ENG-2012 — Page 256

13

Transport

Tunnels

The Government owns 11 road tunnels, all managed and operated by private companies under management contracts: the Cross-Harbour, Lion Rock, Aberdeen, Kai Tak, Shing Mun, Tseung Kwan O, Cheung Tsing, Tai Wai, Sha Tin Height, Eagle's Nest and Nam Wan tunnels. The last four are located in the Tsing Sha Control Area, while Cheung Tsing Tunnel is located in the Tsing Ma Control Area. Use of the Kai Tak Tunnel, Cheung Tsing Tunnel and Nam Wan Tunnel is free of charge. Tolls for the rest are provided for in their governing legislation.

Four other tunnels are operated by private companies under 'Build, Operate and Transfer' arrangements: the Eastern Harbour Crossing, Tate's Cairn Tunnel, Western Harbour Crossing and Tai Lam Tunnel.

There is also a private tunnel, the Discovery Bay Tunnel Link, which was built and is operated and maintained by Discovery Bay Road Tunnel Company Limited. This is open only to vehicles taking goods to Discovery Bay, or providing services to residents there.

Railway Network

Railways are safe, efficient, reliable, comfortable and environment-friendly mass carriers. They are the backbone of Hong Kong's public transportation system, and are essential to its continued economic, social and land development. They account for nearly 40 per cent of daily public transport passenger travel and about 60 per cent of land-based cross-boundary passenger trips to the Mainland.

The map below shows the existing railway network and five railway projects under construction. Over $160 billion has been invested in these five railway projects.

Railway Projects under Construction

The West Island Line extends the existing Island Line from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town, with two intermediate stations at Sai Ying Pun and the University of Hong Kong. Construction of the project started in July 2009 for completion in 2014. Upon commissioning, the journey time between Sheung Wan and Kennedy Town will be less than 10 minutes, compared with the 15- to 25-minute current vehicular journey time during rush hours.

The Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link is a 26-kilometre underground railway with its terminus at West Kowloon. Construction started in January 2010 and on completion in 2015, trains will be able to run through the tunnel at a maximum speed of 200 kilometres per hour, reducing the journey time between Guangzhou and Hong Kong by train from 100 minutes to 48 minutes. The journey times to other major cities in the Mainland will also be greatly shortened.

The Kwun Tong Line Extension will extend the existing Kwun Tong Line from Yau Ma Tei to Whampoa, with two new stations at Ho Man Tin and Whampoa, including an interchange at Ho Man Tin for the future Sha Tin to Central Link. Construction started in May 2011 and is expected to be completed in 2015. Upon commissioning, the journey time between Mong Kok and Whampoa will be about five minutes, compared with the 25-minute current vehicular journey time during rush hours.

208