Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) is an energetic octopus that keeps extending its arms to catch passengers into its railway system. To enhance its market share, early since 1997, the corporation has completed thirteen pedestrian links (PedLinks) and sixteen more are coming within the next five years. On 30 March 2006, the CV Division invited Ir Peter Leung, the railway extension manager, and Ir C C Ip, the senior design management engineer, to explain the planning process and design aspects of the PedLinks.

PedLinks, in the form of a footbridge, walkway or subway, connect railway stations to surrounding strategic locations to benefit the public, private sectors and the government by improving accessibility, stimulating land use and reinforcing government policy of using the railway system as the transport backbone of Hong Kong. Once suitable sites are identified, MTRC analyses economical benefits brought by the schemes and negotiates funding arrangement for viable schemes with the project proponents, which can be private developers or the government. PedLinks is on a smaller scale than railway extension projects and yet, it needs to undergo the same complicated planning process, such as environmental impact assessment study and public consultation prior to design and construction. Interface difficulties and time constraint are two major project risks. As the projects are located in urban areas, congested utilities underground and breakthrough into existing stations will be encountered. Even worse, the projects are sometimes under a tight programme with an aim to match the opening date of developments. 

In the design of PedLinks, railway protection is a specific issue to be considered. As subways are prone to flooding, flood board, flood steps and flood door of sliding or swing type are provided at the entrance to prevent water from flowing down into the stations. The swing type flood door is suitable for less than 6 m wide opening while the sliding type can accommodate larger opening and constrained space. As the sliding one is comparatively more massive, lightweight alloys are employed to facilitate manual operation in case of emergency.

Cheung Lai Street Pedestrian Subway linking Lai Chi Kok Station to the development at Liberte and Pacifica is the latest project in the pipeline. So far, the one I appreciate most is the comfortable route to Langham Place - a subway bypassing the Red Light Zone on Portland Street and links to Mongkok Station. How about you?