HONG KONG – Passengers on Hong Kong’s aging Kwun Tong metro line should brace for disruptions this summer as MTR Corporation embarks on a major renewal project to replace decades-old infrastructure.
Beginning July 28, train service between Tiu Keng Leng and Prince Edward stations will be reduced to every 5 minutes from the current 3-minute intervals. The move aims to prevent overcrowding at Prince Edward, which will serve as the lone interchange between the Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan lines that day.
Service will be entirely suspended between Prince Edward and the Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, and Ho Man Tin stations to allow crews to replace 45-year-old cable power hangers and reset electronic systems in the area.
“There are a lot of cables in the Yau Ma Tei station, and it is necessary to isolate the systems…before we can test it and reopen the stations,” explained Lee Kim-hung, MTR’s chief of operations engineering and maintenance.
To reduce crowding, trains will also run less frequently on the Tsuen Wan Line that day. Free shuttle buses will supplement service along impacted routes.
The work is part of a broader three-year upgrade initiative for the aging Kwun Tong Line. Cheris Lee Yuen-ling, chief of operations, said the renewal is crucial as facilities approach the end of their lifespan, risking reliability issues.
“The whole renewal plan covers the train and signaling system, as well as the assets in the tunnel sections,” Lee said. “MTR will be prudent and careful in planning…to minimize the impact on passengers.”
The transit operator pledged ample staffing and information to guide passengers during the service changes on July 28.
Gary Zhang Xinyu, a lawmaker and former MTR engineer, backed the renewal as urgent and expressed confidence it could wrap within the 28-hour timeline to restore full service by July 29.
“It is time to renew the facilities and not to leave the problems to the next generation,” Zhang stated. “The project is…with relatively less uncertainties.”
As Hong Kong’s rail network ages, the Kwun Tong Line overhaul offers a preview of the massive undertaking MTR faces to maintain safe, reliable service for the region’s 5 million-plus daily rail riders.
