Hung Hom station

Hung Hom (Chinese: 紅磡; Cantonese Yale: Hùngham) is a passenger^[clarify] railway station in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is an interchange station between the East Rail line and the Tuen Ma line domestic services of the MTR network, as well as the southern terminus of cross-border through-trains to mainland China which has been suspended since 4 February 2020. The station is one of four Hong Kong ports of entry on the MTR network; the others are Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau, and West Kowloon. As the station is located next to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel's northern portal, it is also served by many cross-harbour bus routes.

Hung Hom 紅磡
MTR rapid transit station China Railway station
Station exterior (May 2022)
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, until 31 March 2019)
Location	Cheong Wan Road, Hung Hom Bay Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon Hong Kong
Coordinates	22°18′10″N 114°10′54″E / 22.3029°N 114.1816°E / 22.3029; 114.1816Coordinates: 22°18′10″N 114°10′54″E / 22.3029°N 114.1816°E / 22.3029; 114.1816
Owned by	KCR Corporation
Operated by	MTR Corporation
Line(s)	East Rail line Tuen Ma line Intercity through train service (suspended since January 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic):       Guangzhou–Kowloon       Shanghai–Kowloon       Beijing–Kowloon
Platforms	7 (5 island platforms and 1 side platform)
Tracks	11
Train operators	MTR China Railway^[needs update]
Connections	Bus, minibus Hung Hom Ferry Pier taxi
Construction
Structure type	At-grade, fully covered (Tuen Ma line); Underground (East Rail line)
Depth	At-grade-Underground
Platform levels	3
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	HUH
History
Opened	30 November 1975; 47 years ago (1975-11-30) (original East Rail/West Rail line platforms and Through Train) 20 June 2021; 22 months ago (2021-06-20) (Tuen Ma line ground-level platform) 15 May 2022; 11 months ago (2022-05-15) (East Rail Line underground platform)
Electrified	16 May 1982; 40 years ago (1982-05-16)
Services
Preceding station MTR Following station Exhibition Centre towards Admiralty East Rail line Mong Kok East towards Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau Ho Man Tin towards Wu Kai Sha Tuen Ma line East Tsim Sha Tsui towards Tuen Mun Inter-city through trains^[needs update] Changping towards Guangzhou East Guangzhou–Kowloon through train Terminus Shanghai Terminus Shanghai–Kowloon through train Beijing West Terminus Beijing–Kowloon through train
Track layout Legend Original platforms to Mong Kok East Tunnel No. 1A Kwun Tong line Yau Ma Tei Kwun Tong line Ho Man Tin to Kowloon (1910–1975) to new platforms track removed c. 2010 5 7 6 transfer table to new platforms to East Tsim Sha Tsui New platforms to Ho Man Tin L1 (lower) G (upper) to stabling sidings 1 2 4 3 to stabling sidings to Exhibition Centre
Location
Hung Hom Location within the MTR system Show map of MTR Hung Hom Hung Hom (Hong Kong urban core) Show map of Hong Kong urban core

Opened as the new southern terminus of the Kowloon–Canton Railway (KCR) on 30 November 1975 by Queen Elizabeth II, the station was originally named Kowloon station after the older terminus of the same name, which it replaced. 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 Ma On Shan line, with the combined line being renamed "Tuen Ma line".

History

Former Hung Hom station

An older station of the same name [zh-tw] 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)^[1] It was later demolished.^[when?]

Relocation of Kowloon station

 

Plaque unveiled by Elizabeth II commemorating the opening of the station.

The old Kowloon station in Tsim Sha Tsui began operation in in 1910.^[clarify] 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.^{[2][image needed]} 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.^[2]

The controversial demolition of the old station commenced on 7 June 1978;^[3] 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

 

Lobby of Hung Hom station (2006)

The new station was renamed Hung Hom station around February or March 1996.^{[citation needed][why?]} The Kowloon–Canton Railway was renamed KCR East Rail in 1996, and subsequently the East Rail line upon the merger of the MTR (metro services) and the Kowloon-Canton Railway (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.^[4] 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 became the terminus station of both railway lines.

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

The West Rail line was relocated to a new set of platforms on 20 June 2021, a week ahead of the Tuen Ma line's inauguration. On 27 June 2021, the West Rail line officially merged with the Ma On Shan line (which already operated as the Tuen Ma line Phase 1 at the time) in East Kowloon to form the new Tuen Ma line, as part of the Shatin to Central link project. The East Rail line 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 Admiralty. At the same time, the original East Rail line platforms were closed permanently to passengers, and are now used as train sidings. It is now an intermediate station on both lines.

