MTR executives are confident that they can avoid the (lack-of) passenger problems that have plagued the KCR West Rail, as the routing includes densely populated residential areas such as Wong Chuk Hang and South Horizons. The major tourist attraction, Ocean Park, will also bring high passenger traffic.
The recent announcement of Ocean Park’s own expansion plans has certainly put pressure on the finalization of the South Island line proposal. In addition, due to public demand from the residents of Southern Hong Kong, as well as pressures to alleviate automotive traffic, the MTR has set a deadline for the construction of the South Island Line (East) to be completed before 2016.
| Option A | Option B | Option C |
|
| Routing | Admiralty Ocean Park Wong Chuk Hang Lei Tung South Horizons |
Admiralty |
Admiralty |
Initial cost estimates for the entire South Island line are at HKD 15 billion, and therefore to develop the "East" line only would cost roughly half of that figure, or 7~8 billion. To build an additional station in Happy Valley and/or redevelop Wanchai station would add another HKD 100~200 million to construction costs.
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