Table of Contents
Line 2 (Kwong Pak Kwun Line)
Line 2 (Kwong Pak Kwun Line) 二號 (光北觀) 綫 |
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A K-Train arrived at Sai Mo Island |
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Overview | |
Abbreviation | L2 (KNL) |
Status | Operational (Kwong Chow - Makki Memorial Village) (Kwong Chow - Ostania) Under construction (West Lake1), See Tsuen, Dragon Loop Centre, Yuren Matou (Avondale)) |
Owner | WLT (Kwong Chow - Spawn) (Spawn - Puda Xi (W. Laputa)) Auckland Transport (Spawn - Coast City) Qingli Railways (Coast City - Makki Memorial Village, except Dragon Loop Centre) (Westalis - Ostania) Lilypad Rail (Dragon Loop Centre) CyanEX Rapid Transit (Puda Xi (W. Laputa) - Westalis) |
Locale | West Lake Spawn Waitematā and Toitoi |
Termini | Kwong Chow Ostania Makki Memorial Village |
Connecting Lines | Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1 |
Line 3 (Cyan Gray Line) | |
Elizabeth Line | |
Hana-Koshi Line | |
Spawn Grand Circular | |
Airport Express(WIP) | |
Scottetsu Line | |
Furret Line | |
BCT Red Line | |
High Speed Rail | |
Sightseeing Local Line | |
Sightseeing Line | |
Metro South Continental Line | |
Metro Pengaloo Line | |
AT Metro | |
Tramlink | |
AT Regional | |
Lilac Light Rail | |
Chin Ka Village Fast, Frequent and Free Light Rail | |
Azalea Cyan Line | |
Kallos Ferry | |
BCT Silver Line | |
BCT Blue Line | |
Hillside Line | |
BCT Orange Line | |
BCT Azur Line | |
Oculink Yellow Line | |
Resort Ferries | |
Fairview Line | |
Fairview Express | |
Oculink Blue Line | |
Oculink Red Line | |
Kallos Express | |
Wilds Railway Aldgate & Resort Line | |
Metro Blossom East Line | |
Bond Line | |
Effirt Express | |
Stations2) | 13 (3 work in progress) |
Service | |
Operator(s) | WLT |
Service Hours | 04:47 - next day 03:23 (UTC+8) |
Frequency | Every 1 - 12 mins |
Depot | Chik Shek Wan Depot |
Rolling Stock | M-Train (small variant) K-Train (small variant) C-Train (small variant) CyanEX CXD104 |
History | |
Opened | First open: 20 August, 2022 (Coast City - Makki Memorial Village) 7 September, 2022 (Spawn - Coast City) 24 June, 2023 (Special shuttle: Kwong Chow, Sai Mo Island) 13 April, 2024 (Sha Tsui station) 29 August, 2024 (Spawn - Puda Xi (W. Laputa)) Merge: 5 May, 2024 (Spawn - Forest Peaks) 29 August, 2024 (Forest Peaks - Makki Memorial Village) (Puda Xi (W. Laputa) - Ostania)) |
Technical | |
Line Length | TBC |
Number of Tracks | Double Track |
Operating Speed | Average: TBC Maximum: 105 km/h (29.2 m/s)3) |
Signalling System | MTR Mod's Signalling (with advanced speed controlling) |
Route Map | |
Line 2 (Kwong Pak Kwun Line) (Chinese: 二號 (光北觀) 綫), full name Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast / Sightseeing Phase 3, 4 Line) (Chinese: 二號 (光州 - 北海岸 / 觀光三、四期) 綫) is a rapid transit service operated by West Lake Transport Authority, Qingli Railways (QLR) and Cyanex Rapid Transit (Cyanex), combining WLT Line 2 which goes from Kwong Chow station to Spawn station and QLR North Coast Line which goes from Spawn station to Makki Memorial Village station, throughrunning Sightseeing Line Phase 3, 4 and Bond Line to Ostania station.
