View source for Island line (MTR)

{{Short description|Hong Kong MTR railway line}}
{{About|the MTR line in Hong Kong|other uses|Island Line (disambiguation){{!}}Island Line}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name                            = <big>Island line<br>{{lang|zh-Hant-HK|港島綫}}</big>
| status                          = Operational
| color                           = {{rcr|MTR|Island}}
| mapcolor                        = {{rcb|MTR|Island|box}} Dark blue (#{{rcr|MTR|isl}})
| image                           = Causeway Bay Station 2021 05 part2.jpg
| image_width                     = 300px
| image_alt                       = 
| caption                         = Platform 2 to [[Kennedy Town station|Kennedy Town]] at [[Causeway Bay station]]
| type                            = [[Rapid transit]]
| owner                           = [[MTR Corporation]]
| system                          = [[MTR]]
| locale                          = [[Districts of Hong Kong|Districts]]: [[Eastern District, Hong Kong|Eastern]], [[Wan Chai District|Wan Chai]], [[Central and Western District|Central & Western]]
| start                           = {{STN|Chai Wan|x}}
| end                             = {{STN|Kennedy Town|x}}
| formerconnections               = {{plainlist|
* {{rcb|MTR|Kwun Tong|croute}}
}}
| stations                        = 17
| connectinglines                 = {{plainlist|
* {{rcb|MTR|East Rail|croute}}
* {{rcb|MTR|South Island|croute}}
* {{rcb|MTR|Tseung Kwan O|croute}}
* {{rcb|MTR|Tsuen Wan|croute}}
* {{rcb|MTR|Tung Chung|croute}}
* {{rcb|MTR|Airport Express|croute}} 
}}
| yearcommenced                   = {{start date and age|df=yes|1980|12|}}
| open                            = {{start date and age|df=yes|1985|05|31}}
| lastextension                   = {{start date and age|df=yes|2014|12|28}} ([[Extension of Island line to Western District]])<br>{{start date and age|df=yes|2015|03|29}} (Opening of {{STN|Sai Ying Pun|x}})
| yearcompleted                   = {{start date and age|df=yes|1986|05|23}}
| close                           = 
| depot                           = [[Chai Wan]]
| stock                           = [[MTR Urban Lines Vision Train|CRRC Qingdao Sifang SFM47/47A]]
| linelength                      = {{cvt|14.93|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="Highways-Dept" />
| tracklength                     = {{cvt|16.3|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| tracks                          = [[Double-track railway|Double-track]]
| gauge                           = {{RailGauge|1432mm|lk=on}} (Chai Wan to Sheung Wan)<br>{{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}} (West Island Line)
| electrification                 = {{1,500 V DC}} ([[Overhead line]])
| speed                           = {{plainlist|
*Average: {{cvt|33|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
*Maximum: {{cvt|80|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}<ref name="business report 2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.mtr.com.hk/archive/corporate/en/publications/images/business_overview_e.pdf|title=Business Overview|publisher=[[MTR]]|date=July 2021|access-date=2022-08-08|pages=6}}</ref>
}}
| aveinterstation                 = {{cvt|525|m|abbr=on}}
| map                             = [[File:Island Line.svg|300px|center]]<hr />{{Island line RDT}}
| map_state                       = expanded
| ridership2                      = 947,100 daily average (weekdays, September 2014)<ref>{{cite web|title=Weekday patronage of MTR heavy rail network from September 1 to 27 and September 28 to October 25, 2014|url=https://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201410/29/P201410290671_0671_136426.pdf|publisher=Legislative Council|access-date=15 April 2015|date=29 October 2014}}</ref>
| signalling                      = Advanced [[SelTrac]] [[Communications-based train control|CBTC]] <small>(future)</small>
| trainprotection                 = {{plainlist|
*[[Système d'aide à la conduite, à l'exploitation et à la maintenance|SACEM]] <small>(currently being replaced)</small><ref name="2021report">{{cite web|url=https://www.mtr.com.hk/archive/corporate/en/investor/annual2021/EMTRAR21.pdf|title=Annual Report 2021|publisher=[[MTR Corporation]]|access-date=2022-08-06|date=2022-03-10|pages=22|quote=In 2021, we continued with the project to replace the existing signalling system (“SACEM System”) on our four urban lines (Island, Tseung Kwan O, Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan lines).}}</ref>
}}
}}

{{Chinese
| t = 港島綫
| s = 港岛线
| p = Gǎngdǎo xiàn
| j = Gong<sup>2</sup> dou<sup>2</sup> sin<sup>3</sup>
| y = Góng dóu sin
| showflag = y
| order = ts
}}

The '''Island&nbsp;line''' ({{zh|t=港島綫}}) is one of ten lines of the [[MTR]], the [[rapid transit|mass transit system]] in Hong Kong. It runs from [[Kennedy Town]] in the [[Sai Wan|Western district]] to [[Chai Wan]] in the [[Eastern District, Hong Kong|Eastern District]] on [[Hong Kong Island]], passing through the territory's major business districts of [[Central, Hong Kong|Central]], [[Wan Chai]] and [[Causeway Bay]], and connecting them with built-up areas on the north shore of the island. 

