MTR Corporation has launched plans for a study of the Hong Kong side of the cross-border express rail link with China, the section that will involve the most tunnels.
The company has invited submissions of interest from multi-disciplinary teams for a contract to perform the detailed design of 26km of tunnel, which represents most of the Hong Kong section.
The assignment involves finalising the route alignment, cost and construction details of twin tunnels and associated structures, such as ventilation shafts and construction access points. The rail link must also connect with MTR’s west Kowloon terminus and the Kowloon Southern Link tunnels.
Firms were also invited to express interest in a separate consultancy covering the preliminary design of the west Kowloon terminus. The Kowloon Southern Link is already under construction. The express rail link will run from the west Kowloon terminus to the border with Shenzhen.
MTR took over responsibility for the link following its merger with the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) in December 2007.
Budget information on the rail link was not confirmed. However, the link is part of the Hong Kong to Guangzhou via Shenzhen transport projects in the package of 10 infrastructure schemes worth US$32bn announced in October 2007.
Separately, MTR has secured US$51M in funding to prepare for the US$1.14bn West Island Line extension. The company is also going ahead with the US$900M eastern section of the South Island line, to be built mostly underground. Consultants are bidding for each project.
