Island line and West Island line 2003 Executive Council modified to the South Island line plans, and took into account the parallel development of Route 4 highway Mid- to Late-2003 MTRC began feasibility study to look for cost effective options. A modified proposal was submitted in November with three options of alignment in the South Island line 2004 MTRC submit a revised alignment scheme: Western part of South Island became Island Extension Mid-2004 Legislative Council debate whether to build highway or South Island line. Government later announced to defer both rail line because of low ridership of the previous project West Rail line and its rail incidents 2005 MTRC submitted a revised scheme to Legislative Council. South Island line was separated into East and West section. 2007 Government officials confirmed the South Island line (East) would be one of the priority. Chief executive later announced to build in 2011, and open in 2015. Executive Council approved final scheme of South Island 2009 Executive Council approved final scheme of West Island line 2011 A resident filed suit against the government 2014 Commencement of West Island line South Island line (West) was readdressed on the Railway Development Strategy 2014, divided into two sections Apple Daily revealed commencement date of South Island line would be postponed by 1.5 years, MTRC confirmed 2016 Commencement of South Island line
1960s to 1980s Consultant Freeman, Fox, Wilbur Smith & Associates, has been hired by Hong Kong government, studied possibilities of mass transport in Hong Kong. In September 1967, they proposed a mass transit railway network, which included the Island line from Kennedy Town to Chai Wan. In 1980, only the Sheung Wan to Chai Wan section was approved due to debt of MTRC and ageing population of Western District. Yet, some of the ground-level-units within private buildings are reserved by government through public easement, in order to preserve for railway station entrances.
Early 2000 The West Island line was first proposed in the Railway Development Strategy 2000 by the Transport Bureau, aiming to connect the Tseung Kwan O line to part of the Island line to create a new railway corridor.
2002 proposal
The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRC) submitted its first proposal for the South Island line and West Island line in May 2002. The new lines were intended to promote tourism in Aberdeen. The West Island line would be an extension of the Island line.
In the proposal, the South Island line would be a semicircular line with nine stations, intended to serve the southern end of Hong Kong Island towards Aberdeen. It would interchange with the Island line at University and Wan Chai, which would also be its terminus stations. The stations in between would be, from University, Cyberport, Wah Fu, South Horizons, Lei Tung, Wong Chuk Hang, Ocean Park and Happy Valley.
The West Island line would be an extension of the Island line. Construction of the new West Island line would be divided into two phases. Phase one would begin at the already existing Sheung Wan station. A further two stations, Sai Ying Pun and University (near The University of Hong Kong) would be added to extend the length of the Island line. University would also serve as an interchange for the South Island line. Phase two would include an extension to Kennedy Town. The construction of phase two, which will include a depot near Kennedy Town station, is subject to the land availability of the western reclamation.
On 21 January 2003, the Executive Council of Hong Kong made modifications to the South Island line plans, to achieve a more cost-effective option and taking into account the parallel development of Route 4. However, the first proposal had some major drawbacks. Specifically, construction of West Island line as heavy rail would not include Kennedy Town if there was no Western reclamation. There would also be environmental and traffic management challenges if the West Island line went under Des Voeux Road West. There would not be an Aberdeen station for serving the Aberdeen area, and a transfer station at Wan Chai would not cater well for the needs of cross-harbour trips (passengers would have to change to Island line trains for Admiralty and then change for cross-harbour trips on the Tsuen Wan line).
The Executive Council gave MTRC permission to proceed with further planning on Phase 1 of West Island line. However, the first proposal had some major drawbacks. Specifically, construction of West Island line as heavy railway type tunnels and stations would not include Kennedy Town if there is no Western reclamation. There would also be great environmental impact and traffic management challenge if West Island line goes under Des Voeux Road West.
2003 proposal
To respond to the criticism directed towards the original proposal, the MTRC started a feasibility study of the lines in mid-2003 to look for cost effective options to improve the system. The study also evaluated the external benefits of the project and its impact on other modes of public transport. The company derived a modified proposal in November 2003, with three options of alignment in the South Island line part, to address the drawbacks in the initial scheme.
The western section of the South Island line was transferred to the West Island line, now a medium-capacity rail line from Sheung Wan to Wong Chuk Hang interchanging with the Island line at Sheung Wan. The South Island line would also be a medium-capacity system.
