Year
1980Duration
5 yearsCost
HK$5.65 billionLocation
Hong KongProject achievements
Connected communities
Provides convenient access to schools, workplaces, and leisure destinations
Used engineering skill
Engineers had to tunnel through diverse geological conditions
Area improved
Traffic congestion eased and vibrant districts emerged around stations
Moving millions efficiently through a new mass transit railway
Until the 1970s, Hong Kong relied on buses and trams to get its population around the city state.
As the economy grew – and traffic congestion increased – Hong Kong authorities saw they needed a more efficient way of moving people around the territory.
A government-commissioned study came up with the idea of a mass transit rail system. The idea was new to the Hong Kong public - and faced fierce opposition.
Negative responses included claims that the existing tram system was adequate – and that only dead people would go underground.
City authorities pressed ahead with the plan – setting up the government-owned Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) to build and manage the railway. Work started on the scheme in 1975.
The 15.6km-long mass transit railway (MTR) opened in 1980. With 15 stations, it ran from Charter station on Hong Kong island to Kwun Tong station on the mainland.
The scheme was an immediate success – leading to the MTR being extended in following years.
The railway now covers 271km on nine local lines as well as the Airport Express (AEL), the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Hong Kong section) and Light Rail.
The network is one of the most profitable MTR systems in the world. It also claims to be one of the most reliable, with 99.9% of its trains arriving on time.
It accounts for 46% of all public transport journeys made in Hong Kong every day.
Did you know …
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The MTR has a dedicated 3.5km-long line to get tourists to the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. The line’s train carriages feature Mickey Mouse-shaped windows and bronze figurines of Disney characters, including Jiminy Cricket and Donald Duck.
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At opening, the cheapest one-way fare for the MTR was HK$1.
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Six days after services started, the fleet of four-car trains already welcomed its one millionth passenger.
Difference the project has made
Once operational, the MTR revolutionised daily life.
It shortened commutes, spurred the development of new neighborhoods, and provided convenient access to schools, workplaces, and leisure destinations.
Traffic congestion eased, and vibrant districts emerged around stations, fuelling economic growth.
The MTR laid the groundwork for future expansions such as the Tsuen Wan and Island lines, forming the backbone of Hong Kong’s world-renowned metro system
How the work was done
The route traversed diverse geological conditions, from marine deposits and soft alluvium to varying grades of granite.
Engineers employed various techniques such as cut-and-cover, drill-and-blast excavation, compressed-air bored tunnels, and immersed tube tunnels. All tailored to Hong Kong’s complex urban and geological landscape.
The route also included Hong Kong’s first rail tunnel beneath Victoria Harbour, a remarkable feat of engineering that allowed tunneling under the sea without disrupting traffic or flooding the city.
The project faced numerous challenges along the way, including underground water leaks, occasional road sinkholes, and the need to maintain road access and public transport throughout construction.
Engineers overcame these obstacles through relentless day-and-night efforts.
People who made it happen
- Client: Hong Kong government
- Consulting engineers: Freeman Fox, Wilbur Smith and Associates