The line first opened on 31 May 1985. As of 2022 it travels {{convert|16.3|km|mi}}<ref name="Highways-Dept">{{cite web |url=https://www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/existing/railway_network/isl/index.html |title=Island Line |publisher=Highways Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region |date=14 April 2015 |access-date=25 May 2015 |archive-date=27 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427184224/https://www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/existing/railway_network/isl/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> in 25 minutes along its route, serving 17 stations. It is indicated in '''{{color|#{{rcr|MTR|Island}}|Blue}}''' on the [[MTR|MTR map]].

==History==
The origins of the proposal for the line originated in the 1967 and 1970 studies, which originally planned to run from [[Kennedy Town]] to Chai Wan, but the route between Sheung Wan and Kennedy was omitted when the proposal was finalized during the construction.

The [[Government of Hong Kong|Hong Kong Government]] authorised the construction of the {{convert|13.1|adj=mid|km||-long}} Island line in December 1980, after rejecting plans to extend the [[Hong Kong Tramways|tram]] eastwards to Chai Wan.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Choi|first1=Barry|title=Island Line gets go-ahead|work=South China Morning Post|date=24 December 1980}}</ref> 

[[File:Tai Koo Station about Island Line open plaque 19-05-2023.jpg|thumb|Opening of Island officiated by Governor Edward Youde in May 1985.]] On 31 May 1985 the Island line opened with services operating between [[Admiralty station (MTR)|Admiralty]] and [[Chai Wan station|Chai Wan]] stations with trains in six-car configuration. The opening ceremony was held at [[Tai Koo station]] and was officiated by then-MTR chairman [[Wilfrid Newton|Sir Wilfrid Newton]] and [[Governor of Hong Kong]] [[Edward Youde|Sir Edward Youde]], who unveiled the commemorative plaques at the station concourse.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd3tVTFJtH8|title=Underground Pride|date=1990|last=Forsyth|first=Neil|publisher=Mass Transit Railway Corporation|accessdate=21 November 2013|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

On 23 May 1986, the Island line was extended to Central and [[Sheung Wan station|Sheung Wan]] stations. Both Admiralty and Central stations became interchange stations with the [[Tsuen Wan line|Tsuen Wan&nbsp;line]]. As part of this extension, each train was lengthened to eight cars.

=== Quarry Bay Congestion Relief ===
After the [[Kwun Tong line|Kwun Tong&nbsp;line]] was extended to [[Quarry Bay station]] through the [[Eastern Harbour Crossing]] on 1 October 1989, that station became an interchange station with the Island line, but unlike that at Admiralty, there is no [[cross-platform interchange|cross-platform arrangement]] requiring passengers to use two escalators and a long passageway in between to change between the platforms of the lines. In a response to the resulting congestion, the government recommended the [[MTR#Quarry Bay Congestion Relief Works|Quarry Bay Congestion Relief Works]] project, and decided to expand [[North Point station]] to include a second interchange with the Kwun Tong line, with construction starting in July 1998.

The North Point interchange opened on 27 September 2001, and proved to be a much more efficient method of interchanging, as the new station featured cross-platform interchange, reducing the time required to interchange from five minutes at [[Quarry Bay station]] to less than one minute. On 4 August 2002, both these stations became interchange stations with the new [[Tseung Kwan O line|Tseung Kwan O&nbsp;line]] which had taken over the harbour crossing section from the Kwun Tong line.

=== Western extension ===
{{main|Extension of Island line to Western District}}
In 2002, the MTRC announced that it would use HK$300 million to construct the West and South Island lines, provided that the Government would award subsidies towards the project. <!-- UNSOURCED Some local newspapers' titles said that the "MTR monopolises Hong Kong Island with HK$300 million!" -->No sooner, in May 2002, the first proposal from the MTRC detailed a western extension of the existing Island line towards Kennedy Town. However the plan was abruptly brought to a halt due to [[Land reclamation in Hong Kong|land reclamation]] obstacles on the western coast of [[Hong Kong Island]], and the enormous cost and uncertainties concerning the Hong Kong Government's subsidies for the project. However, the current plan for the new lines to the [[Southern District, Hong Kong|Southern District]] would require parts of the Western extension in order for it to be completed. As a result, the MTR Corporation was conducting extensive surveys as well as public forums to gather opinion and suggestions concerning the alignment of the extension and location of the [[Sai Ying Pun]], [[Shek Tong Tsui]] and Kennedy Town stations for the [[West Island line]].