Cross-border services

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

China Railway has referred to the station as "Hong Kong Hung Hom" (Chinese: 香港紅磡; pinyin: Xiānggǎng Hóngkàn) since 1 April 2019.

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

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  Through train tracks fenced off from platform in the COVID-19 pandemic (February 2021)

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  Z98 Beijing West-bound intercity through-train at Platform 5 (September 2016)

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  Empty waiting area for intercity through-trains in the concourse during the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2022)

Sha Tin to Central Link expansion

See also: Sha Tin to Central Link § Hung Hom station scandal

Background

Under the North South Corridor concept, the East Rail line was extended to Hong Kong Island via a new immersed tube tunnel south of the station. At the same time, the West Rail line was connected with the Ma On Shan line via East Kowloon, forming the new Tuen Ma line.

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.^[5] 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.^[6]

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.^[7] 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.^[8]

Station layout

5	Podium	Station Carpark
U3	Loft	Restaurants
C/U2/3	Intercity Through Train Concourse/ Main Station 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
U1/2	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
P Platforms		East Rail line siding
	Island platform, restricted access
		East Rail line siding
		East Rail line siding
	Island platform, restricted access
		East Rail line siding
	Platform 5	→ Intercity Through Train towards Guangzhou East, Shanghai or Beijing West →
	Island platform, restricted access
	Platform 6	→ Intercity Through Train towards Guangzhou East, Shanghai or Beijing West→
	Platform 7	→ Disused freight platform
	Side platform, restricted access
G Platforms	Platform 2	→      Tuen Ma line towards Wu Kai Sha (Ho Man Tin) →
	Island platform, doors will open on the right
	Platform 3	←      Tuen Ma line towards Tuen Mun (East Tsim Sha Tsui)
L1 Platforms	Platform 1	→      East Rail line towards Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau (Mong Kok East) →
	Island platform, doors will open on the right
	Platform 4	←      East Rail line towards Admiralty (Exhibition Centre)

^[9]

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  Hung Hom station exterior at night (May 2022)

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  Tuen Ma line platforms 2 and 3 (October 2022)

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  East Rail line platforms 1 and 4 (October 2022)

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  First class validation machine and queuing area for East Rail line Platform 1, featuring a R-Train.

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  Glass artwork on the East rail line platform

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  Toilets on the Tuen Ma line platform

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  Artistic exhibition on the Tuen Ma line platform

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  East Rail line platform (May 2022)

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  Concourse (May 2022)

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  Escalators from the concourse to the East Rail line platforms (May 2022)

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  Station concourse (May 2022)

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.^[10]

• A1 – Hong Kong Polytechnic University^[10] 
• A2 – Bus terminus on On Wan Road^[10]
• A3 – Northeast side of station^[10]
• B1 – Walkway to Hung Hom, Royal Peninsula, Harbour Place, Whampoa Garden^[10] 
• B2 – Walkway to Exit C Concourse^[10] 
• C1 – Bus Terminal; cross-harbour taxi stand^[10] 
• C2 – Airport Express shuttle stand; walkway to Harbour Plaza Metropolis, Fortune Metropolis, Metropolis Residence, Metropolis Tower^[10] 
• C3 – Taxi stand on Cheong Wan Road; Hong Kong Coliseum^[10] 
• D1 – Walkway to Tsim Sha Tsui East and Hong Kong Polytechnic University^[10] 
• D2, D3, D4 – Hong Kong Coliseum^[10]
• D5 – Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade^[10] 
• D6 – Walkway to Exit C Concourse^[10]

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  Exit A1

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  Exit A3

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  Exit C1

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  Exit B2

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  Exit D3

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  Lift access to the car park

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  A 7-Eleven outside the station, next to Exit C (May 2022)

References

1. Kowloon–Canton railway 1910 Annual Report.
2. Annual Departmental Report by the General Manager, Railway and Chief Resident Engineer for the Financial Year 1975-76. Hong Kong: Government Information Services. 1976.
3. Hong Kong Kung Sheung Daily, 8 June 1978.
4. Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Annual Report 1995. Hong Kong: Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation. 1996.
5. Wong, Marcus (25 December 2018). "New Shatin to Central Link platforms at Hung Hom station". Checkerboard Hill. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
6. 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.
7. Cheng, Kris (6 June 2018). "MTRC top official unsure why contractors cut corners during Hung Hom MTR station expansion". Hong Kong Free Press.
8. 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.
9. "Hung Hom Station layout" (PDF). MTR Corporation.
10. "Hung Hom Station street map" (PDF). MTR Corporation. Retrieved 30 October 2016.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hung Hom Station.

• MTR Intercity Through Train e-Ticketing Services