http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Kennedy-Town-HKU-MTR-Stations/46641311_HZrLvj#!i=3792392706&k=hTjbngz&lb=1&s=A
Quite how, during busy periods, the MTR will get 689 mainland tourists just off a Macau Ferry and their 689 pieces of heavy wheelie luggage onto a train inside a ‘normal stop’ is anybody’s guess… However as of 6am on the 28 December after passing through HKU, the MTR’s Island Line ends in Kennedy Town instead of Sheung Wan. The two new stations, located 80m and 60m underground respectively, are efficient and well connected to to bus stops and minibus terminuses.
There’s big shiny wall murals at each station – with HKU having an interested potted history of the the University on the long corridor to exits A1 & A2. It’s an interesting 50m plus panel with some nice photos, but people reading the mural block half the space creating an irritating logjam even during the afternoon.
The Good:
Public toilets: the MTR have finally recognised that it’s customers might need a toilet, and there are public facilities inside each station.
Wifi hotspots: at each entry concourse, the MTR’s free wifi hotspots allows 5x 15 minute logins per day – registration free.
New Ticket machines: which among other things allow for checking of your Octopus transaction history and, for $3, a transaction print out.
The Bad:
Exit A at HKU station. This lift only exit is split into two parts A1 and A2 – each is bank of four elevators using a new lift tower. A1 opens at the top to offer exits at HK University and A2 which opens at the bottom onto Pokfulam Road. The lifts are double sided, with the unsigned exit side opening before the entry side. This makes for very slow lift fills – in the middle of the afternoon there was a queue. It’ll be messy in rush hour and a nightmare when raining.
Click on the photos to see more internal and external images
http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Kennedy-Town-HKU-MTR-Stations/46641311_HZrLvj#!i=3792396669&k=G8DcL7R
http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Kennedy-Town-HKU-MTR-Stations/46641311_HZrLvj#!i=3792400777&k=FkZXPKt
http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Kennedy-Town-HKU-MTR-Stations/46641311_HZrLvj#!i=3792394092&k=hMz9r8R
http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Kennedy-Town-HKU-MTR-Stations/46641311_HZrLvj#!i=3792402283&k=X7C2Bhv