The MTR Kwun Tong Line Whampoa Extension is a new 2-station extension from the former terminus of Yau Mat Tei in downtown Kowloon towards Ho Ma Tin and Whampoa in Hung Hom. On top of providing new MTR access for the residents of Lo Lung Hang and Whampoa, Ho Ma Tin will provide transfers to the MTR Tuen Ma Line once it fully opens in 2021. While the extension opened on 23 October 2016, I haven’t got the chance to take on on my previous few trips, but I have more free time this time – 3 years and 1 day after it’s opening.
The island platform of Yau Ma Tei.
The platform signs to Whampoa at Yau Ma Tei. Due to the cross in track arrangements between Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei (which wasn’t noticeable last time when Yau Ma Tei was a terminus with an island platform since trains would arrive at either track), trains travel on the right of each other as compared to the rest of the MTR network, excluding the MTR Ma On Shan Line and future MTR Tuen Ma Line.
The route map of the Kwun Tong Line towards Whampoa.
Looks like Tuen Ma Line prints are ready.
The 2-station extension which I’m heading to.
The station name of Yau Ma Tei with the MTR mosaic design behind it.
The arriving train to Whampoa.
The dynamic route map on board the Metro-Cammell EMU M-Train.
The Kwun Tong Line takes up almost half of the dynamic route map now with the extension.
Heading to Ho Ma Tin.
The interior of the Metro-Cammell EMU (M-Train).
I alighted at Ho Ma Tin to check out the platform.
The station name of Ho Ma Tin with a green mosaic background.
The platform is surprisingly wide in the middle.
The rest of the platform are slimmer, similar to the Island Line.
Heading back into the next train to head to Whampoa.
The line between Ho Ma Tin and Whampoa is single-tracked. Upon departing from Ho Ma Tin, the line has a scissors crossing – one track leads to Whampoa and the other leads to a parallel headshunt to turn trains back towards Tiu Keng Leng during peak hours. Only half of the trains on the Kwun Tong Line terminate at Whampoa during peak hours.
Heading on to Whampoa.
The turnaround time at Whampoa is similar to a regular intermediate station, with the doors quickly shutting to allow the next train to enter the line. I guess this is why CBTC was needed.
The calligraphic station name of Whampoa on a light blue panel. A move away from the norm, Whampoa does not have full mosaic walls, but rather, regular panels on the main part of the walls with the mosaic just on the bottom.
The regular station name of Whampoa on a light blue panel.
The new Kwun Tong Line full route map above the platform screen doors.
There is just a single platform at Whampoa, heading towards Tiu Keng Leng.
The arriving train towards Tiu Keng Leng at Whampoa.
The arriving train towards Tiu Keng Leng quickly indicates as departing, and rightly so.
The lit-up dynamic route map on board the Metro-Cammell EMU (M-Train) towards Tiu Keng Leng.
The EmptyR on a weekday afternoon.
A nice artistic mosaic here at Ho Ma Tin.
Departing from Ho Ma Tin.
The lit-up dynamic route map on board the Metro-Cammell EMU (M-Train) indicating the interchange with the Tsuen Wan Line towards Central.
Back at Yau Ma Tei.
I headed back to Whampoa again as I actually needed to get there.
Heading out of the fare gates at the concourse. A new addition to the facilities include a toilet in the paid area of the station – something rarely found on the MTR network.
Heading out of Exit C2.
Seems like Exit C2 was trashed by protesters, leaving little indication that it is indeed an MTR exit if seeing it for the first time from outside.
There is a separate lift-only exit on the other side of the road.
Whampoa Exit A among the residential blocks.
Some graffiti has been washed off Exit A.
The Whampoa, the iconic ship-shaped landmark mall just outside Exit C.
From here, I headed over to Hung Hom Ferry Pier to catch the ferry.
Overall, a rather useful line extension to a previously bus-only area of Kowloon despite being so close to the downtown of Tsim Sha Tsui. Hopefully, with the upcoming Tuen Ma Line, it will make travelling around Kowloon City even easier.