Green light is to be given to the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) to develop the Sha Tin to Central rail link, known as north-south corridor. The railway includes a fourth harbour crossing between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Cost estimated between HK$25 billion and HK$35 billion. Visit www.kcrc.com 22/02. The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) has been awarded the contract to build and operate the Sha Tin to Central rail line that will link up the northeast New Territories and the Central Business District. The 18 km new line will run almost fully underground from Tai Wai to Central West and will serve eleven stations. The target completion date is set for 2008-2011. Cost of HK$35 billion. Visit www.kcrc.com 34/02.The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) has selected Scott Wilson as lead consultant to carry out the design consultancy for the fourth harbour crossing, which will be an immersed tube tunnel or bored tunnel connecting the Kowloon peninsula with Hong Kong Island. The tunnel is needed for the Shatin to Central Link, a new 18 km line which will link the New Territories to Hong Kong Island. The consultancy commenced in mid-February 2003 and is scheduled to complete in February 2004. Scott Wilson will be assisted by Cowi of Denmark for the design of the immersed tube. Visit www.kcrc.com and www.scottwilson.com.hk 11/03.

Hong Kong's MTR Corp has awarded two contracts, to Halcrow and Aecom, for design work on phase one of its 17 km Shatin-Central Link (SCL) project. The first phase involves an 11 km extension of the Ma On Shan Line from Tai Wai station via Diamond Hill to join up with West Rail at Hung Hom. This will ultimately create a 57 km East-West corridor to be worked by eight-car West Rail Line trains. The second phase will extend East Rail Line by 6 km from Hung Hom to Admiralty station on Hong Kong Island, to form a North-South corridor operated by nine-car East Rail trains.Halcrow will design a section of the route known as Lion Rock and Diamond Hill approach tunnels, which comprises 4.7 km twin tunnels to be built in two sections using drill/blast and TBMs. The tunnels have to fit within a narrow road corridor owing to constraints imposed by the foundations of nearby high-rise buildings.Aecom's design contract includes a new interchange station at Diamond Hill, a train stabling facility, the upgrade of an existing rail depot, and an extensive network of footbridges. Once completed, Diamond Hill is expected to become one of the busiest stations on the East-West corridor, providing an interchange with the Kwun Tong Line and handling around 47,000 daily passengers during morning peak hours.Construction of the Shatin-Central Link is expected to start in 2010. Completion of Phase I between Tai Wai and Hung Hom is envisaged in 2015, whilst Phase II from Hung Hom to Admiralty should be finished in 2019. For project details, click here. Visit www.halcrow.com and www.aecom.com. 11/10.

Contract 1103 for Hin Keng-Diamond Hill tunnels, value EUR280 million and part of phase one of 17 km Shatin-Central Link (SCL) project, awarded by MTR Corporation to Vinci Construction Grands Projets. Contract comprises 2.475 km drill/blast running tunnel and twin 1.4 km-long tubes driven by 7.4 m-diameter slurry TBM. Work commences immediately on a 68-month schedule. Visit tunnelbuilder archive cn/63 and www.mtr-shatincentrallink.hk/en/project-details. 43/12.

Pre-qualification for E&M contract expressions of interest are invited from Contractors who wish to submit a tender for Communications System for SCL Phase 1 Contract N. 1169. The Shatin to Central Link (SCL), consists of Phase 1 – East West Line (EWL) and Phase 2 – North South Line (NSL). The 11 km-long EWL extends the Ma On Shan Line (MOL) from Tai Wai Station to Hung Hom where it will connect to the West Rail Line (WRL) to form an East-West rail corridor. The scope of works comprises the design, manufacture, supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning and rectification of defects during the defects liability period of the Communications System for SCL Phase 1. For more, contact MTR Corporation Ltd, Hong Kong, att.n Mr Jason Lau, Contracts Administration Manager, e-mail  jwslau@mtr.com.hk. For expression of interest, deadline 01.11.2012, visit www.hkextender.com and http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/tenders/SCL_1169.html. 44/12.

