On the MTR network there is a station that trains stop at, but passengers cannot use – the Airport Service Platform on Chek Lap Kok.
The MTR Airport Express began service on 6 July 1998, the opening date of the new Hong Kong International Airport.
With Airport Station the initial terminus.
Services were extended one stop to AsiaWorld–Expo Station from 20 December 2005.
Following the opening of the adjacent convention centre.
But this extension didn’t see any new track built.
The viaduct between Airport and AsiaWorld–Expo stations already existed.
Built as part of the original Airport Railway project as a turnback facility.
The project included several other elements besides the station and viaducts. Once departing passengers have alighted, trains travel to a cleaning facility for litter removal before coming back via a crossover to collect arriving passengers.
Called the ‘Airport Service Platform’ or ‘機場快綫整備月台’.
Terminating trains
Under normal service headways, the single platform at AsiaWorld-Expo is enough to handle terminating Airport Express trains.
But there is a second track.
Located on the other side of a narrow island platform – the forgotten ‘Airport Service Platform’.
Now renumbered AsiaWorld–Expo 2.
And hidden behind the platform screen doors.
But still available for the use of trains without passengers.
And other unused platforms on the Airport Railway
There are a few other ‘ghost’ platforms along the route – two island platforms at Nam Cheong station, located between the Airport Express and Tung Chung track pairs.
A pair of island platforms between the Airport Express and Tung Chung tracks at Sunny Bay.
Side platforms beside the tracks at Siu Ho Wan depot.
And an unused platform for future expansion at Airport station.
Located on the Terminal 2 side of the citybound track, it is ready for the future expansion of terminal 2 to handle arriving passengers, not just departures.
More photos of the Airport Service Platform
- Airport Express train awaiting departure from Airport Service Platform (via HK Rail Engineering Centre
- Eastern end of the Airport Service Platform (via 海子铁路网)