Construction commenced on the Island line's western extension to [[Kennedy Town station|Kennedy Town]] in 2009 and on 28 December 2014, the extension opened to passenger services, providing direct heavy rail connection to the western district of Hong Kong Island for the first time. New intermediate stations at [[Sai Ying Pun station|Sai Ying Pun]] and [[HKU station|the University of Hong Kong]] also opened as part of the extension; however, construction delayed the opening of Sai Ying Pun station to 29 March 2015.

==Rolling stock==
{|border=0 style="border:1px solid #999;background-color:white;text-align:left;font-size:90%"
|-align=center bgcolor=#{{rcr|MTR|Island line}}
!colspan="6"|MTR Island line line Rolling stock
|-align=center bgcolor=#cccccc
!Model!!Manufactured!!Time of manufacturing!!Sets!!Assembly!!Notes
|-
|-bgcolor=#EFEFEF
|[[MTR Metro Cammell EMU (DC)|M-Train]]||[[Metro-Cammell]]||1977-1986<br>1989-1995||23||A-C+D+B-C+D+C-A||
|-
|[[MTR Urban Lines Vision Train|Q-Train]]||[[CRRC Qingdao Sifang]]||2017–present||15||A-C-B+B-C+B-C-A||
|-
|-align=center bgcolor=#{{rcr|MTR|Island line}}
!colspan="6"|MTR Island line line Former rolling stock
|-align=center bgcolor=#cccccc
!Model!!Manufactured!!Time of manufacturing!!Sets!!Assembly!!Notes
|-
|[[MTR Rotem EMU|K-Train]]||[[Hyundai Rotem|Rotem]] and [[Mitsubishi]]||2001-2002||N/A||A-C-B+B-C+B-C-A||now used on Tseung Kwan O line
|}

==Route description==
The Island line resembles the deep-level lines of the [[London Underground]], as most of the route and stations along the line are deep underground and consist of [[cylindrical]] tunnels. This is the result of a lack of available land, as the construction plans for the line required it to be built under major roads.

Only the segment of the line east of [[Shau Kei Wan station|Shau Kei Wan]] has space for track expansion and thus the line emerges to the surface at [[Heng Fa Chuen station|Heng Fa Chuen]], and then on a [[viaduct]], which runs alongside Shing Tai Road, and which passes over [[Chai Wan Park]] and Island Eastern Corridor above ground, all the way to [[Chai Wan station|Chai Wan]].

The route of the original underground section of the line is also served by [[Hong Kong Tramways]] at surface level (the [[West Island line]] extension follows its own routing further inland from the tramway). This brought concerns that the tram system might be abolished when the MTR line was to be built, but a decision to save the tramline was made in 1980; and it serves as a backup in the event of service breakdown and a cheaper alternative for shorter journeys.

Because of the depth of the line, most underground stations on this line have curved walls on the platforms, which are due to the route's cylindrical tunnels, only with a greater [[diameter]]. Of the underground stations not bearing this feature, [[Tai Koo station]] is itself a large tube containing both the concourse and the platform, [[Sai Ying Pun station]] and [[HKU station]] consists of station boxes that are themselves,  also tube-like though flatter, while Shau Kei Wan, [[Admiralty station (MTR)|Admiralty]], [[Central station (MTR)|Central]] and [[Kennedy Town station|Kennedy Town]] stations are built using the cut-and-cover method.

Because most stations were built under roads, most of the platforms are curved, resulting in large [[platform gap]]s. The few stations where the platforms are otherwise relatively straight are those on the West Island line as well as [[North Point station|North Point]], Quarry Bay, Tai Koo, Heng Fa Chuen and Chai Wan. Also, due to geographical constraints, the platforms of [[Wan Chai station|Wan Chai]], [[Causeway Bay station|Causeway Bay]], [[Tin Hau station|Tin Hau]] and [[Sai Wan Ho station|Sai Wan Ho]] are located on two different levels. This also separates the platform and concourse into two parts, so there are some passageways and long escalators on those stations to link between the platform and concourse.

