ENG-2008 — Page 293

Transport 233

Railway Development and Railway Development Strategy 2000

Railways are safe, efficient, reliable, comfortable and environmentally friendly. mass carriers. They play a key role in Hong Kong's transport systems strategy and the Government gives high priority to railway development. The Railway Development Strategy 2000, which provides a blueprint for the next phase of railway development, includes a number of new railway schemes to meet Hong Kong's increasing transport needs in a sustainable manner over the next two decades.

Hong Kong's railway development has progressed rapidly during the past few years. About $100 billion has been invested in six railway projects. They are:

the Tseung Kwan O Line (commissioned in August 2002),

• the West Rail Line (commissioned in December 2003),

• the East Rail Line Tsim Sha Tsui Extension (commissioned in October 2004),

⚫ the Ma On Shan Line (commissioned in December 2004),

⚫ the Disneyland Resort Line (commissioned in August 2005) and

• the extension of the East Rail Line to Lok Ma Chau (commissioned in August

2007).

Two other railway projects are under construction for completion in 2009: the Kowloon Southern Link and the LOHAS Park Station of Tseung Kwan O Line.

In addition, the West Island Line, the Shatin to Central Link, the Kwun Tong Line Extension, the South Island Line (East), the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Northern Link, and the Hong Kong Shenzhen Airport Rail Link are in the planning stage while the Port Rail Line, South Island Line (West) and North Hong Kong Island Line are under review.

Transport Infrastructure

Road Network

Hong Kong had 2 040 kilometres of roads and 1014 road structures, 15 road tunnels (including the three immersed-tube cross-harbour tunnels) and four major cable supported bridges.

Major projects completed during the year included:

• Route 8 (between Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin section): a dual three-lane carriageway linking Sha Tin and Kowloon.

• Trunk Road T3: a dual two-lane trunk road in Tai Wai linking Route 8 (between Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin) with the existing Tai Po Road, helping to relieve several congested sections of Tai Po Road.