Hung Hom station

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Hung Hom (Template:Zh) is a passenger<ref>Cargo services ended on 16 June 2010; [1][2] (Chinese only)</ref> railway station in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is an interchange station between the Template:Lnl and the Template:Lnl domestic services of the MTR network. This station serves the southern terminus of the East Rail Line in early morning before the first northbound train from Admiralty arrives. As the station is located next to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel's northern portal, it is also served by many cross-harbour bus routes.

Opened as the new southern terminus of the Kowloon–Canton Railway (KCR) on 24 November 1975, the station was substantially expanded in the 1990s, at which time it was given its present name. The KCR British Section was also renamed KCR East Rail in order to differentiate it from the new KCR West Rail, which opened on 20 December 2003 and was extended to Hung Hom station on 16 August 2009.

As part of the Sha Tin to Central Link project, the East Rail line was extended across Victoria Harbour to Admiralty via a new immersed tube tunnel to the south of Hung Hom. The West Rail line was also extended via eastern Kowloon to connect to the former Template:Lnl, with the combined line being renamed "Template:Lnl".

Hung Hom station also served as the southern terminus of cross-border through-trains to mainland China, which were halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and officially disused in 2024.<ref name="SCMP01">Template:Cite news</ref>

HistoryEdit

Former Hung Hom stationEdit

An older station of the same name once existed on Chatham Road South. It was situated on 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 the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong History Museum).

This old Hung Hom station, a temporary wooden structure, operated from 1 October 1910 (the day the Kowloon–Canton Railway began operation) until 15 September 1921<ref>Kowloon–Canton railway 1910 Annual Report.</ref> It was later demolished and replaced by this station on 30 November 1975.

Relocation of Kowloon stationEdit

File:HungHomStation plaoue.JPG
Plaque unveiled by Elizabeth II commemorating the opening of the station.

The Template:Stnlnk in Tsim Sha Tsui began operation in 28 March 1916. 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. On 5 May 1975, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening of the new terminal.<ref name="gis76">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Image requested inline 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 southern terminus of the East Rail line. 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 Hung Hom the following morning at 8:26 am.

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.<ref name="gis76" />

The controversial demolition of the old station commenced on 7 June 1978;<ref>Hong Kong Kung Sheung Daily, 8 June 1978.</ref> 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 expansionEdit

File:HungHomstation.jpg
Lobby of Hung Hom station (2006)

The new station was renamed Hung Hom station around February or March 1996.Template:Citation neededTemplate:Why The KCR British Section was renamed KCR East Rail in 1996, and subsequently the Template:Lnl upon the merger of the MTR (metro services) and the Kowloon-Canton Railway (suburban train services) in December 2007. However, China Railway still referred to the station as Jiulong, which was the Mandarin pronunciation of Kowloon, until April 2019.

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.<ref name="1995annual">Template:Cite book</ref> The expansion was completed in 1998. The passenger terminal now hosts ticket offices, waiting areas, shops and restaurants.

File:Hung Hom station under construction.jpg
Hung Hom station under construction

The construction of the East Rail extension to East Tsim Sha Tsui station began on 20 April 2001.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Work was undertaken at Hung Hom station to extend tracks 2 and 3 southward, and to demolish the southern concourse of the station and replace it with a new mid-level concourse. Some structural columns, supporting the Hong Kong Coliseum above, had to be demolished and underpinned to make way for the construction of the tracks. Throughout the works, at least three of the four East Rail platforms had to be kept in operation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The extension was opened on 24 October 2004, turning Hung Hom into an intermediate station for the first time.

On 16 August 2009, East Tsim Sha Tsui was transferred to the West Rail line following the opening of the Kowloon Southern Link, and Hung Hom became the southbound terminus station of both the East Rail and West Rail lines. Platforms 2 and 3 were transferred to the West Rail line, and Platform 1 and 4 became the termination platform of the East Rail line.

As part of the Sha Tin to Central Link project, two new island platforms were constructed under the eastern side of the existing station podium.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The West Rail line was relocated to its new platforms on 20 June 2021, a week ahead of the full opening of the Tuen Ma line. Temporary walkways were placed across the original West Rail line tracks, now defunct, to connect the East Rail line's platforms.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 27 June 2021, the West Rail line was absorbed into the Tuen Ma line.

The Template:Lnl moved to the new underground platforms beneath the Tuen Ma line platforms on 15 May 2022, upon the opening of the line's extension to Template:STN. The last train departed from the old platforms at 00:28 on 15 May 2022, and the original East Rail, West Rail line and through train platforms were permanently closed to passengers thereafter. Hung Hom is now an intermediate station on both the East Rail and Tuen Ma lines.

