HKU (Chinese: 香港大學) is a station on the Hong Kong MTR Island line located in the Shek Tong Tsui neighbourhood of Western, Hong Kong. The station is named after the adjacent University of Hong Kong.
HKU 香港大學 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 MTR rapid transit station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Platform 1 (foreground) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 香港大學 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 香港大学 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | Xiānggǎng Dàxué | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cantonese Yale | Hēunggóng Daaihhohk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| General information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Bonham Road, Lung Fu Shan, Shek Tong Tsui, Central and Western District, Hong Kong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 22°17′03″N 114°08′08″E / 22.2841°N 114.1356°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | MTR Corporation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operated by | MTR Corporation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) |
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| Platforms | 2 (1 island platform) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connections | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Underground | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depth | 70 m (230 ft)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platform levels | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architect | Aedas and Wong & Ouyang | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Station code | HKU | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 28 December 2014[1][2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Previous names | Shek Tong Tsui | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Part of the West Island line, a westward extension to the existing Island line, HKU station opened on 28 December 2014 along with Kennedy Town station.
As of its opening, HKU station was the largest and deepest station in the MTR network, at 70 m (230 ft) below ground.
History
editBefore the 1980s, an MTR station by the name of Whitty (屈地) was planned to be built underground at Des Voeux Road West, near Ka On Street, Whitty Street and Hill Road. Lots at Chong Yip Centre and Pacific Plaza were reserved for future station exits and concourse.[3] This was part of a planned extension of the Island line that was never built, but which was superseded by the West Island line project, of which HKU station forms a part.
The MTR Corporation let out a tender for the construction of the Sai Ying Pun and HKU stations and 2.2 km (1.4 mi) of tunnel. In 2009, the design and architecture was awarded to Aedas in joint venture with AECOM.[4] The construction work was awarded to Gammon Construction, (half owned by Balfour Beatty) for HK$4.7 billion.[5] Construction commenced in 2010 and was completed in 2014.
HKU station opened on 28 December 2014.
Naming
editThere were disputes among locals and district councillors over the station's name. Some suggested to restore the previous official name "Belcher" (寶翠, [pǒutsʰɵ̄y], bou2 ceoi3) after The Belcher's, a housing development in the area, as well as Belcher Street and Belcher Bay. Some believed that the MTR Corporation's decision to change the name to "University" was not well consulted within the community, while others worried that it might cause confusion with another existing University station on the East Rail line. Some also suggested "Shek Tong Tsui", after the area the station would serve.
In August 2009, MTR named the station "Hong Kong University".[6] The latest revision changed the English name to "HKU",[7] the abbreviation of The University of Hong Kong nearby.
Station layout
edit| G | Ground level | Exits/Entrances |
| C | Concourse | Customer Service |
| P Platforms |
Platform 1 | Island line towards Chai Wan (Sai Ying Pun) → |
| Island platform, doors will open on the right | ||
| Platform 2 | ← Island line towards Kennedy Town (Terminus) | |
The station is located under Pok Fu Lam Road.[8] It has two tracks and one center island platform.[9] In addition, the MTR has built elevators to link HKU station to the University of Hong Kong.[10] The HKU station is located at a depth of 70 metres (230 ft), making it the deepest station in the MTR system upon its opening.[11][12]
HKU station features designated refuge areas, to which passengers can be evacuated in case of emergency. Refuge areas are pressurised and equipped with fire systems including sprinklers and fire curtains, and independent power supply units. HKU station is the first station in the MTR network to apply such shelter design and the use of lifts to reach safety.[11]
Exits
editHKU station has six exits.[13][14] As exits A1, A2 and C1 are situated deep underneath Mid-Levels, only express lifts are used to transport passengers.[1] This makes HKU station the first to feature lift-only exits.[15][10]
Exits A1 and A2 are served by a total of eight lifts with a maximum load of 1,800 kg per lift. Exit C1 is served by four lifts with a capacity of 2,100 kg each.[10]
- A1: Pok Fu Lam Road (near Haking Wong Building), St. Paul's College, St. Stephen's Church College
- A2: The University of Hong Kong Main Campus, Chow Yei Ching Building, Haking Wong Building
- B1: Whitty Street, Chong Yip Shopping Centre, Shek Tong Tsui Municipal Services Building
- B2: Hill Road, Hong Kong Plaza, JEN Hong Kong by Shangri-La
- C1: The Belcher's, Pok Fu Lam Road, The University of Hong Kong Centennial Campus
- C2: Belcher's Street, Harbour One, The Westwood
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West Concourse -
East Concourse -
Exit and Entrance A1 -
Exit and Entrance A2 -
Exit and Entrance C2
Future
editHKU station is proposed to be an interchange station for the Island line and the South Island line (West). The platforms of the South Island line (West) will be built under those of the Island line.
References
edit
- ^ a b c "Extension of Island Line to Western District". MTR Corporation. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "West Island Line targets to open in December 2014, 90% of works complete" (PDF). MTR Corporation. 29 May 2014.
- ^ 西港島線歷史 [History of West Island Line] (in Chinese). Hong Kong West Island Line Concern Group. 2002. Archived from the original on 24 August 2004. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ "Spectrum Asia Issue 02/April 2011" (PDF). AECOM.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "MTR West Island Line progresses". Railway Gazette International. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ^ Construction of the MTR West Island Line Project Commenced, MTR Corporation.
- ^ "Official website of West Island Line". MTR. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ Proposed location of HKU Station, MTR Corporation
- ^ "HKU Station layout" (PDF). MTR Corporation. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ a b c "First MTR Lift-only Entrances at HKU and Sai Ying Pun Stations Provide Convenient Vertical Access" (PDF). MTR Corporation. 19 November 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Sung, Timmy (20 November 2015). "Emergency 'refuge areas' at deepest MTR stop". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ "The MTR's new West Island line". TimeOut Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ Site Plan of University Station, West Island Line EIA Reports
- ^ "HKU Station street map" (PDF). MTR Corporation. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ "University station will be learning experience". The Standard. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
