View source for Central station (MTR)

{{short description|MTR interchange station on Hong Kong Island}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Use Hong Kong English|date = April 2025}}

{{stack|{{Infobox station
| name                = Central
| native_name         = 中環
| native_name_lang    = zh-Hant
| style               = MTR
| style2              = Tsuen Wan, Island
| symbol_location     = hk
| symbol              = MTR
| type                = [[MTR]] [[rapid transit]] station
| image               = Central Station Tsuen Wan Line platforms 2024 06 part2.jpg
| image_caption       = Platforms 2  on the {{lnl|MTR|twl}} in June 2024
| mlanguage           = {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|t=中環|s=中环|l=Central ring|j=Zung1waan4|y=Jūngwàan|p=Zhōnghuán|showflag=y}}
| address             = [[Des Voeux Road Central]]/[[Chater Road]], [[Central, Hong Kong|Central]]
| borough             = [[Central and Western District]], [[Hong Kong]]
| country             = 
| coordinates         = {{coord|22.2820|114.1576|region:HK|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| elevation           = 
| line                = {{plainlist|
*{{rcb|MTR|Tsuen Wan|croute}}
*{{rcb|MTR|Island|croute}}
}}
| connections         = {{plainlist|
* {{ric|MTR}} {{STN|Hong Kong|x}}:
* {{nbsp|6}}{{rcb|MTR|tcl|croute}}
* {{nbsp|6}}{{rcb|MTR|ael|croute}}
* {{rint|incline}} [[Peak Tram]]
* {{ric|Hong Kong Tramways}} [[Hong Kong Tramways|Tram]]
* {{rint|bus}}[[Bus services in Hong Kong|Bus]], [[public light bus|minibus]]
* {{rint|ferry}} [[Central Piers|Ferries]] to [[Star_Ferry_Pier,_Tsim_Sha_Tsui|Tsim Sha Tsui]] and [[Outlying Islands, Hong Kong|Outlying Islands]]
}}
| distance            =
| structure           = Underground
| platform            = {{plainlist|
*4
*{{rcb|MTR|Tsuen Wan|small|note=: 1 [[island platform]]}}
*{{rcb|MTR|Island|small|note=: 2 [[Split platform|split-level]] [[side platforms]]}}
}}
| depth               = 
| levels              = 3
| tracks              = 4
| parking             = 
| bicycle             = 
| opened              = {{Plainlist|1=
* {{rcb|MTR|Kwun Tong|small|note=: {{start date and age|df=y|1980|2|12}}}}
* {{rcb|MTR|Island|small|note=: {{start date and age|df=y|1986|5|23}}}}
}}
| opening             = 
| closed              = 
| rebuilt             = 
| electrified         = 
| accessible            = {{URL|1=https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/free_search.php?query_type=search&station=1|2=Yes}}
| code                = CEN
| owned               = [[MTR Corporation]]
| operator            = MTR Corporation
| zone                = 
| former              = Chater (Tsuen Wan line)<br />Pedder (Island line)
| passengers          = 
| pass_year           = 
| pass_percent        = 
| pass_system         = 
| mpassengers         = 
| services            = {{Adjstn|system=MTR
|line1=Tsuen Wan|left1=|right1=Admiralty
|line2=Island|left2=Sheung Wan|right2=Admiralty|header3=Transfer at {{STN|Hong Kong|x}}
|line3=Airport Express|right3=Kowloon|transfer3=Hong Kong
|line4=Tung Chung|right4=Kowloon|transfer4=Hong Kong }}
| map_type            = Hong Kong MTR#Hong Kong urban core#Hong Kong Island
| map_alt             = Hong Kong MTR system map
| map_caption         = Location within the [[MTR]] system
| route_map           = {{Routemap
| inline      = 1
| legend      = track
| map         =
utSTR!~MFADEg\utSTR!~MFADEg\\utSTR!~MFADEg\\utSTR!~MFADEg~~ ~~ ~~to {{STN|Admiralty|x|MTR}}
utSTRg\utSTRf\\utSTRg\\utSTRf
utKRWgl+l\utKRWgr+r!~POINTERg@fq\SEP\utSTR\SEP\utSTR
utdSTR\cPLT!~d*1__align=l\utPSTR(R)\SEP\utPSTR(R)!~c*3!~POINTERg@fq\SEP\cPLT\utdSTR~~ ~~ ~~L2 (uppermost)
cd!~utPSTR(L)!~POINTERf@gq\c!~d*2__align=r\utPSTR(R)!~POINTERg@fq\SEP\utPSTR(R)\SEP\utPSTR(R)~~ ~~ ~~L3
utPSTR(L)\utPSTR(R)\SEP\utPSTR(R)\SEP\utPSTR(R)!~c*4!~POINTERg@fq~~ ~~ ~~L4 (lowest)
uextSTR!~tSTRc2\uextSTR3\SEP\utSTR\SEP\utSTR
uextABZg+1\uextSTRc4\SEP\utSTR\SEP\utSTR
uextENDEe\\\utSTRg\\utSTRf
\\\utSTR!~MFADEf\\utSTR!~MFADEf~~ ~~ ~~to {{STN|Sheung Wan|x}}
}}
| map_state           = expanded
}}
[[File:Hong Kong Legislative Council Building.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|right|The platforms of the Tsuen Wan line are located under Chater Road, next to the [[Court of Final Appeal Building]]. Taken in November 2007.]]
[[File:Central Station Island Line platforms 2024 06 part3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|right|Platform 3 on the [[Island line (MTR)|Island line]] in June 2024]]
}}
'''Central''' ({{zh|t=中環|cy=Jūngwàan}}) is an [[MTR]] [[List of MTR stations|station]] located in the [[Central, Hong Kong|Central]] area of [[Hong Kong Island]]. The station's [[livery]] is firebrick red but brown on the {{lnl|MTR|TWL}} platforms. The station is the southern [[terminal station|terminus]] of the {{lnl|MTR|TWL}}, a stop on the {{lnl|MTR|ISL}}, and connects to [[Hong Kong station]] (via an underground passageway), which serves the {{lnl|MTR|TCL}} and the {{lnl|MTR|AE}}.