On 25 October 2023, it was announced that the MTR Corporation would be invited by the government of Hong Kong to conduct a preliminary study and submit proposals in 2024 for the redevelopment of an approximately 10-hectare area centred on the station.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2024, an exhibition named “Station Rail Voyage” was held at Hung Hom station as part of the celebration events for the 45th anniversary of the MTR company, with three types of retired trains displayed at the original platforms. The exhibition was originally planned to be held from 27 April to the end of 2024,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but was later extended to the end of 2025. The types of trains showcased included:

Cross-border servicesEdit

Platforms 5 and 6 were used by China Railway for cross-border trains to Template:Stnlnk (Beijing–Kowloon line), Template:Stnlnk (Shanghai–Kowloon line), Template:Stnlnk and Foshan (Guangzhou–Kowloon line). Cross-border services were first suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, then permanently discontinued in June 2024 due to the demand for cross-border travel having been met by high speed trains terminating at West Kowloon station.<ref name="SCMP01" />

Since April 2024, the cross-border platforms have been being used for the “Station Rail Voyage” exhibition. On 17 January 2025, MTR announced that the restricted crossing zone at Hung Hom Station for intercity through trains would be rescinded from that day onwards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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Sha Tin to Central Link expansionEdit

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BackgroundEdit

Under the North South Corridor concept, the Template:Lnl was extended to Hong Kong Island via a new immersed tube tunnel south of the station. At the same time, the Template:Lnl was connected with the Template:Lnl via East Kowloon, forming the new Template:Lnl.

To facilitate this expansion, new platforms were built underneath the Hung Hom station Exit C concourse. The Tuen Ma line platforms sit above the East Rail line platforms.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> New approach tracks have also been built north and south of the station.

Construction safety scandalEdit

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.<ref name="highlyconcerned">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name="unsure">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="retiredjudge">Template:Cite news</ref>

Station layoutEdit

5 Podium Station Carpark
U3 Loft Restaurants
3/U2 Main Station Concourse Exit C, a transport interchange
Ticketing office, customer service centre, toilets
Shops, vending machines
ATMs, lockers
2/U1 Passageway Exit A, B & D, footbridge, public transport interchange
Vending machines
Footbridges to Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong Museum of History,
Hong Kong Science Museum, Hung Hom
G
Platforms
Template:Rcb siding
Island platform, not in use
Template:Rcb East Rail line siding
Template:Rcb East Rail line siding
Island platform, not in use
Template:Rcb East Rail line siding
Platform 5 Former intercity trains (Now a temporary exhibition)
Island platform, restricted access
Platform 6 Former intercity trains (Now a temporary exhibition)
Track Disused track
Platform Template:MTR platform Template:0 Template:Rcb towards Template:STN (Template:STN)
Island platform, doors will open on the right
Platform Template:MTR platform Template:Rcb Tuen Ma line towards Template:STN (Template:STN)
L1
Platforms
Platform Template:MTR platform Template:0 Template:Rcb towards Template:STN or Template:STN (Template:STN)
Island platform, doors will open on the right
Platform Template:MTR platform Template:Rcb East Rail line towards Template:STN (Template:STN)
File:1975-02s.jpg
Hung Hom station in the late 1970s

<ref>Template:MTRsource</ref>Template:Notelist

File:1975-03s.jpg
Hall of Hung Hom station in the late 1970s

Former layoutEdit

Station layout from 16 August 2009 to 19 June 2021:

Loft - Restaurants
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 Template:0 Template:Rcb towards Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau (Mong Kok East)
Island platform, doors will open on the left
Platform 2 Template:Rcb West Rail line towards Tuen Mun (East Tsim Sha Tsui)
Platform 3 Template:Rcb West Rail line towards Tuen Mun (East Tsim Sha Tsui)
Island platform, doors will open on the right
Platform 4 Template:0 Template:Rcb towards Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau (Mong Kok East)
Platform 5 Template:0 Intercity Through Train towards Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing West
Island platform, restricted access
Platform 6 Template:0 Intercity Through Train towards Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing West
Track Runaround track for intercity locomotives

ExitsEdit

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.<ref name=map>Template:MTRsource</ref>

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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Template:Yau Tsim Mong District Template:East Rail Line navbox Template:Tuen Ma line navbox Template:Sha Tin to Central Link navbox Template:Beijing–Kowloon Railway Template:Eastern Guangdong & Hong Kong transit Template:Immigration Control Stations in Hong Kong Template:China–Hong Kong border crossings Template:Authority control