廣深港高速鐵路香港段進一步規劃 (２００８年４月２２日)
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行政會議已經批准由港鐵公司就廣深港高速鐵路香港段，進行進一步規劃及設計。
香港段會經一條長約26公里的隧道，由西九龍總站伸延至皇崗邊界，並在該處連接廣深港高速鐵路內地段。
政府發言人今日（四月二十二日）表示，興建廣深港高速鐵路將鞏固香港作為華南地區交通樞紐的地位，使香港成為國家發展迅速的高速鐵路網絡的一部分。
發言人表示：「香港段為專用的鐵路，最高行車車速可達每小時200公里，使香港至廣州的行車時間縮短至約50分鐘，比現時粵港直通車使用東鐵路軌的車速快近一倍。」
廣深港高速鐵路的總站將分別設於香港的西九龍和廣州的石壁，中途站包括深圳的福田、龍華及東莞的虎門。
西九龍總站毗鄰機場鐵路九龍站與及九龍南線的九龍西站，使西九龍成為主要的鐵路樞紐。
發言人說:「西九龍總站通過現有鐵路與中環心臟地帶緊密相連，再配合九龍站新的商業發展，勢將成為重要的商業中心。」
他補充說：「總站部分會延伸至西九文化區地底下，方便進出文化區的人士。」 「把廣深港高速鐵路融入西九龍文化區，大大凸顯西九龍總站作為內地門戶和西九龍文化區作為區域文化樞紐的地位。」
「這有助增加來港參與西九藝術、文化和旅遊活動的旅客人次，從而促進文化旅遊。」
內地總站將設於石壁，亦即新廣州站，將會是全國四大客運中心之一。日後，乘客可在石壁轉乘京廣客運專線及在龍華轉乘杭褔深客運專線等高速長途列車。
發言人說: 「本港乘客以高鐵前往上海只需八小時，前往北京只需十小時，比現時的二十多小時減省超過一半時間。」
廣深港高速鐵路預計於二零二零年每日可接載100,000名乘客，於二零三零年更可達120,000人次。以節省的交通時間估算，鐵路運作所帶來的經濟效益在50年內可達830億元。經濟內部回報率為約9%。
新鐵路項目在建造期間可創造5,000個職位，而營運期間則可創造一萬多個職位。
政府從營運及財務各方面作出考慮後，決定採用服務經營權模式，出資約395億元興建廣深港高速鐵路香港段。鐵路建成後，港鐵公司將獲批服務經營權作日後營運，而政府將每年收取服務經營費。
由於政府將撥款興建此鐵路，故此無需把總站上蓋發展權批給港鐵公司。
鐵路工程預計於二零零九年動工，在二零一四或一五年完成。
完 / ２００８年４月２２日（星期二）香港時間１８時１５分
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200804/22/P200804220142.htm
Green light for local section of Express Rail Link (April 22, 2008)
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The Executive Council has agreed that the Mass Transit Railway Corporation Limited (MTRCL) be asked to proceed with further planning and design of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL).
The section will be a 26-kilometre underground rail line that runs from the terminus in West Kowloon to the boundary at Huanggang, where it will connect with the XRL Mainland section.
A Government spokesman said today (April 22) that the XRL would reinforce Hong Kong’s position as the transport hub in southern China and integrate Hong Kong into the country’s rapidly growing express rail network.
“The Hong Kong section will run on a dedicated track with a maximum train speed of 200 km per hour, shortening the travelling time between Hong Kong and Guangzhou to just under 50 minutes, twice as fast as the Guangzhou-Hong Kong through trains on the East Rail alignment,” the spokesman said.
The two termini of the XRL will be at West Kowloon in Hong Kong and Shibi in Guangzhou. Intermediate stations include Futian and Longhua in Shenzhen and Humen in Dongguan.
Together with the adjoining Airport Express Kowloon Station and West Kowloon Station of the Kowloon Southern Link, the terminus of XRL would turn West Kowloon into a major rail hub.
“The location also has a point-to-point connection with the heart of Central via the existing MTR network. Together with the new commercial development at the Kowloon station, it is set to become a prime business centre,” the spokesman said.
The Hong Kong terminus will partly extend into the underground area of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) to provide convenient access.
“The integration into the WKCD will greatly enhance the prominence of the rail terminus as the gateway to Mainland China, and the WKCD as a regional cultural hub.
“It will generate more visits to the proposed art, culture and tourism facilities in the WKCD thereby promoting cultural tourism,” the spokesman added.
The Mainland terminus at Shibi, where the new Guangzhou Station is located, is one of the four biggest passenger transport centres in the country. In future, commuters will be able to switch to such express long-haul services as the proposed Beijing-Guangzhou Passenger Line at Shibi and the Hangzhou-Fuzhou-Shenzhen Passenger Line at Longhua.
“Commuters from Hong Kong will be able to reach Shanghai in eight hours and Beijing in 10 in future, as compared with over 20 hours at present,” the spokesman said.
It is estimated that the XRL will carry about 100,000 passengers daily in 2020 and 120,000 passengers in 2030, generating an economic benefit of $83 billion over the next 50 years in terms of travelling time saved. The economic internal rate of return is about 9%.
The project will create 5,000 jobs during construction and another 10,000 during its operation.
After careful consideration of both the operational and financial implications, the Government has decided to adopt a concession approach to fund the estimated construction cost of $39.5 billion. Upon completion, the MTRCL will be granted a service concession for subsequent operation and pay the Government annually for the concession.
Since the Government will fund the construction cost, the development rights for the site above the Hong Kong terminus will not be granted to the MTRCL.
Works are expected to start in 2009 and be completed in 2014 or 2015.
Ends/Tuesday, April 22, 2008 Issued at HKT 18:16
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200804/22/P200804220141.htm
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