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Tens of thousands of rush-hour MTR commuters will save at least 40 minutes a week when a new interchange at North Point station opens on September 27.

Kwun Tong line passengers need only cross the platform at North Point to board westbound Island line trains. The same will apply to eastbound Island line passengers joining the Kwun Tong line.

The existing interchange at Quarry Bay involves passengers having to use two flights of escalators linked by a long passageway. Making the connection can take up to 10 minutes.

The new interchange, which cost $3 billion, will ease congestion at Quarry Bay station, where up to 34,000 people change trains between 8am and 9am every day.

An average of about 180,000 passengers change trains there daily.

More than half who travel to or from Central will be diverted to the North Point interchange.

The rest who travel to or from Chai Wan will still use the Quarry Bay interchange, which has been in use since 1989.

The Mass Transit Railway Corporation says the new transit point promises a more convenient journey by saving commuters time and energy, doing away with the need to cope with large crowds.

The company's operations director, Phil Gaffney, said that connecting time would be reduced to less then one minute. 'It will make the journey more convenient. And passengers will be able to enjoy more time for life,' he added.

Mr Gaffney said North Point would become the terminal for the new Tseung Kwan O extension, which is expected to open at the end of next year.

The 12.5km project comprises five stops: Yau Tong, Tiu Keng Leng, Tseung Kwan O, Hang Hau and Po Lam.

The new interchange would enable North Point to keep pace with passenger growth until 2016, Mr Gaffney said.

He estimated that at least 150,000 passengers would use the new extension daily.

'The cost of the [Kwun Tong line] project will not put any additional pressure on fares,' Mr Gaffney said.

The project involved building two new platforms at North Point and two tunnels linking the old and new interchange stations. The new platforms, fitted with safety screen doors, are almost one-third wider than existing ones. They are also installed with an environmental control system, providing fresher air for commuters.

A passenger lift has been installed to provide direct access from the station concourse to Shu Kuk Street, North Point.



New interchange to save time for MTR travellers