The station was originally named '''Chater Station''' (due to its location near [[Chater Road]]). It was initially conceived to cater to 330,000 passengers daily and was planned to be {{cvt|380|m}} long – one of the longest stations in the world.<ref>{{cite news| title=MTR briefing for public| publisher=South China Morning Post| location=Hong Kong| date=3 December 1976}}</ref> More than 200,000 passengers use this station daily. The longest distance between two exits is approximately 700m.

==History==

===Early plans===
Central station was included in the ''Hong Kong Mass Transport Study'', a system proposed in September 1967.<ref name=initial>{{cite book| last=Freeman| first=Fox| publisher=[[Wilbur Smith Associates|Wilbur Smith & Associates]]| date=1967| title=Hong Kong Mass Transport Study}}</ref> Together with [[Sheung Wan station|Western Market station]], it was intended to serve as an interchange station for the {{lnl|MTR|kt}} and Island line. In the recommended system, the Tsuen Wan line would terminate at {{STN|Admiralty|x|MTR}} (in the report also known as Naval Dockyard). The station was originally planned to be located under [[Des Voeux Road Central]] between [[Jubilee Street, Hong Kong|Jubilee Street]] and [[Pedder Street]].

In 1970, in the ''Hong Kong Mass Transit Further Studies'', the station was proposed as two separate but connected stations: Chater station ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|遮打站}}) under Chater Road and Pedder station ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|必打站}}) under Pedder Street), which would serve the Kong Kow line (now Tsuen Wan line) and Island line respectively.

===Modified Initial System and opening===
[[File:Plaque in Central Station (MTR). 1980 opening of the MTR.jpg|thumb|A plaque was erected on 12 February 1980 to mark the opening of the Modified Initial System by [[Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy|Princess Alexandra]].]]
Contracts 106 and 809, which consist of the construction of the two stations and tunnels, were awarded to Metro Joint Venture, comprising [[Hochtief|Hochtief AG]], [[Bouygues|Dragages et Travaux Publics]], [[Gammon Construction|Gammon (HK) Limited]], and Sentab.

The station first opened as '''Chater station''' on 12 February 1980 as the terminus of {{clarify span|the [[Kwun Tong line]].|When did the name Kwun Tong line come into being used on route maps? Would it be more accurate to describe it as the terminus of the Modified Initial System?|date=April 2024}} Only a portion of the station came into operation as the Island line had not been opened yet.

The station was named Chater in English but 中環 {{cn-span|(Central)|date=April 2024}} in Chinese. This would be misleading{{to whom|date=April 2024}} as many{{who|date=April 2024}} thought that the Chinese name would be 遮打, a transliteration and the Chinese name of the namesake road. 