All Island line stations except Heng Fa Chuen and Chai Wan have their Chinese station names written in [[Chinese calligraphy]] as part of the stations' livery. A retired architect involved in the design of the Island line, Abe Au Kit-tong,<ref>{{cite web |website=South China Morning Post |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3138018/writing-wall-hong-kongs-mtr-stations-are-retired  |title=Writing on the wall: Hong Kong's MTR stations are retired architect's 'museum of calligraphy' |date=21 June 2021 |access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref> explained that the calligraphy is written in large fonts to alleviate the psychological effect caused by the narrow platforms and the curvature of the walls, in addition to reminding passengers what the stop is.<ref>{{Cite news
|work=[[Ming Pao]]
|date=23 October 2006
|title=地鐵書法家寫出人生安慰獎．港島線各站大字 陪伴港人20年 (lit. ''Life consolation prize to MTR calligrapher. Island line calligraphy lives with Hongkonger for 20 years.'')
}}</ref> This explains why Heng Fa Chuen and Chai Wan stations do not have calligraphy forming part of their livery, as they are built above ground rather than underground. This feature is also shared amongst some newer MTR stations such as those on the Tseung Kwan O line and [[Lam Tin station]] on the Kwun Tong line.

{|border=0 align=center
|[[Image:MTR Island Line Geograpical Map.png|thumb|center|900px|Geographically accurate map of the MTR Island line]]
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Admiralty Station 2014 04 part1.JPG|[[Admiralty station (MTR)|Admiralty station]], Island line platform
File:A135-A138(054) Island Line 17-07-2018.jpg|Train approaching [[Heng Fa Chuen station]]
File:Chai Wan Station Platform 201303.jpg|A train waiting to depart from [[Chai Wan station]], terminus of the Island line
File:Tai Koo opening.jpg|Plaque of MTR Island line opening ceremony held at [[Tai Koo station]] on 31 May 1985 by [[Edward Youde|Sir Edward Youde]], then [[governor of Hong Kong]]
</gallery>
{{Clear}}

==Stations==
This is a list of the [[List of MTR stations|stations]] on the Island line.

