Hung Hom station

Hung Hom (Chinese: 紅磡; Cantonese Yale: Hùngham), referred to by China Railway as Hong Kong Hung Hom (Chinese: 香港紅磡; pinyin: Xiānggǎng Hóngkàn) since 1 April 2019, is an interchange station of the East Rail Line and West Rail Line in Hong Kong. It is Hong Kong's first station serving cross-border trains to Mainland China (The other station being West Kowloon Station, serving Guangzhou South, Beijing West and many other destinations in Mainland China). Cross-border services to Beijing West (Beijing–Kowloon line), Shanghai (Shanghai–Kowloon line), and Guangzhou East (Guangzhou–Kowloon line) terminate here.

Hung Hom 紅磡
MTR rapid transit station China Railway station
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	紅磡
Simplified Chinese	红磡
Jyutping	Hung4ham3
Hanyu Pinyin	Hóngkàn
Literal meaning	Red, dangerous sea cliff
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Hóngkàn Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Hùngham IPA [hȍŋhɐ̄m] Jyutping Hung4ham3
General information
Other names	Hong Kong Hung Hom (China Railway, from 1 April 2019) Kowloon / Jiulong (China Railway, before 31 March 2019)
Location	Cheong Wan Road, Hung Hom Yau Tsim Mong District, Hong Kong
Coordinates	22°18′10″N 114°10′54″E
Owned by	Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation
Operated by	MTR Corporation
Line(s)	East Rail line      West Rail line Beijing–Kowloon line
Platforms	7 (3 island platforms and 1 side platform)
Tracks	7
Connections	Bus, public light bus
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Platform levels	1
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	HUH
History
Opened	30 November 1975 (1975-11-30) (East Rail Line and Through Train) 16 August 2009 (2009-08-16) (West Rail Line)
Electrified	1983
Services
Preceding station China Railway Following station Shenzhen towards Beijing West Beijing–Kowloon railway Terminus All trains to and from Mainland China skip East Rail line intermediate stations. Preceding station MTR Following station Terminus East Rail line Mong Kok East towards Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau West Rail line East Tsim Sha Tsui towards Tuen Mun Changping towards Foshan Guangdong through train Terminus Guangzhou East towards Beijing West Beijing–Kowloon through train Guangzhou East towards Shanghai Shanghai–Kowloon through train Future Exhibition Centre towards Admiralty East Rail line Sha Tin to Central Link Mong Kok East towards Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau Ho Man Tin towards Wu Kai Sha Tuen Ma line Sha Tin to Central Link East Tsim Sha Tsui towards Tuen Mun
Track layout to Mong Kok East Tunnel No. 1A Kwun Tong Line Yau Ma Tei Kwun Tong Line Ho Man Tin to Kowloon (1910–1975) to Ho Man Tin to new platforms 1 4 5 7 2 3 6 Transfer table to East Tsim Sha Tsui
Location
Hung Hom Location within the MTR system

The station is located in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, next to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel's northern entrance. Hung Hom is one of the three Hong Kong ports of entry on the MTR network; the others are Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau.

It is in Yau Tsim Mong District.[1]

History

Former Hung Hom station

An old Hung Hom station existed on Chatham Road South before the relocation of then-Kowloon station in 1975. It was situated next to the former coastline of Hung Hom Bay, at the southeastern corner of the Gun Club Hill Barracks (between the current-day Chung Sze Yuen Building A of Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong History Museum).

This old Hung Hom station, a temporary wooden structure, began operation from the first day of Kowloon–Canton railway on 1 October 1910[2] to 15 September 1921,[3] but was later demolished.

