Sheung Wan is a station of the Hong KongMTR Island Line, and was formerly the westbound terminus of the Island Line. It was originally planned in 1970 as Western Market but its construction was discontinued after further planning for the new lines. Upon the construction of the Island Line, the station was finally constructed and opened in May 1986. The livery colour of this station is khaki.
History
The station was originally proposed under the name Western Market in the 1967 Hong Kong Mass Transport Study. It was finally constructed and opened on 23 May 1986 as part of the Island Line. There is a plaque in the station concourse, laid by Financial Secretary John Henry Bremridge, commemorating the completion of the Island Line. Sheung Wan served as the western terminus of the Island Line until the extension of the line to Kennedy Town.
Station layout
The platforms are built under Des Voeux Road from Cleverly Street to Rumsey Street. Although platforms 1 and 2 are parallel to and directly opposite each other, there is a wall separating the two tracks giving a false impression that both platforms are separated by a long distance from each other. Both platforms are slightly longer than those on other MTR underground stations. It has been suggested that this was the result of problems in calculations during the station's construction.
Rumsey Street platforms
The platforms of Rumsey station, originally planned as the southern terminus of the East Kowloon line, still remain in Sheung Wan station. They are located near Exit E, forming part of the passageways between the concourse and the open platforms, and they run perpendicular to the Island Line platforms below. The platforms were never completed, and have a length of about three MTR EMUs, roughly 60 metres long; do not have tracks nor overhead power lines; and have all tunnel entrances sealed with bricks. In recent years, one of the proposal for the usage of the Rumsey Street platforms has been for them to be the terminus of the West Island Line. However, with the decision to make the West Island Line to be an extension of the Island Line, instead of a separate line, there are no more proposals to utilise the Rumsey Street platforms. Since then, the MTR Corporation has covered up the abandoned platform edges with new walls, and they are no longer visible.
Commuters can get out of Sheung Wan station at Exits A1, B, E1 or E3 to get to the tramways on Des Voeux Road Central, for their journey further westwards to Sai Ying Pun, Shek Tong Tsui and Kennedy Town.
Hong Kong-Macau Ferry
The Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, located within Shun Tak Centre, provides frequent jetfoil, hydrofoil and hovercraft services to Macau and many other destinations in the Pearl River Delta. Exit D leads to the Ferry Terminal.