'''List'''
{| class="wikitable" style="color: black; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%"
! rowspan="2" | Livery
! colspan="2" | Station name
! rowspan="2" | Images
! rowspan="2" | Interchange;<br /><small>Adjacent transport</small>
! rowspan="2" | Opening
! rowspan="2" | [[Districts of Hong Kong|District]]
|-
!English
!Chinese
|- bgcolor=#{{rcr|MTR|Island}}
| colspan="9" style="text-align:center;" |'''[[Tsuen Wan line|<span style="color:white;">Island Line (ISL)</span>]]'''
|-
| style="background-color: #95D0D0;" |
| [[Kennedy Town station|'''Kennedy Town''']]
| 堅尼地城
| [[File:Kennedy Town Station platforms 2022 05 part1.jpg|100px]]
| {{sdash}}
| rowspan="2" |28 December 2014;<br />{{Years or months ago|2014|12}}
| rowspan="6" |[[Central and Western District|Central and Western]]
|-
| style="background-color: #B8DA89;" |
| [[HKU station|'''HKU''']]
| 香港大學
| [[File:HKU Station 2020 03 part1.jpg|100px]]
| ''{{rcb|MTR|South Island West|croute}} <small>(proposed)</small>''
|-
| style="background-color: #D3A4FF;" |
| [[Sai Ying Pun station|'''Sai Ying Pun''']]
| 西營盤
| [[File:Sai Ying Pun Station 2020 03 part2.jpg|100px]]
| rowspan="2" {{sdash}}
| 29 March 2015;<br />{{Years or months ago|2015|03}}
|-
| style="background-color: #FFD280;" |
| [[Sheung Wan station|'''Sheung Wan''']]
| 上環
| [[File:Sheung Wan Station 2021 06 part2.jpg|100px]]
| 23 May 1986;<br />{{Years or months ago|1986|05}}
|-
| style="background-color: #AA0000;" |
| [[Central station (MTR)|'''Central''']]{{efn|Tsuen Wan line part originally opened as Chater station.}}
| 中環
| [[File:Central Station 2018 01 part4.jpg|100px]]
| {{rcb|MTR|Tsuen Wan|croute}}<br><br>{{rint|HK|MTR}} '''[[Hong Kong station|Hong Kong]]:'''<br>{{rcb|MTR|Tung Chung|croute}}<br>{{rcb|MTR|Airport Express|croute}}
| rowspan="2" |12 February 1980;<br />{{Years or months ago|1980|02}}{{efn|name=KTL-opened|Originally opened as part of the [[Kwun Tong line#History|Modified Initial System]].}}{{efn|Island line platforms opened on 31 May 1985 (Admiralty) and 23 May 1986 (Pedder/Central). South Island line platforms opened on 28 December 2016, and East Rail platforms opened on 15 May 2022.}}
|-
| style="background-color: #0060C0;" |
| [[Admiralty station (MTR)|'''Admiralty''']]
| 金鐘
| [[File:Admiralty Station 2021 05 part3.jpg|100px]]
| {{plainlist|
*{{rcb|MTR|Tsuen Wan|croute}}
*{{rcb|MTR|South Island East|croute}}
*{{rcb|MTR|North South|croute}}
}}
|-
| style="background-color: #A9BC3E;" |
| [[Wan Chai station|'''Wan Chai''']]
| 灣仔
| [[File:Wan Chai Station 2020 03 part1.jpg|100px]]
| {{efn|[[Wan Chai station]] is not an interchange station to [[Exhibition Centre station (MTR)|Exhibition Centre station]] on the {{rcb|MTR|East Rail|yes}} in the MTR fare system. The two stations are not physically connected. There is an out-of-system pedestrian transfer through [[O'Brien Road|several footbridge]]s.}}
| rowspan="11" |31 May 1985;<br />{{Years or months ago|1985|05}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Wan Chai District|Wan Chai]]
|-
| style="background-color: #D9C1D0;" |
| [[Causeway Bay station|'''Causeway Bay''']]
| 銅鑼灣
| [[File:Causeway Bay Station 2013 part2.jpg|100px]]
| rowspan="3" {{sdash}}
|-
| style="background-color: #FF7D00;" |
| [[Tin Hau station|'''Tin Hau''']]
| 天后
| [[File:Tin Hau Station 2021 05 part4.jpg|100px]]
|-
| style="background-color: #005533;" |
| [[Fortress Hill station|'''Fortress Hill''']]
| 炮台山
| [[File:Fortress Hill Station 2020 03 part2.jpg|100px]]
| rowspan="8" |[[Eastern District, Hong Kong|Eastern]]
|-
| style="background-color: #D24D20;" |
| [[North Point station|'''North Point''']]
| 北角
| [[File:North Point Station 2020 09 part3.jpg|100px]]
| rowspan="2" |{{rcb|MTR|Tseung Kwan O|croute}}
|-
| style="background-color: #00918C;" |
| [[Quarry Bay station|'''Quarry Bay''']]
| 鰂魚涌
| [[File:Quarry Bay Station 2021 06 part3.jpg|100px]]
|-
| style="background-color: #BB2200;" |
| [[Tai Koo station|'''Tai Koo''']]
| 太古
| [[File:Tai Koo Station 2020 03 part1.jpg|100px]]
| rowspan="5" {{sdash}}
|-
| style="background-color: #FFCC00;" |
| [[Sai Wan Ho station|'''Sai Wan Ho''']]
| 西灣河
| [[File:Sai Wan Ho Station 2020 03 part2.jpg|100px]]
|-
| style="background-color: #2C3D87;" |
| [[Shau Kei Wan station|'''Shau Kei Wan''']]
| 筲箕灣
| [[File:Shau Kei Wan Station 2014 04 part5.JPG|100px]]
|-
| style="background-color: #BB2200;" |
| [[Heng Fa Chuen station|'''Heng Fa Chuen''']]
| 杏花邨
| [[File:Heng Fa Chuen Station 2013 part1.JPG|100px]]
|-
| style="background-color: #005533;" |
| [[Chai Wan station|'''Chai Wan''']]
| 柴灣
| [[File:Chai Wan Station Platform 201303.jpg|100px]]
|-bgcolor = #{{rcr|MTR|isl}}
|colspan = "7"|
|}

===Notes===

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==Future development==
{{Main|Siu Sai Wan Extension}}

A proposal suggests extending the Island line eastward to terminate at a new [[Siu Sai Wan station]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Stage 2 Public Engagement Consultation Digest|date=8 June 2023 |url=http://www.ourfuturerailway.hk/doc/RDS2U_PE2_consultation_digest_Eng.pdf}}{{dead link|date=June 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons and category|MTR Hong Kong#Island line|Island line (MTR)}}
*[[List of areas of Hong Kong]]
*[[North Island line]]
*[[Transport in Hong Kong]]<!--

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}} -->

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{MTR}}
{{Island line navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Island line (Mtr)}}
[[Category:Island line (MTR)| ]]
[[Category:MTR lines]]
[[Category:Hong Kong Island]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1985]]
[[Category:1432 mm gauge railways in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:1500 V DC railway electrification]]