Relocation of Kowloon station

The old Kowloon station in Tsim Sha Tsui began operation in 1910. After decades of economic growth in Hong Kong, the station, situated at the seafront of Victoria Harbour, became too small and had no room for expansion. A new Kowloon station (the current Hung Hom station), situated to the east, was officially inaugurated by Chief Secretary Denys Roberts on 24 November 1975 as the new terminus of the Kowloon–Canton Railway. However, it did not start operating until a few days later. The old terminal at Tsim Sha Tsui was closed on 29 November 1975. The first passenger train pulled out of the new station the following morning at 8:26 am. On 5 May 1975, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening of the new terminal.[4] The new station cost HK$150 million and offered modern new facilities including a spacious waiting hall, a restaurant, a bar, a bookstore, a bank, escalators, and closed circuit television. It was built along with a bus terminus and a multi-storey car park.[4]

The controversial demolition of the old station commenced on 7 June 1978;[5] a new complex of a concert hall and museums were built on Kowloon Station's original site, but the clock tower was preserved as a Declared Monument.

Through trains to mainland China started running from Hung Hom station on 4 April 1979.

Renaming and expansion

The new station was renamed Hung Hom Station around February or March 1996.[6] The Kowloon-Canton Railway was renamed KCR East Rail in 1996, and subsequently the East Rail line upon the merger of MTRC (metro services) and KCRC (suburban train services) in December 2007.

A HK$1.3 billion expansion of Hung Hom Station began on 16 March 1995, which included a new concourse designed by Foster and Partners.[7] The expansion was completed in 1998. The passenger terminal now hosts ticket offices, waiting areas, shops and restaurants.

After decades of being the terminus station of the East Rail Line, Hung Hom temporarily became an intermediate station when the East Rail was extended to East Tsim Sha Tsui station in 2004. This symbolic return to Tsim Sha Tsui of the then-Kowloon–Canton railway was followed by the inauguration of a westward Kowloon Southern Link to complete the West Rail line. On 16 August 2009, East Tsim Sha Tsui was transferred to the West Rail line. Hung Hom regained its status of terminus station, now of both railways.

To minimise confusion after the opening of Hong Kong West Kowloon, China Railway renamed the station on its systems to Hong Kong Hung Hom (previously Jiulong / Kowloon) on 1 April 2019.

Cross-border services

Platforms 5 and 6 are used by China Railway for cross-border trains to Beijing West (Beijing–Kowloon line), Shanghai (Shanghai–Kowloon line), and Guangzhou East (Guangzhou–Kowloon line).

As of September 4, 2019 Hung Hom station and its cross-border services cannot be found at China Railways official website, as opposed to West Kowloon station high speed services.

Sha Tin to Central Link expansion

Background

Currently an interchange station between the West Rail line and East Rail line, Hung Hom station will become an intermediate stop on the Sha Tin to Central Link, a railway line connecting Sha Tin to Hong Kong Island.

Under the North South Corridor concept, the East Rail line is currently being extended to Hong Kong Island via a new immersed tube tunnel south of the station. At the same time, the West Rail line is being extended to connect with the Tuen Ma line via East Kowloon.

To facilitate this expansion, new platforms are being built underneath the Hung Hom Station Exit C concourse. The Tuen Ma line platforms will sit above the East Rail line platforms. New approach tracks have also been built north and south of the station.

Construction safety scandal

In 2018, a major scandal emerged regarding construction malpractice at the Hung Hom Station construction site. In 2015, contractors building the concrete slab forming the Tuen Ma Line platform level reportedly cut off the ends of reinforcing bars that were supposed to be screwed into couplers within the diaphragm wall forming the side of the underground station box. The contractor then poured the concrete even though the bars were not connected to the couplers. As a result, engineers have cast doubt on the long-term structural safety of the slab.[8]

The government has demanded that MTR Corporation submit a report on the safety of the station. An independent engineer, C M Wong & Associates Ltd., will conduct safety tests.[9] On 12 June 2018, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that she will appoint a commission on inquiry, headed by Hong Kong judge Michael Hartmann, to investigate the scandal.[10]

