The Highways Department today signed an investigation, design and construction consultancy agreement with the AtkinsRealis - AECOM Joint Venture for the Hong Kong section of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link.

The joint venture’s professional team comprises the Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute (Group) Company from the Mainland, local financial consultant KPMG Advisory (Hong Kong), and professional members spanning various other disciplines.

The department said it will work with the joint venture to take forward investigation and design work for the project at full steam.

It aims to have the project ready for tendering in 2027, and to achieve completion of construction works in 2034.

This will be followed by integrated testing and commissioning to realise the common goal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Government and Shenzhen's municipal government of commissioning the rail link in 2035.

The 18.1-km link runs underground from Hung Shui Kiu to Qianhai, with the Hong Kong section taking up 7.3 km and the Shenzhen section running about 10.8 km long.

It will comprise five stations – three in Hong Kong, at Hung Shui Kiu, Ha Tsuen and Lau Fau Shan; and two in Shenzhen, at Shenzhen Bay Port and Qianhaiwan.

Hong Kong and Shenzhen have agreed to co-locate immigration and customs facilities in Shenzhen, while the depot will be at Ha Tsuen.