Pre-qualification for Construction Scoping and Sequencing for NSL Cross Harbour Tunnel Consultancy Agreement n. C1107. The Shatin to Central Link (SCL) consists of Phase 1 – East West Line (EWL) and Phase 2 – North South Line (NSL). The NSL is a 6 km-long extension of the East Rail Line from Hung Hom Station across the harbour to Admiralty Station, forming the North-South rail corridor. The design and build works covered under Agreement C1107 include a 280 m section of cut & cover tunnels at the west side of the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter (CBTS); a 200 m section of cut & cover tunnels adjacent to the existing seawall at HUH; a 1.4 km section of immersed tube tunnels (IMT) across the Victoria Harbour between the tunnels at the HUH Landfall and the tunnels at CBTS; New North Ventilation Building; demolition and re-provisioning works to allow for the new construction. Proposals will be invited in December, 2012. The consultancy services are expected to commence in March, 2013 and last until November, 2016. Contact MTR Corporation Ltd, Hong Kong, att.n Mr Raymond Au, fax (852) 2697 2627. Preliminary Information Brochure for Prospective Consultants is to be completed and returned no later than 02.11.2012. Visit http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/tenders/SCL_C1107.html. 44/12.

Hong Kong's MTR Corp has awarded to Leighton Contractors (Asia) Ltd the Contract 1112, value EUR528.28 million (AUD656 million), to construct a critical component of its Shatin to Central Link (SCL) development in Hong Kong: the Hung Hom Station and Stabling Sidings. The SCL will connect several existing railway lines to form two strategic railway corridors. The scope of work for Contract 1112 includes significant modification works to an existing MTR station, platforms, tunnel box and approach tunnels. Construction works are scheduled to begin immediately, with an expected completion date in 2018. Visit http://www.leighton.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/18167/180313_mr.pdf. 12/13.

MTR Corporation awarded JV Seli (50 percent)/local company Chun Wo (50 percent) the Hong Kong Metro SCL contract n. C1107, value EUR105.49 million, for Shatin to Central Link: Diamond Hill to Kai Tak tunnels. Seli will provide the TBM and perform excavation as part of the JV. Visit http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/tenders/Mar13.html. 13/13.

The JV Leighton(51 percent)/China State (49 percent) has been awarded a EUR658 million contract by MTR Corporation for works on the Shatin to Central Link in Hong Kong. The works, which will commence in January 2015, involve the construction of an underground station (Exhibition Station) and 300 m of cut and cover tunnel along Convention Avenue (Western Approach Tunnel). The station will serve Hong Kong‘s Convention Centre and the North Wanchai area, completing the new railway link connecting New Territories and north Hong Kong. Visit http://www.hochtief.com/hochtief_en/201.jhtml?pid=9687. 04/15.

Vinci Construction Grands Projets at Wanchai, Hong Kong, secured the EUR48.75 million (HKD412,138,888) contract for Admiralty South Overrun Tunnel on SCL (Shatin to Central Link). Contact MTR Corporation Ltd, Hong Kong, att.n Mr Raymond Au, e-mail rksau@mtr.com.hk.  Visit https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/corporate/tenders/new_projects.html#1122. Contract n. 1122. 49/15.

Expressions of Interest are invited from contractors who wish to submit a tender, deadline 15.01.2016, for prequalification for Communications System for SCL (Shatin to Central Link) Phase 2. The contract includes the design, manufacture, supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning and correcting of any faults during the faults liability period of the Communications System for SCL Phase 2. The Shatin to Central Link (SCL) consists of Phase 1 – East West Line (EWL) and Phase 2 – North South Line (NSL). The NSL is a 6 km-long extension of the East Rail Line from Hung Hom Station across the harbour to Admiralty Station, forming the North-South rail corridor. For more contact MTR Corporation Ltd, Hong Kong, att.n Mr Jason Lau, e-mail jwslau@mtr.com.hk. For expression of interest visit www.hkextender.com and https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/corporate/tenders/SCL_1169B_P2.html. Contract n. 1169B. 49/15.