When the Island line between Admiralty and Chai Wan opened on 31 May 1985, MTR renamed Chater to Central<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-09-19 |title=Specialist - Diaphragm Wall, Barrette & Slurry Wall |url=https://www.bachy-soletanche.com.hk/offer-portfolio/mtrc-admiralty-chater-stations/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2016-05-20 |title=Hong Kong's favorite MTR station |url=https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/blog/hong-kongs-favorite-mtr-station-052016 |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Time Out Hong Kong |language=en-GB}}</ref> together with the renaming of some other stations on the Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan lines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10154092551550151&set=a.478848920150|title=MTR - 【港鐵冷知識】喺1985年1月23日，我哋當初為乘客更清晰地釐定車站嘅服務範圍，宣佈喺5月31日更改個別車站嘅名稱，以配合當年港島綫柴灣至金鐘站段喺1985年5月31日同日通車。 就係咁，以後油麻地站嘅英文名由「Waterloo」改用拼音「Yau Ma Tai」，旺角站嘅英文名由「Argyle」改用拼音「Mong Kok」，而荔灣站 （Lai Wan Station）則改名為做美孚站（Mei Foo Station）。 我哋會為FANS搜攞更多港鐵有關小知識，記得緊貼港鐵官方專頁啦！ [MTR Trivia] On 23 January 1985, MTR announced that the names certain station would be changed in order that they more closely reflect the areas they serve. The changes took effect on 31 May 1985 when the Island Line opened. The English names of Waterloo and Argyle stations were changed to Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok respectively, while Lai Wan Station became Mei Foo in both Chinese and English. Stay tuned for more trivia about MTR and its railway system. &#124; Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news |last1=Leung |first1=Jimmy |title=All change for MTR station names |work=South China Morning Post |date=25 February 1985}}</ref>

The English name of the station was changed to "Central" in 1982.<ref name="auto"/>

The construction contract for the station on the Island line was awarded to the [[Aoki Corporation|Aoki]]/{{ill|preserve=y|Tobishima|ja|%E9%A3%9B%E5%B3%B6%E5%BB%BA%E8%A8%AD}} joint venture.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite book |title=MTRC Island Line Opening Commemorative Book |date=1985 |publisher=Mass Transit Railway Corporation }}</ref> Construction for the Island line was carried out in early 1983 and connected the new platforms with the original structure. The Island line began servicing Central on 23 May 1986 when it was extended beyond Admiralty to Sheung Wan and the Island line platforms came into service.

=== Island line ===
The construction contract for the station on the Island line was awarded to the [[Aoki Corporation|Aoki]]/Tobishima joint venture.<ref name="auto1"/> Construction for the Island line was carried out in early 1983 and connected the new platforms with the original structure. The Island line began servicing Central on 23 May 1986 when it was extended beyond Admiralty to Sheung Wan and the Island line platforms came into service.

===Passageway to Hong Kong station===
One component of the Airport Core Programme<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.info.gov.hk/napco/index-e.html| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050405043554/http://www.info.gov.hk/napco/index-e.html| archivedate=5 April 2005| title=(map)| website=Hong Kong Airport Core Programme}}</ref> between 1991 and 1998 was a railway connecting the new [[Hong Kong International Airport]] to the city centre. To link Central with the nearby Hong Kong station, the southern terminus of the Tung Chung line and the Airport Express, a passageway was built under [[Connaught Road Central]] to connect the two stations. The passageway starts at the Pedder Street concourse and was built with a design similar to that of Hong Kong station. The passage connects the paid areas of both stations (particularly from Central to the Tung Chung line of Hong Kong station). There is no unpaid link (though access to the Airport Express line at Hong Kong station from other lines at Central or vice versa requires an out-of-system transfer as the Airport Express line follows a separate fare scheme from the rest of the MTR system).

{{wide image|Central Station 2013 09 part1.JPG|800px|Panorama of Platform 3 on the {{lnl|MTR|isl}} towards {{STN|Chai Wan|x}} in September 2013||none}}

==Station layout==
{{anchor|Track layout}}
Central station has four platforms on three levels.

The top level includes platform {{MTR platform|ISL|3}} and is built beneath [[Des Voeux Road Central]] at the intersection of [[Pedder Street]], stretching from [[World-Wide House]] to [[Alexandra House]], on the northern side of the road. The platform serves Chai Wan-bound trains on the Island line and this level includes the connecting walkway to Hong Kong station.

The middle level includes platforms {{MTR platform|TWL|1}} and {{MTR platform|TWL|2}} using a shared [[island platform|island]]. They serve the Tsuen Wan line and were built directly under [[Chater Road]], extending from [[Des Voeux Road Central]] to [[Club Street]].

The bottom level, two levels from the top level, is platform {{MTR platform|ISL|4}}, for Island line trains in the direction of Kennedy Town.

