Transport Infrastructure

The NOL project comprises (i) the Kwu Tung Station on the existing Lok Ma Chau Spur Line of East Rail Line; (ii) the 10.7-km long Main Line between the existing Tuen Ma Line Kam Sheung Road Station and Kwu Tung Station with three intermediate stations at Au Tau, Ngau Tam Mei and San Tin; and (iii) the 6.2-km long Spur Line, from the San Tin Station on the Main Line, passing through the San Tin Technopole and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Loop, and connecting to the new Huanggang Port in Shenzhen. Once completed, the Kwu Tung Station and the NOL Main Line together with the existing East Rail Line and Tuen Ma Line will form a railway loop linking up the New Territories and Kowloon, which will not only improve the connection of existing railway network, serving the Kwu Tung North New Development Area and the San Tin Technopole, but also unleash the potential of land around Au Tau, Ngau Tam Mei and San Tin, driving the developments in these areas. As regards the NOL Spur Line being jointly taken forward by the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen through the "Task Force for Hong Kong-Shenzhen Co-operation on Cross-Boundary Railway Infrastructure" ("Task Force"), it will connect to the new Huanggang Port through convenient co-location clearance arrangement and link the metro networks of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, thereby enhancing the infrastructure connectivity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Construction works of Kwu Tung Station commenced in September 2023 for completion in 2027 to support the major new population intake of Kwu Tung North New Development Area.

Through a holistic planning and staged implementation strategy, the Government and the MTR Corporation Limited have combined the NOL Main Line and Spur Line for planning as one project to achieve synergies.  The two parties have executed the Part 1 Project Agreement so that the mature works could be taken forward as soon as possible to speed up progress, and in parallel the detailed planning and design of the NOL Spur Line.  The target is to commission the NOL Main Line and Spur Line together by 2034 or earlier.

The proposed HSWRL is about 18.1 km in length (with a length of about 7.3 km for the Hong Kong section) and its alignment starts from the west of Hung Shui Kiu Station which is under construction on the Tuen Ma Line, passing through Ha Tsuen and Lau Fau Shan, crossing the Deep Bay and connecting to Qianhai via Shenzhen Bay Port. Upon the commissioning of the proposed HSWRL, it will only take approximately 15 minutes to reach Qianhai from Hung Shui Kiu. As a strategic railway project that supports Hong Kong’s deep integration into the development of the GBA, the HSWRL will connect the metro networks in the western regions of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, helping to foster a quality living circle between Hong Kong and Shenzhen and facilitating convenient cross-boundary commerce, work, living, study and travelling activities of the residents of the two places. The HSWRL would also cater to the local travelling demand in the HSK/HT NDA as well as the Lau Fau Shan, Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai areas.

The governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen are jointly taking forward the HSWRL project through the "Task Force". The First Stage and Second Stage Studies have been completed, establishing the strategic value and necessity of the project, and also completing initial assessment of the planning, engineering feasibility, benefits, environmental impact, as well as construction and operation arrangements, etc. in relation to the railway scheme. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region commenced the investigation and design work for the Hong Kong section in June 2025.  The target is to have the Hong Kong Section of the HWWRL ready for tendering in 2027, so that the detailed design and construction works could commence promptly and be completed in 2034 for integrated testing and commissioning immediately afterwards, realising the common goal of the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen to commission the Hong Kong and Shenzhen sections of the HSWRL simultaneously in 2035.

The Hung Shui Kiu Station will be built between the existing Tin Shui Wai Station and Siu Hong Station of Tuen Ma Line, serving residents of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (HSK/HT NDA) and the adjacent area and supporting the sustainable growth in population and employment opportunities in the NDA. The construction works for Hung Shui Kiu Station commenced in 2024 for anticipated completion in 2030.