The line colour is mandarin yellow inspired from real life Tung Chung Line and in accordance with the red colour of Kwong Chow station and the orchid magenta colour of Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 14).
History
WLT Line 2 (Kwong Chow Line)
The line is first known as the branch of earliest WLT railway services plan, connecting up Spawn area with Kwong Chow, via the east shore area of West Lake. It is separated from Line 1 and forms Line 2.
It was originally planned to connect Spawn Grand Circular and Weiss LRT at Red Leaves station. However, it changed when Kettle rebuilt Spawn and Coast Railway to form part of the AT Metro network. Since the number of connections to Spawn station has increased, and Spawn-Cyan Height Metropolis started developing, WLT decided to accept Kettle's offer of building 2 more platforms at underground level5) for Line 2 to terminate. The proposed route as well as location of Sai Mo Island station and See Tsuen station was adjusted accordingly, forming the now zigzag lining.
Before the line is fully ready, a special shuttle service already started between Sai Mo Island station and Kwong Chow station, with no intermediate stops, for promoting Kwong Chow to the visitors on Hana-Koshi Line open day 24 June, 2023. After the open day, the service is closed and continues construction, until when Line 1 is undergoing renovation, Line 2 along with the new bus route 4S connecting Sai Mo Island to Spawn-Cyan Height Metropolis6) serves as the replacement for transport service to Kwong Chow.
Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line) W. Section Temp Shuttle no longer has no intermediate stops after Sha Tsui station has finished its construction and opens to the public.
North Coast Line
Merge of Two Lines
The idea of merging WLT Line 2 and QLR North Coast Line first came up when QLR offers to through-run North Coast Line trains to WLT Line 2. At that time, AT Metro 2209 service7) was using only one platform for terminating and outbound trains, causing confusion to passengers and occasional waiting outside the station. There were no independent sections for trains to wait, hence North Coast Line services were also affected.
Feasibility of merging, i.e., the compatibility of two lines, is soon studied. Since WLT Line 2 and North Coast Line are using trains with the same length8) and door spacing9), the merge is likely to be successful. The main difference to mitigate is only the turn radius as well as largest inclination requirement. Changes in track alignmemts and rolling stocks of existing North Coast Line are soon proposed and agreed.
Merging saves the platform for turning back North Coast Line trains, giving it to AT Metro 2209 service terminating trains. Then, the congestion will be largely relieved. The project is initiated as the early work of WLT Line 2, including the crossings and a pair of 700m tracks west of Spawn station, and was done on 3 May 2023. The progress of the sections between Spawn station and Forest Peaks station, Ōrākei West station and Toitoi station are also going well.
After confirmed to merge, WLT Line 2 drops the company name WLT in its naming and adopt a Shenzhen Metro legacy style naming Line 2 (Kwong Chow - North Coast Line), with reference to the new MRT Line Thomson-East Coast Line in Singapore. It is expected the other two rapid transit lines built and operated by WLT, Line 1 and Line 3, will follow a similar naming style.
The merge is later split into two stages because of the amount of work needed to revamp some sections. The first stage is done on 5 May 2024 which WLT Line 2 (Kwong Chow Line) trains run from Kwong Chow via Sai Mo Island and Spawn to Forest Peaks while QLR North Coast Line trains turn back at Coast City. Yet West Lake station and See Tsuen station is not yet completed or opened although trains stop at the stations.
Full merge is rolled out on 29 August 2024 along with new host.
Throughrunning
After the studies on feasibility of merging, it was also found that the maximum signalling headway for original WLT Line 2 sections and North Coast Line sections is similar; however, the maximum train frequency of the North Coast Line is limited by the shared section with AT Metro 2209 Service between Spawn station and Forest Peaks station. If the service between Kwong Chow station and Spawn station needed to operate at the maximum possible capacity, WLT Line 2 would need to also merge with AT Metro 2209 Service, or divert some trains away, or turn back some trains at Spawn.
