====== Kwong Chow Station ======
| @#EB4881: **Kwong Chow**\\ **光州** ||
| @#EB7AE9: ||
| @#FFDA33: ||
| {{/kwc_1.png?400}}\\ //Platforms, Escalators to north concourse//\\ //(taken on 21 January, 2024)// ||
^ **Overview** ^^
| **Operator** | [[/west_lake_transport_authority|West Lake Transport Authority]] |
| **Lines** | [[/wlt_line_1|Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1]] |
| ::: | [[/wlt_line_2|Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line)]] |
| **Owner** | [[mtr_community:staff:bdark000|BDark000]] |
| **Region** | [[mtr_letsplay:west_lake_area|West Lake]] |
| **Platforms** | 4 |
| **Tracks** | 4 |
| **Coordinates** | (-2130, 2304) |
^ **Station** ^^
| **Type** | Underground |
| **Floors** | 3 |
| **Platform Floors** | 2 |
| **Step-Free Accessible** | Yes |
| **Station Code** | KWC |
| **Opened** | 22 December, 2022 |
| **Electrification** | 25kV Overhead Cable AC (WIP)\\ //(Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1)// |
| ::: | 1.5kV Overhead Cable DC (WIP)\\ //(Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line))// |
**Kwong Chow Station** (Chinese: //光州站//) is a station in the [[mtr_letsplay:west_lake_area|West Lake Area]] built by [[mtr_community:staff:bdark000|BDark000]] on behalf of [[/west_lake_transport_authority|West Lake Transport Authority (WLT)]]. It is the western terminus of [[/wlt_line_2|Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line)]] and a mid-way stop of [[mtr_letsplay:wlt_line_1|Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1]].
The station gets featured for a couple of times in Jonathan's videos((Including [[https://youtu.be/viNwYsPHCMM?si=CPl1iiftCtc7TQSZ|Let's Play S2 Finale]] //(starting from 1:07:30)//, [[https://youtu.be/iWnGgoS7Dhc?si=6a7sSB-QkK0uO_YZ|5 Amazing Minecraft Train Stations]] //(starting from 12:12)// and [[https://youtu.be/mlC4KZOtOEM?si=FBrL7nl0qZpJz1ZH|Let's Play S3E25]] //(starting from 54:18)// )).
===== History =====
When [[/west_lake_transport_authority|WLT]]'s first plan regarding transportation in the [[/west_lake_area|West Lake Area]] is out, the region near now Kwong Chow station is already planned to have at least a station to serve the residence. Due to lines being proposed to be light rail in the beginning, it was planned to have two stations instead of one, at the north side and south side of the stream respectively((Roughly at the location of now [[/kwong_chow_station#layout|north concourse]] and [[/kwong_chow_station#layout|south concourse]])). The name **Kwong Chow**((Yielding from Cantonese pronunciation of [[wp>hanja|hanja]] 光州 )) was previously only assigned to the area at the north of the stream, due to the land shape looking like [[wp>Korea|the Korean Peninsula]], picking a city name at the south end of the Peninsula which can correspond to the landscape(([[wp>Busan|Busan]] is more well-known yet not chosen because the "san"(Hanja 山) literally means hill but the it isn't hilly right at the north of the stream)). Meanwhile, **Chai Chow**((Yielding from Cantonese pronunciation of [[wp>hanja|hanja]] 濟州)) was originally picked to be the name of the area south of the stream, since it's at the south of the Peninsula, separated by water bodies.
After the planned light rail routes are upgraded to rapid transit, the area is no longer sufficient to support two stations. Hence, they are merged to one, and **Kwong Chow** is picked while **Chai Chow** is dropped. It was planned to have a vast space for the platform structure, being two side platforms with at least 8m tall and 19m apart from each other, serving [[/wlt_line_1|Line 1 (Meyan Line)]] (called WLT Line 1 at that time). Middle part is separated into a mezzanine 4m above and lower part 4m under the split side platforms. A pair of stacked tracks of [[/wlt_line_2|Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line)]] (called WLT Line 2 at that time) passing in the middle and forming two double-sided side platforms. In that design, passengers alighting from Line 2, can exit on either side to change to Line 1 trains for the two directions on the opposite, or go up the escalators, stairs or lifts to exit the station. Conversely, passengers changing from both directions of Line 1 can enjoy a "cross platform interchange" to Line 2.
