Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link to add Shenzhen Bay Station

The planned Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link, connecting Hung Shui Kiu in Hong Kong to Qianhai in Shenzhen, will add a new station at Shenzhen Bay, according to Mable Chan, Hong Kong's secretary for transport and logistics.

Chan said that details of the railway proposal will soon be announced, including the addition of the Shenzhen Bay Station and ways to expedite construction.

Chan hopes to adopt innovative models to advance the project in collaboration with Shenzhen, such as synchronously constructing sections in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen to save time. She mentioned that the underwater portion will utilize tunnel boring machines, and that commissioning Shenzhen contractors to undertake the construction in one go is under consideration, which could enhance efficiency for both parties.

Hon Lau Kwok-fan, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, said that adding a station at Shenzhen Bay, compared to having only one station in Qianhai, could improve cost-effectiveness, considering that the area around Shenzhen Bay is well-developed and an important part of Nanshan District and Houhai area. Moreover, its proximity to the Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint will bring a large volume of people.

An illustration map showing the proposed route of the Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Rail Link. Photo from WeChat account "蛇口消息报"

The proposed Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link — of which an 8-km section will pass through Hong Kong — will begin at the Hung Shui Kiu Station on the Tuen Ma Line. It will pass through Ha Tsuen and Lau Fau Shan, cross the Deep Bay, and connect to Qianhai via the Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint. The railway line aims to connect Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen innovation and technology corridor. It is scheduled to be completed between 2034 and 2038.

Upon completion, the project will contribute to the creation of a "one-hour living circle" in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, thereby enhancing the connectivity between the eastern and western sides of the Pearl River Estuary.

Meanwhile, as outlined in the government work report delivered at the annual session of Shenzhen's legislative body earlier this year, Shenzhen will collaborate with Hong Kong this year to advance the planning and construction of the Northern Link Spur Line.

The line will offer a direct railway link between the Northern Metropolis in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, connecting San Tin in Hong Kong to the Huanggang Checkpoint in Shenzhen. It will pass through Chau Tau and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop.

Hong Kong unveiled the groundbreaking and visionary Northern Metropolis Development Strategy in 2021. This initiative aims to drive Hong Kong's economic growth, boost innovation and technology development, and increase the housing supply.

The Northern Metropolis encompasses the Yuen Long District and North District, including new towns in Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long, and Fanling/Sheung Shui, as well as six New Development Areas at various stages of planning and development and their surrounding areas. Spanning a total area of 30,000 hectares (about one-third of Hong Kong's total area), it is designed to be the most vibrant area where urban development and major population growth in Hong Kong will take place over the next 20 years.