UK-based Atkins has been appointed by Hong Kong's MTR Corporation Limited to carry out the preliminary design of the North-South Line (NSL) element of the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) project.
The North-South Line is a 6km-long extension of the East Rail Line from a new Hung Hom Station across the harbour to new stations at Exhibition and Admiralty.
The existing East Rail Line tracks south of Mong Kok East Station will be re-aligned to allow trains to run into the new Hung Hom Station. The section from Hung Hom to Admiralty will be entirely underground.
The project includes the major interchange stations at Hung Hom and Admiralty. The future NSL will operate nine-car trains instead of the current 12-car trains on East Rail Line and necessary modifications to the existing railway are being identified.
The NSL tunnels will cross the harbour and will pass through the urban area along the north shore of Wan Chai. Various tunnelling methods are being studied to overcome site constraints and to deal with the interfaces with other infrastructure projects.
Atkins is also part of the team that has been appointed to carry out the preliminary design of the East-West Line, which forms the other part of the SCL project.
By Daniel Garrun.