Unfortunately, after some study of trackwork, as both Line 1 and Line 2 is going from overground to underground at the north of the station, with a rather steep gradient. It is difficult to get Line 1 southbound tunnels properly crossing over or under two layers of Line 2 tunnels and reach designated position, then crossing under Line 2 tunnels again at the south of the station. Line 1 tracks also need to allow rooms for trains going to and from [[/chung_kwo_kok_depot|Chung Kwo Kok Depot]]. The plan was deemed too complicated and not feasible, hence was given up.
Although the plan that brings the most convenience to passengers doesn't proceed, the concept of openness in design remains. WLT turns to take the designs of real life KCRC [[wp>Sha_Tin to_Central_Link|Sha Tin to Central Link]], including now [[wp>Tai_Wai_Station|Tai Wai station]] and proposed Hung Hom station new platforms as a reference. They both have a hollow upper floor design. Upper floor can see the lower floor, and vice versa. **Kwong Chow** station is redesigned to have a double-layered platform inspiring from KCRC openness and concourses on two ends, with Line 1 tracks at the west and Line 2 tracks at the east, eliminating all possibilities of tracks crossing each other, to keep the alignments simple. Meanwhile, the cross platform interchange between Line 2 and Line 1 sections north of Kwong Chow is retained, and Line 1 sections south of Kwong Chow is forgone, in accordance to the [[/ckk_and_wyi_plan|Chung Kwo Kok and Wong Yip Island Development Plan]] as well as more developments of other builders from [[/northern_snow_village_station|Northern Snow Village]] station to [[/birch_hill_station|Birch Hill]] station than from [[/yuen_chow_kok_station|Yuen Chow Kok]] station to [[/suet_yuen_station|Suet Yuen]] station.
==== Timeline ====
* late July, 2022: Initial plan of transportation in the West Lake Area is out. Stations are not yet confirmed but planned to have two near now **Kwong Chow** station.
* early August, 2022: WLT confirms that only one **Kwong Chow** station will be built.
* early September, 2022: Station starts planning for Line 1 split side platforms and Line 2 stacked double-sided side platforms proposal.
* mid October, 2022: Station layout is revised to how it looks now.
* 22 December, 2022: Station is open to the public as well as the extension of WLT Line 1 Phase 1 from Birch Hill station to this station.
* early January, 2023: Step-free access is now fully available after a new lift exit is added to Exit D.
* 24 June, 2023: Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line) runs a shuttle service (later known as W. Section Temp Shuttle) between this station and [[/sai_mo_island_station|Sai Mo Island]] station. It is the first day of the station providing cross platform interchange.
* early December, 2023: A small renovation on the stairs is done. Most of the staircases in the station are extended and leave a small space in the middle for better safety and passengers experience. Also, the downward escalator from south concourse to platform 1 has been removed and become part of the staircase for better crowd control.
* 18 May, 2024: Station becomes a mid-way stop of Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1 when the line extends to [[/tai_po_station|Tai Po]].
===== Layout =====
Not counting exits, there are a total of 3 floors in the station. **L1** is concourse and is separated into north and south part not directly accessible to each other, due to [[/kwong_chow_grand_canal|the Grand Canal]] in between. North part connects Exit C, D while south part connects Exit A, B. **L2** and **L3** are platforms under the canal.