South Island line South Horizons Lei Tung Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to West Island line) Ocean Park Happy Valley (Option C) Wan Chai (Interchange to ) Admiralty (Interchange to & )
West Island line Sheung Wan (Interchange to ) Sai Ying Pun University Cyberport Wah Fu Aberdeen Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to South Island line)
2004 proposal
The corporation handed in the Revised Alignment Scheme in March 2004. South Island line runs from South Horizons to Admiralty in the scheme, still having three alignment options. West Island line in the previous proposal was separated into two parts: the northern part of which became an extension to Island line, and the southern part which remained a line of its own.
A short extension from Sheung Wan to Sai Ying Pun, in which the latter station provides a transfer to the West Island line.
South Island line South Horizons Lei Tung Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to West Island line) Ocean Park Happy Valley (Option B, C) Wan Chai (Interchange to ) (Option C) Admiralty (Interchange to & ) (Option A, B, C)
West Island line Sai Ying Pun (Interchange to ) HKU Kennedy Town Queen Mary Hospital (Future Stop) Cyberport Wah Fu Tin Wan (Future Stop) Aberdeen Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to South Island line)
Deferral of the scheme On 28 May 2004, the Panel of Transport of Legislative Council held a meeting to consider the development of West and South Island lines along with the highway link (Route 4).
Residential, environmental and some professional organisations support building the lines instead of highway. Rail links are more environmentally friendly and will help ease congestion of the Aberdeen Tunnel. The lines can also help sustainable development and will preserve the shoreline along western and southern Hong Kong Island.
Other transport operators and various organisations opposed the rail link, claiming that the rail link could lead to severe competition between different modes of transport, and that reduction of road transport might eventually cause job losses. Some panel members stated that the projected population growth in the south cannot support the new lines, and that the government should have a thorough plan on how to develop the Southern District before implementing the rail links.
However, some panel members suggested that the new lines could help promote tourism in the area. They asked the government to moderate the various modes of transport upon the new lines' inaugurations so as to relieve concerns from the transport operators.
Government officials stated that the low ridership of the West Rail line and its rail incidents warranted extra planning on the new rail lines to ensure enough ridership and appropriate, cost-effective system design. Therefore, the West Island line and South Island line project was deferred, and approval was given to the detailed planning of the highway.
2005 proposal
On 25 February 2005, the Panel of Transport of Legislative Council had a meeting discussing West and South Island line. MTR has submitted a revised scheme on 22 February and an introduction to the scheme was conducted in the meeting.
The three alignment options of South Island line were: Option A: Ocean ParkHappy ValleyWan ChaiAdmiralty This alignment is the most expensive, but has the greatest catchment. Option B: Ocean ParkAdmiralty (no intermediate station) Reduces travel times from Southern District to CBD. Least expensive option. Option C: Ocean ParkAdmiralty (with possible extension to Wan Chai and Happy Valley) Similar to option B, but enables further extension to Happy Valley in the future.
South Island line (West) It was separated from the West Island line in the last proposal, running from University to Wong Chuk Hang: University (Interchange to West Island line) Cyberport Wah Fu Aberdeen Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to South Island line (E))
South Island line (East) It runs on the same alignment of South Island line in Revised Scheme, and the three options stated before still exist. The line starts at South Horizons: South Horizons Lei Tung Wong Chuk Hang (Interchange to South Island line (W)) Ocean Park Happy Valley (Option B, C) Wan Chai (Option B only) Admiralty (Option A, B, C)
West Island line In the scheme, West Island line included only the extension to Island Line. The rest became the west section of South Island line. The new West Island line would run from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town: Sheung Wan Sai Ying Pun HKU (Interchange to South Island line (West)) Kennedy Town
Discussions on the 2005 new plan The MTR claimed that the latest scheme had the following advantages: No reclamation needed, and it alleviates air and noise pollution Supporting tourism in Southern District: as Wong Chuk Hang will soon have nine new hotels and Ocean Park will be redeveloped
The officials from Environment, Transport and Works Bureau said that consideration of funding depends on the development of tourism in Southern District, especially after the submission of Ocean Park redevelopment project.