Passengers from platform {{MTR platform|ISL|3}} transferring to {{rail color box|system=MTR|line=Tsuen Wan Line|inline=croute}} platforms use the regular escalators on the Chater Road concourse. There are designated escalators from {{rail color box|system=MTR|line=Tsuen Wan Line|inline=croute}} platforms to platform {{MTR platform|ISL|4}} for the sole purpose of transfer.<ref name="layout map" />

The Tsuen Wan line platforms are straight and were built by cut-and-cover. Most of the length of the Island line platforms is the same, although the eastern part (towards {{STN|Admiralty|x|MTR}}) is curved and the [[mind the gap|gap]] is large, as they are located in sections of [[bored tunnel]]s and have the curved walls typical of most other stations on the Island line.

The end of the Admiralty stabling siding shared by Tsuen Wan and Island lines is located below the Tsuen Wan line platforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr04-05/english/panels/tp/tp_rdp/papers/tp_rdp0304cb1-1012-3e.pdf|title=LegCo paper no. CB(1)1012/04-05(03) - Legislative Council Panel on Transport - Subcommittee on matters relating to railways - Government's assessment on the independent review by Lloyd's Register Rail on the MTR system|author=Environment, Transport and Works Bureau|date=February 2005}} </ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Legislative Council Panel on Transport Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways Railway Service Performance (2005 to 2009) |url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr09-10/english/panels/tp/tp_rdp/papers/tp_rdp0326cb1-1377-1-e.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 2019 |title=Strong concern over the recurrence of train collision accident on the MTR Tsuen Wan Line |url=https://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/central/doc/2016_2019/en/committee_meetings_doc/tts/15940/20190718_TTC_WQ11_2019_Annex_I.pdf}}</ref>

{| border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"
|- style="vertical-align:top;" 
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;border-top:solid 1px gray;width:50px;" |'''G'''
| style="border-top:solid 1px gray;border-bottom:solid 1px gray;width:100px;" |Street level
| style="border-top:solid 1px gray;border-bottom:solid 1px gray;width:380px;" |Exits
|-
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;vertical-align:top;" |'''P'''
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |Chater Road concourse
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |–
|-
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2" |'''L1'''
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;vertical-align:top;" |Pedder Street concourse
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |Customer Service, MTRShops<br />[[Hang Seng Bank]], vending machines<br />Octopus promotion machine
|-
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;vertical-align:top;" |Chater Road concourse
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |Customer Service, MTRShops<br />[[Automated teller machine|ATM]]
|-
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;vertical-align:top;" rowspan="4" |'''L2'''
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;vertical-align:top;" |Chater Road concourse
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |Customer Service, MTRShops<br />Hang Seng Bank, vending machines
|-
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;vertical-align:top;" |Pedder Street concourse
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |Customer Service, MTRShops<br />Subway to [[Hong Kong station]] for {{rcb|MTR|tcl|yes}} & {{rcb|MTR|ae|yes}}<br />Octopus promotion machine, i-centre internet service
|-
| style="border-right:solid 2px black;border-left:solid 2px black;border-bottom:solid 2px black;text-align:center;" colspan="2" |<small>[[Side platform]], doors will open on the left</small>
|-
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |Platform {{MTR platform|ISL|3}}
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |{{0|→}} {{rcb|MTR|isl|yes}} towards {{STN|Chai Wan|x}} <small>({{STN|Admiralty|x|MTR}})</small> →
|-
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;vertical-align:top;" rowspan="3" |'''L3'''
|Platform {{MTR platform|TWL|1}}
|{{0|→}} {{rcb|MTR|twl|yes}} towards {{STN|Tsuen Wan|x}} <small>(Admiralty)</small> →
|-
| style="border-top:solid 2px black;border-right:solid 2px black;border-left:solid 2px black;border-bottom:solid 2px black;text-align:center;" colspan="2" |<small>[[Island platform]], doors will open on the left or right</small>
|-
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |Platform {{MTR platform|TWL|2}}
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |{{0|→}} {{rcb|MTR|twl|box}} Tsuen Wan line towards Tsuen Wan <small>(Admiralty)</small> →
|-
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2" |'''L4'''
| style="border-right:solid 2px black;border-left:solid 2px black;border-bottom:solid 2px black;text-align:center;" colspan="2" |<small>[[Side platform]], doors will open on the right</small>
|-
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |Platform {{MTR platform|ISL|4}}
| style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" |← {{rcb|MTR|isl|box}} Island line towards {{STN|Kennedy Town|x}} <small>({{STN|Sheung Wan|x}})</small>
|}<ref name="layout map">{{MTRsource|layout|cen|Central|30 July 2014}}</ref>

