View source for Lok Ma Chau Spur Line


{{short description|Railway line in Hong Kong}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=March 2017}}
[[File:LMC LINE 2.jpg|thumb|Elevated section]]
[[File:Lok Ma Chau Spur Line.jpg|thumb|Inside the tunnel towards Lok Ma Chau station during construction]]
[[File:HK Lok Ma Chau Station Platform.jpg|thumb|[[Lok Ma Chau station]]]]

The '''Lok Ma Chau Spur Line''' is the second railway link between [[Hong Kong]] and [[Mainland China]], relieving passenger congestion at [[Lo Wu station]]. The {{convert|7.4|km|mi|abbr=on}} alignment branches off the existing [[MTR]] [[East Rail line]] north of [[Sheung Shui station]]<ref name="Opening">{{cite news| url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2007-08/16/content_6029931.htm| title=Second HK-Shenzhen railway line opens to traffic| publisher=China Daily| date=2007-08-16| accessdate=2007-08-16}}</ref> and then runs to the [[Lok Ma Chau station]] where customs and immigration facilities are provided. The terminus is connected to [[Futian Checkpoint station]] (formerly named as [[Futian Checkpoint station|Huanggang station]]) of the [[Shenzhen Metro]] [[Line 4 (Shenzhen Metro)|Line 4]] by a pedestrian bridge across the [[Sham Chun River|Shenzhen River]].

The [[Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation|KCRC]] has adopted a combined tunnel and viaduct scheme for the spur line. From [[Sheung Shui]] to [[Chau Tau]], the railway runs through tunnels, the railway then runs on viaducts until it reaches [[Lok Ma Chau station]].

The Spur Line project comprises four major sections, namely, the tunnels, the viaducts, [[Lok Ma Chau station]], and the modification works at the existing [[Sheung Shui station]]. Unlike the rest of the East Rail line, which is above ground, this section is located underground.

The [[Government of Hong Kong|Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region]] endorsed the corporation's construction of the [[Lok Ma Chau]] Spur Line on 14 June 2002. Construction commenced in January 2003.  The line was officially opened on 15 August 2007, in ceremonies led by [[Henry Tang]], the Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong.<ref name="Opening" />

The station is reached by foot from Shenzhen (the mainland side), or by MTR train, bus, mini-bus, or taxi from the Hong Kong side. 
Private cars, bicycles, and walking through the restricted frontier zone to other parts of Hong Kong according to an official at the Hong Kong border are not allowed.
The station is in a restricted area where no stores or other businesses except MTR tenants (such as 7-Eleven) are allowed.

==Kwu Tung station==
{{see also|Kwu Tung station}}
[[Kwu Tung station]] is a planned [[infill station]] along the Lok Ma Chau spur line that will serve the [[East Rail line]] when it is opened in 2027. 
The station box structure was first constructed as part of the Lok Ma Chau spur line but was never completed.

It is currently part of the first phase of the [[Northern Link (MTR)|Northern Link]] project. It will also serve as the Northern Link's terminus when the line opens in 2034.

==Key statistics==
* Length: {{convert|7.4|km|mi|abbr=on}} 
* Journey time: 8 minutes
* Train frequency: 5-6 trains per hour (every 10–12 minutes) running from [[Hung Hom station]] to [[Lok Ma Chau station]].
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
* [[Transport in Hong Kong]]
* [[Rail transport in Hong Kong]]
* [[MTR]]
* [[East Rail line]]
* [[Lok Ma Chau]]
* [[Lok Ma Chau Control Point]]

{{MTR}}
{{East Rail Line navbox}}

[[Category:East Rail line]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2007]]