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It has been a talking point for what feels like an eternity, but plans for the long-promised Pak Shek Kok MTR station are finally moving ahead full steam.
With construction officially set to begin in the second half of 2028, a revised blueprint from the Development Bureau puts the project on track for completion in 2033. Slotted between Tai Po Market and University stations on the East Rail Line, the new two-storey stop will now be built near the Science Park and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, leaving behind the initial plan to put it by the EduHK Sports Centre.
The construction timeline, however, has already raised some eyebrows at the Tai Po District Council, where local politicians have questioned why building a single station would take so long, especially when the idea has been on the cards since 2021. There are also concerns that shifting the station to a new site might send things back to square one, though officials explain that building on an active, older train line limits the use of more modern building methods.
With the completion of the new station, those currently dependent on minibus connections – whether they are tech professionals and university researchers at the Science Park, or local Pak Shek Kok residents – will be able to shave off roughly 20 minutes from their commute between Pak Shek Kok and the major hubs of Hong Kong Island or Kowloon. The neighbourhood is also set to gain a few new community extras, with promises of new shops, a public transport interchange, and an elevated footbridge across the Tolo Highway linking to the surrounding neighbourhood.
Authorities have also sought to reassure the public that the East Rail Line can handle the influx of new passengers, with the option to increase train frequencies if the platforms get crowded. Provided there are no more last-minute revisions, locals can begin a mere seven-year countdown before they get to make use of the line and finally join the morning rush.
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