Option 2 is inspired by the once operated Sightseeing Express - South Continental Line through-running service. It is chosen after more discussions and studies. A branch through-running to Cyanex Rapid Transit's Sightseeing Express Line Phase 3 (now Cyan Twilight Line) was proposed to utilize the slots allocated to AT Metro 2209 Service from Spawn station to Forest Peaks station for remaining sections from Kwong Chow station to Spawn station.
The branch also makes travelling between West Lake Area, and Bayside, Ho's Bridge and Chou Wai much more convenient, also reduces the overcrowding in Spawn-Cyan Heights Metropolis and improves player's experience10). Therefore, although AT Metro later withdraws the 2209 service and leaves the section between Spawn and Forest Peaks to solely North Coast Line, the plan still continues.
When throughrunning starts, WLT decides to change the name to account for a long section of throughrunning shown on system map.
Timeline
- 7 August, 2023: Revised proposal published.
- 26 November, 2023: Proposed merge of WLT Line 2 and QLR North Coast Line.
- 5 March, 2023: LPR proposed adding Dragon Loop Centre station.
- 15 March, 2023: Proposed branch through-running service with Cyan Twilight Line and Bond Line.
- 24 June, 2023: Started special shuttle service.
- 25 June, 2023: Ended special shuttle service.
- 10 July, 2023: Started again special shuttle service.
- 13 April, 2024: Sha Tsui station opens to the public.
- 5 May, 2024: First stage of merge kicks in.
- 29 August, 2024: Full merge kicks in and throughrunning starts. Name is changed to account for a rather long throughrunning section in Sightseeing Line Phase 3, 4 comparing to Kwong Chow Line section.
Rolling Stocks
Similar to Line 1 (Meyan Line), since turn radius is small between West Lake station and See Tsuen station in the final zig-zag lining plan, 4-door trains are used instead of 5-door trains that are currently running on North Coast Line. Existing 6 sets of 5-door C-Train with railway vision livery is gradually rebuilding to 5 sets of 4-door C-Train. 1 set of rebuilt C-Train has already transported to Chik Shek Wan Depot and started its passengers service on the shuttle between Kwong Chow and Sai Mo Island. 2 more sets of C-Train has also started passengers service after the first stage of merge.
There are also 511) set of M-Train (phase 2A) and 8 sets of K-Train have started serving passengers.
Originally, the fleet was planned to include 3 sets of Shanghai Metro Trains 01A06 previously running on the North Coast Line. However, as the trains are too tall for the tunnels, they are planned to retire instead as soon as North Coast Line merges with WLT Line 2. Alternatively, 5 sets of phase 2C M-Train will join the fleet, but with an overhaul in the propulsion system by Alstom, as DC motor is harder to maintenance and consumes more electricity.
Due to the platforms in Cyan Twilight Line12) can only accomodate 4-car 4-door trains, trains through-running to Cyan Twilight Line and Bond Line need to consist of only 4 cars rather than 5 cars. For promotion of direct access to the Sightseeing Line network, Cyanex Rapid Transit CXD104 is chosen to be the sole rolling stock used for 4-car trains. Yet, ABB FW D950 traction instead of CRRC Times tpower-tn3 traction or Alstom Optonix1500 traction equipped by trains running on the Sightseeing Line is equipped for first batch of 15 sets 4-car trains, possibly because of it allowing a tuning with softer sound. It is planned that the next and last batch of 10 sets 4-car trains will be equipped with Bombardier Mitrac (TC1110 series) traction
Car Formation of M-Trains (phase 2A) | ||||