{{clear|left}}

==Entrances and exits==
Central station stretches underneath Chater Road from [[Statue Square]] in the east and underneath Des Voeux Road to Li Yuen Street East in the west. The distance between the easternmost and westernmost exits is approximately 700m. There are 13 entrances, connecting buildings, shopping malls, main roads and ground transport facilities nearby.<ref>{{MTRsource|map|cen|Central|30 July 2014}}</ref>

; [[Pedder Street]] Concourse
*'''A''' {{access icon|15px|Wheelchair user access}}: [[Connaught Road Central]], [[Central Piers|Central Pier]], [[International Finance Centre (Hong Kong)|Internation Finance Centre(IFC)]]
[[File:Central Station Exit A 2024 06 part1.jpg|200px|thumb|Exit A]]
*'''B''': World-wide House, [[Hang Seng Bank]] Headquarters
*'''C''': Li Yuen Street (East & West)
*'''D1''': [[Pedder Street]]
*'''D2''': [[Queen's Road, Hong Kong|Queens Road Central]], [[Lan Kwai Fong]]

; [[Chater Road]] Concourse
*'''E''': [[Chater House]], [[Chater Road]]
[[File:Central Station Exit E 2024 06 part1.jpg|250px|thumb|Exit E (June 2024)]]
*'''F''': St George's Building, [[Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong|Mandarin Oriental Hotel]]
*'''G''': [[The Landmark (Hong Kong)|The Landmark]]
*'''H''': [[Alexandra House]]
*'''J1''': [[Court of Final Appeal (Hong Kong)|Court of Final Appeal]]
*'''J2''': [[Chater Garden]], [[Bank of China Tower (Hong Kong)|Bank of China Tower]], [[Peak Tram]] station, [[Cheung Kong Center]]
*'''J3''': [[AIA Central]], [[Bank of America Tower (Hong Kong)|Bank of America Tower]]
*'''K''': [[Statue Square]], [[HSBC Building (Hong Kong)|HSBC Main Building]], [[Standard Chartered| Standard Chartered Bank Building]]
*'''L''' {{access icon|15px|Wheelchair user access}}: CCB Tower

==Transport connections==
Central station is one of the major transport hubs of Hong Kong. It is commonly used as a connecting hub for commuters travelling from the Tung Chung line to the Island line, and Tsuen Wan line. The area around Central station and Hong Kong station offers a wide range of transport options, including the tramway, buses, ferries, minibuses and more. (See also [[Transport in Hong Kong]])
* [[Bus services in Hong Kong|Bus]]
** [[Citybus (Hong Kong)|Citybus]]
** [[Kowloon Motor Bus|KMB]], serving only cross-[[Victoria Harbour|harbour]] routes on [[Hong Kong Island]]
** Nearby bus termini:
*** Central Piers Bus Terminus (exit A or E then via footbridge, of within paid area via Hong Kong station)
*** City Hall Bus Terminus (exit K then via tunnel)
*** [[Exchange Square (Hong Kong)|Exchange Square]] Bus Terminus (exit A then via footbridge, or within paid area via Hong Kong station)
* [[Public light bus|Minibus]]
* Trams
** [[Hong Kong Tramways]] (exits B, C, G and K)
** [[Peak Tram]] (exit J2)
* [[Transport in Hong Kong#Ferries|Ferries]] (exit A to Central Ferry Piers)
** Pier 2: [[Park Island Transport|Park Island Ferry]], to [[Park Island]]
** Pier 3: Discovery Bay Ferry, to [[Discovery Bay]]
** Pier 4: [[Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry]], to [[Sok Kwu Wan]] and [[Yung Shue Wan]] on [[Lamma Island]]
** Piers 5 and 6: [[Sun Ferry]], to Silvermine Bay ([[Mui Wo]]), [[Peng Chau]] and [[Cheung Chau]]
** Pier 7: [[Star Ferry]], to [[Tsim Sha Tsui]]

==References==
{{Commons and category|Central Station (MTR)|Central Station (MTR)}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Central, Hong Kong}}
{{Tsuen Wan Line navbox}}
{{Island Line navbox}}
{{Central and Western District}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Central Station}}
[[Category:Central, Hong Kong]]
[[Category:MTR stations on Hong Kong Island]]
[[Category:Tsuen Wan line]]
[[Category:Island line (MTR)]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Hong Kong opened in 1980]]