Northern Link Spur Line to open by 2034 as construction advances

The NOL Main Line comprises a 10.7-kilometre underground railway and five stations.

The Northern Link (NOL) Project’s Main Line and Spur Line have entered the construction phase following the Chief Executive in Council’s approval of the project’s Part 2 financial arrangement.

Both lines are expected to begin operations simultaneously by 2034 or earlier, with their combined development bringing forward the Spur Line’s commissioning by two years.

The NOL Main Line comprises a 10.7-kilometre underground railway and five stations, whilst the approximately 6-kilometre Spur Line will branch off from San Tin Station. Around 1.1 kilometres of the Spur Line will run through Shenzhen.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said the government has introduced several measures over the past year to streamline construction.

In February, the Highways Department introduced the Hong Kong Railway Standards to facilitate the adoption of innovative technologies, materials, equipment, and systems.

The government also established the Railway Checking Unit to handle building plan submissions for railway projects, cutting processing times by 30% to 50%.

Separately, the Northern Metropolis Development Bill introduced measures to streamline the implementation of the NOL Project and other transport infrastructure projects, including simplifying applications for construction noise permits.

The government said these initiatives, along with a shortened construction period, have reduced the estimated construction cost of the entire project by 28% from the original estimate to approximately $86.2b.