Hong Kong’s MTR Corp halts Oyster Bay station’s overhead cable foundation works

Hong Kong’s rail giant the MTR Corporation has suspended foundation works for the overhead cable at its Oyster Bay station project on Lantau Island due to signs of “upheaving”.

The government said on Thursday that movement was recorded at the site two days earlier, prompting staff from the Buildings Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to carry out inspections on the westbound track of the Tung Chung line.

“The condition concerned has not affected the structural safety of railway facilities and the safe operation of the railway,” a spokesman said.

Foundation works were suspended on Tuesday when five checkpoints on the section of the MTR stations and lines railway tracks near Siu Ho Wan Depot recorded an “upheaving” of between 22mm (0.87 inches) and 48mm, higher than the limit of 20mm, according to the government.

The discovery occurred while the MTR Corp was conducting “precautionary grouting works for the socketed steel H-pile works” of the proposed Oyster Bay station project.

The MTR Corp said the operation involved the overhead line’s foundation works, which were part of the project to divert the Tung Chung line tracks and connect to the future Oyster Bay station.