Platforms 1, 3 stack on top of platforms 2, 4 on the two sides. In between is the core structure. Under the concourse on two ends, it consists of walls, passages, staircases and escalators. Under the canal, it has the famous high ceiling spacious and open design, with chandeliers hung between the pillars. To facilitate the interchange at the upper platforms, a passageway in the middle is built to further connect up platforms 1 and 3. And since future interchange between [[mtr_letsplay:wlt_line_1|Line 1 (Meyan Line)]] south of Kwong Chow and [[mtr_letsplay:wlt_line_2|Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line)]] requires going down from upper platforms to lower platforms, a staircase and two escalators connecting the two floors are also built.
One lift is serving between north concourse and the platforms, while another is serving between south concourse and the platforms. The lift serving south concourse is larger due to a higher anticipated passengers flow and capacity needed.
| **U1** |**South Side Exits**|**North Side Exits**|
| ::: | Exit A2 | |
| **G** |**South Side Exits** | **North Side Exits** |
| ::: | Exit A1, Exit B | Exit C, Exit D |
| **L1** | **South Concourse** | **North Concourse** |
| ::: | Customer Service Centre, Tickets ||
| **L2** | **Upper Platforms** ||
| ::: | @#EB7AE9: ||
| ::: | Platform **1** | [[mtr_letsplay:wlt_line_1|Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1]] to [[mtr_letsplay:mesa_station|Mesa]] -> (Doors open on the right) |
| ::: | Island Platform ||
| ::: | Platform **3** | <- [[mtr_letsplay:wlt_line_2|Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line)]] terminating (Doors open on the right)|
| ::: | @#FFDA33: ||
| **L3** | **Lower Platforms**||
| ::: | @#EB7AE9: ||
| ::: | Platform **2** | <- [[mtr_letsplay:wlt_line_1|Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1]] to [[/tai_po_station|Tai Po]] (Doors open on the left) |
| ::: | Island Platform ||
| ::: | Platform **4** | [[mtr_letsplay:wlt_line_2|Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line)]] W. Section to [[/forest_peaks_station|Forest Peaks]] -> (Doors open on the left) |
| ::: | @#FFDA33: ||
===== Exits =====
* A: BDark Kwong Chow Castle
* A1: BDark Kwong Chow Castle
* A2: Yu Kwong Village
* B: Sai Wan {{mtr:elevator2.png?24x24}}
* C: BDark's Bridge
* C1: BDark's Bridge
* C2: Kwong Chow North Area
* D: Kwong Chow Pier {{mtr:elevator2.png?24x24}}
* D1: Kwong Chow Pier
* D2: Welcome Cape
===== Train Services =====
Passengers may take Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1 heading towards Tai Po, Sakura Stream Area, Northern Snowland and Mesa or Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line) heading towards Spawn Area. Incoming passengers can change to another line to continue their journey on the opposite platform. Passengers going from and to Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line) and Line 1 (Meyan Line) stations southwards/eastwards need to go down one floor.
| **[[mtr_letsplay:wlt_line_1|Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1]]** |
| @#EB7AE9: |
| [[/mesa_station|Mesa]] - //Chi Chuk// - //Ying Mo// - //Tung Yuen// - Northern Snow Village - [[/hung_ngai_tung_station|Hung Ngai Tung]] - [[/sakura_stream_junction_station|Sakura Stream Junction]] - [[mtr_letsplay:providence_station|Providence]] - [[/birch_hill_station|Birch Hill]] - [[mtr_letsplay:chung_kwo_kok_station|Chung Kwo Kok]] - **Kwong Chow** - //Yuen Chow Kok// - [[/tai_po_station|Tai Po]] |
| **[[mtr_letsplay:wlt_line_2|Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line) W. Section]]** |
| @#FFDA33: |
| **Kwong Chow** - [[/sha_tsui_station|Sha Tsui]] - //West Lake// - [[/sai_mo_island_station|Sai Mo Island ]] - //See Tsuen// - [[/spawn_station|Spawn]] - Three Rivers - [[/forest_peaks_station|Forest Peaks]] |