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← To Makki Memorial Village/Ostania | To Kwong Chow → | |||
A2xx(odd) - C2xx(odd) + E2xx(even) + C2xx(even) - A2xx(even) | ||||
xx refers to any number from 00 to 09 | ||||
Car Prefix | Driver's Cabin | Pantograph/ Engine13) | Motor | Hostler |
A2xx | O | X | O | X |
C2xx | X | O | O | O |
E2xx | X | O | O | O |
Car Formation of M-Trains (phase 2C) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
← To Makki Memorial Village/Ostania | To Kwong Chow → | |||
A2xx(odd) - C2xx(odd) + D2xx(even) + C2xx(even) - A2xx(even) | ||||
xx refers to any number from 10 to 19 | ||||
Car Prefix | Driver's Cabin | Pantograph/ Engine14) | Motor | Hostler |
A2xx | O | X | O | X |
C2xx | X | O | O | O |
D2xx | X | X | X | O |
Car Formation of K-Trains | ||||
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← To Makki Memorial Village/Ostania | To Kwong Chow → | |||
A2xx(odd) - C2xx(odd) + B2xx(even) - C2xx(even) - A2xx(even) | ||||
xx refers to any number from 20 to 39 | ||||
Car Prefix | Driver's Cabin | Pantograph/ Engine15) | Motor | Hostler |
A2xx | O | X | X | X |
C2xx | X | O | O | O16) |
B2xx | X | X | O | O |
Car Formation of C-Trains | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
← To Makki Memorial Village/Ostania | To Kwong Chow → | |||
A2xx(odd) - C2xx(odd) + B2xx(even) - C2xx(even) - A2xx(even) | ||||
xx refers to any number from 40 to 49 | ||||
Car Prefix | Driver's Cabin | Pantograph/ Engine17) | Motor | Hostler |
A2xx | O | X | X | X |
C2xx | X | O | O | O18) |
B2xx | X | X | O | O |
Car Formation of CXD104 | ||||
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← To Makki Memorial Village/Ostania | To Kwong Chow → | |||
A2xx(odd) - C2xx(odd) + C2xx(even) - A2xx(even) | ||||
xx refers to any number from 50 to 99 | ||||
Car Prefix | Driver's Cabin | Pantograph/ Engine19) | Motor | Hostler |
A2xx | O | X | O | X |
C2xx | X | O | O | O |
Operations
There are a mix of 4-car and 5-car trains running. 5-car trains are serving from Kwong Chow to Makki Memorial Village, and 4-car trains are serving from Kwong Chow to Ostania. They are both stopping at all intermediate stops (including WIP stations). There are a mix of 4-car and 5-car trains running between Kwong Chow and Spawn. Passengers can distinguish 5-car only waiting area from 4-car/5-car both applicable waiting area by a different colour line when 4-car/5-car trains are stopping at the same platform. The upcoming trains information in PIDS also shows the trains are 4-car or 5-car, labelled with blue colour and brown colour respectively.
Average Train Intervals (in mins) | |||
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Time Session (in UTC+8) | Line 2 (Kwong Pak Kwun Line) | ||
Kwong Chow - Spawn | Kwong Chow - Makki Memorial Village | Kwong Chow - Ostania | |
5 am - 9 am | 3 - 7 | 4 - 8 | 8 |
9 am - 9 pm | 1.7 - 3.2 | 3.2 - 4.8 | 8 |
9 pm - 11 pm | 1.2 - 2.6 | 1.3 - 4.2 | 4.5 - 7 |
11 pm - 1 am | 1.7 - 3.2 | 3.2 - 4.8 | 8 |
1 am - 3 am | 3 - 7 | 5.5 - 8 | 8 |
Future Plans
There are no expected further expansion on the line. Existing non-finished stations and track sections will be gradually worked on.
Stations (WIP)
Livery and Station Name | Connections | Opening date | District | ||||
English | Chinese | Abbreviation20) | |||||
Line 2 (Kwong Pak Kwun Line) - Kwong Chow Line section | |||||||
Kwong Chow | 光州 | KWC | Line 1 (Meyan Line) Phase 1 | 22 December, 2022 | West Lake | ||
West Lake Duck | |||||||
Sha Tsui | 沙咀 | SHT | 13 April, 2024 | ||||
West Lake | 西湖 | WEA | Line 3 (Cyan Gray Line) | 8 October, 202421) | |||
Elizabeth Line | |||||||
Line 2 (Kwong Pak Kwun Line) - North Coast Line section | |||||||
Line 2 (Kwong Pak Kwun Line) - Sightseeing Line Phase 3, 4 section |