MTRC gets approval to move ahead with West Island Line project

Updated at 6.57pm: The Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) has been given the green light by the Executive Council to continue with its preparations for the proposed West Island Line (WIL).

The WIL project is currently still in the planning stage, but more details about it are now emerging.

On Thursday a government spokesman revealed the proposed WIL was an extension railway which will link the existing Sheung Wan MTR station with Kennedy Town. Two intermediate stations were planned at Sai Ying Pun and University for the line.

He said the proposed WIL would provide a quicker and more convenient alternative to commuters in the Western and Central districts - who are now relying mainly on road-based transport. The spokesman said that during rush-hours by road-based transport, commuters had to travel 15 to 25 minutes over the 2.8-kilometres between Kennedy Town and Sheung Wan. The journey between the two locations by the WIL, when it is in place, would take no more than eight minutes, he said.

'During rush-hours, traffic queues along Queen's Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central can be as long as one kilometre. The traffic congestion problems will persist and continue to hamper the smooth operation of franchised buses, Green Minibuses and other road-based transport modes in Western District and Central,' the spokesman explained.

'As Western District is fully developed, there are serious constraints in constructing any new roads to alleviate the traffic congestion problem. The WIL will divert passengers of road-based transport to rail services and is, therefore, fully justified on transport grounds,' he added.