The Central Rail Link (CRL) is an approximately 17-km railway connecting Kam Tin in Yuen Long and Kowloon Tong via Kwai Chung. It will link the Northern Metropolis and the Harbour Metropolis while supporting the sustainable development of the Northern Metropolis. Connecting to the existing and proposed railways, including the Tuen Ma Line, the Tsuen Wan Line, the Kwun Tong Line, the East Rail Line, the NOL, the NOL Eastern Extension and the Northeast New Territories Line, the CRL will offer more direct and faster routes as well as an additional commuting option for travelling between the Northern Metropolis and different districts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

In the preliminary proposed strategic transport infrastructure of the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands, the railway will connect Hung Shui Kiu and western part of Hong Kong Island, passing through Tuen Mun East, Sunny Bay and the Artificial Island.

The approximately 23-km Northern Metropolis Highway consists of four sections, namely the Tin Shui Wai Section, San Tin Section, Kwu Tung Section and the New Territories North (NTN) New Town Section, from west to east, linking the core developments in the Northern Metropolis, enhancing the east-west connections of the NTN and forming a new east-west corridor. It will significantly improve transport efficiency of the strategic road network in the northern part of the New Territories while laying a solid foundation for transport infrastructure development in the NDAs.  Being implemented through a holistic planning and staged implementation strategy, the investigation study of the entire Northern Metropolis Highway is in progress.  The next stage of work will first implement the San Tin Section, with the target to have this section technically ready for tendering in 2027.

To cater for the traffic need arising from the progressive developments in the Northwest New Territories, the Government is taking forward a series of road infrastructure projects to enhance internal and external connectivity of the area. Moreover, by upgrading the road infrastructure, it will further strengthen the connectivity of major roads and the capacity of the local road network, thereby enhancing the connectivity of developments in the vicinity and effectively unleashing the development potential of the districts concerned.

As for connection to urban areas, the Government has been implementing Route 11 (section between Yuen Long and North Lantau), Tsing Yi–Lantau Link and Widening of Yuen Long Highway (section between Lam Tei and Tong Yan San Tsuen). As regards road connection to the airport and Lantau, the Government has been implementing the Tuen Mun Bypass which links up Lam Tei to Tuen Mun Area 40 as well as Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Tunnel. The investigation studies of the above-mentioned road projects are in progress.

The investigation study for Route 11 (section between Yuen Long and North Lantau) has been substantially completed, and the road scheme has been authorised.  The Tsing Lung Bridge is prioritised to be taken forward first, targeting to be technically ready for inviting tender in 2026 and for commissioning by 2033.

The Shatin Bypass is approximately 15 km long. Compared with the existing Tolo Highway and the Tai Po Road, the Shatin Bypass will serve as a more direct north-south corridor, connecting the northeast New Territories with the urban areas of Kowloon. Its northern end will connect to the Fanling Highway in Tai Po, providing convenience not only for road users in the North District but also for residents in Tai Po, Tai Wo, Hong Lok Yuen, Lam Tsuen and Tai Hang. Its southern end will connect to the existing major road network near Cheung Sha Wan in Kowloon West. The Shatin Bypass will give residents of the New Territories East a faster route to the urban areas, and enhance the transport network for north-south connectivity as well as relieve traffic pressure on Tolo Highway.

The Government is exploring the feasibility of providing a green transport corridor from Tsim Bei Tsui to Pak Nai, so as to enhance the transport network of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area upon expansion.

Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (NDA) is planned to be served by a Smart and Green Mass Transit System (formerly called "Green Transit System"), which will connect different residential and commercial areas, employment centres and major community facilities in the NDA. The Transit System will also connect to the Yuen Long South NDA. The Government endeavours to invite tenders for the first phase of the project in 2026 and award the contract in 2027.

Spanning approximately 9.5 km, the NOL Eastern Extension will extend NOL eastward from Kwu Tung Station to Ping Che, passing through various development nodes in NTN New Town. The extension will establish effective links between the NDAs and the railway network. It is planned to connect to the proposed Northeast New Territories Line at its terminal.

Spanning approximately 8.5 km, the Northeast New Territories Line will run from Heung Yuen Wai, passing through areas such as Ping Che and Queen's Hill, and connect with Fanling Station of the East Rail Line. It will link the major development nodes in the NTN New Town and facilitate public access to the Heung Yuen Wai boundary control point as well as provide an interchange with the East Rail Line.