Here at Po Lam Station Community Garden, a unique story unfolds. Imagine a space above the tracks. Trains arrive and depart below but above is a green oasis.
Po Lam Station Community Garden is next to Po Lam Station. It is the northern terminus of the Tseung Kwan O line. The station opened on August 18 2002. The name comes from nearby Po Lam Road North.
Maeda Corporation built Po Lam Station. It sits on Mau Yip Road in the New Territories of Hong Kong. The station is nestled between Phases 1 to 3 of Metro City.
Interestingly the concourse, gates and platform are on the same level. This is unusual for MTR stations. Tracks ascend from underground. They rise to ground level at the station’s south end. This is near King Lam Estate. The park covers the tracks.
Po Lam station has only one side platform. It is Platform 1. Trains depart in the same direction they arrive. Trains wait for others to leave first. This single track limits train frequency.
Across from the platform, a siding splits from the running line. It is used for parking trains. However trains cannot access the platform from the siding. Nor can they access the siding from the platform.
The main exit is on Mau Yip Road. Footbridges connect the station to various places. These include a transport interchange and shopping malls. They also connect to residential buildings. There is direct access to Metro City and The Pinnacle. Another footbridge leads to Po Lam Estate. It also connects to Yan Ming Court and Verbena Heights.
Consider the art at Po Lam Station. Kacey Wong created City of Towers. It is located at Entrances A1 and B2. It was completed in August 2002.
Looking ahead, the government has plans. The East Kowloon line may connect Po Lam and Diamond Hill stations. This will pass through several other stations. This line would provide an alternative route to the Kwun Tong line. The expected opening is in 2025.
Po Lam Station Community Garden offers a peaceful escape. It is a place where nature and transit meet. It’s an innovative use of space in a busy city.