Station layout

Loft	-	MTRShops
U3	Intercity Through Train Concourse/ Exit C Concourse	Exit C, a transport interchange
		ticketing office, Customer Service Centre, toilets, Hong Kong Immigration Department and Customs and Excise Department checkpoints (for intercity train passengers)
		MTRShops, vending machines
		ATMs, lockers
U2	Exit A & B Concourse	Exit A, B, footbridge, public transport interchange
		Customer Service
	Exit D Concourse	Exit D, footbridge, Customer Service
	Footbridges	to Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Science Museum, Hung Hom
P Platforms	Platform 1	→      East Rail line towards Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau (Mong Kok East) →
	Island platform, doors will open on the left
	Platform 2	←      West Rail line towards Tuen Mun (East Tsim Sha Tsui)
	Platform 3	←      West Rail line towards Tuen Mun (East Tsim Sha Tsui)
	Island platform, doors will open on the right
	Platform 4	→      East Rail line towards Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau (Mong Kok East) →
	Platform 5	→ Intercity Through Train towards Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing →
	Island platform, restricted access
	Platform 6	→ Intercity Through Train towards Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing →
	Platform 7	→ Disused freight platform
	Side platform, restricted access

[11]

Exits

An interchange for buses (lower level) and public light buses and taxis (upper level) is located outside the station building. The lower-level bus station is situated at the Kowloon entrance of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. Elevated walkways connect the station to the Hong Kong Coliseum; Hong Kong Polytechnic University; the residential area of Hung Hom; and tourist attractions in eastern Tsim Sha Tsui, such as the Science Museum and the Avenue of Stars along Victoria Harbour.[12]

• A1 – Hong Kong Polytechnic University[12]
• A2 – Bus terminus on On Wan Road[12]
• A3 – Northeast side of station[12]
• B1 – Walkway to Hung Hom, Royal Peninsula, Harbour Place, Whampoa Garden[12]
• B2 – Walkway to Exit C Concourse[12]
• C1 – Bus Terminal; cross-harbour taxi stand[12]
• C2 – Airport Express shuttle stand; walkway to Harbour Plaza Metropolis, Fortune Metropolis, Metropolis Residence, Metropolis Tower[12]
• C3 – Taxi stand on Cheong Wan Road; Hong Kong Coliseum[12]
• D1 – Walkway to Tsim Sha Tsui East and Hong Kong Polytechnic University[12]
• D2, D3, D4 – Hong Kong Coliseum[12]
• D5 – Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade[12]
• D6 – Walkway to Exit C Concourse[12]

References

1. "Yau Tsim Mong District" (PDF). Electoral Affairs Commission. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
2. Kowloon–Canton railway 1910 Annual Report.
3. The HK Daily Press of 16 Sep 1921 shows the KCR timetable (taking effect on 16 Sep 1921) (Gazette no. s 260) without Hung Hom Station for the first time, whereas the timetable (Gazette no. s 205) the day before also on the HK Daily Press still showed the Station.
4. Annual Departmental Report by the General Manager, Railway and Chief Resident Engineer for the Financial Year 1975-76. Hong Kong: Government Information Services. 1976.
5. Hong Kong Kung Sheung Daily, 8 June 1978.
6. KCRC documents; the exact date of name change is subject to further research
7. Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Annual Report 1995. Hong Kong: Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation. 1996.
8. Cheng, Kris (5 June 2018). "Gov't highly concerned about corner-cutting scandal at Hung Hom MTR station, says Chief Exec. Carrie Lam". Hong Kong Free Press.
9. Cheng, Kris (6 June 2018). "MTRC top official unsure why contractors cut corners during Hung Hom MTR station expansion". Hong Kong Free Press.
10. Cheng, Kris (12 June 2018). "Retired judge to lead investigation into corner-cutting scandal at the MTRC's Hung Hom station expansion". Hong Kong Free Press.
11. "Hung Hom Station layout" (PDF). MTR Corporation. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
12. "Hung Hom Station street map" (PDF). MTR Corporation. Retrieved 30 October 2016.

External links

• MTR Intercity Through Train e-Ticketing Services