Ocean Park Metro Station Now Open

[Gavin]

You'll all be ecstatic to hear that a new line on Hong Kong's MTR system opened today, including a stop at Ocean Park.

Previously, you had to take a shuttle bus from Admiralty Station. They were cheap and regular, and took anything from 15 minutes to half an hour to get to the park.

The new line starts at the same station and cuts through the mountain to the other side of the island. The first stop is Ocean Park, just 4 minutes later.

Personally, it means that I could potentially go door to door in about 15 minutes, which would be fab if I wasn't sick of the place.

 

[Ian]

That would have been great a couple of years ago. I got to the park easy enough but my bus I wanted to catch back to Admiralty didn't turn up so I had to wait an extra 20 minutes for the next one. Wasn't happy.

Gavin, I still have an Octopus card with credit on it. Not planning to go to HK anytime soon so I can send it to a UK address if you want it.

 

[Pokemaniac]

Sounds like great news for annual pass holders. From the sounds of things, it's a lot more convenient to get to the park now, staying on the metro the entire time and eliminating the bus transfer from the "last mile" part of the journey. More people may find their way to the park now, since it sounds quick and easy to get there without the extra hassle. Let's hope there will be an influx of guests, with a following influx of money, which again gives the park's creative director freer reins with regards to attraction budgets and therefore scopes...

(a guy can dream, at least)

 

[LiveForTheLaunch]

This would have been exciting news for me back in August. But, no, I had to stand outside in the sticky, sweaty, DISGUSTAN weather to wait for the stank bus. It's good that the metro is going there though, it makes it so much more convenient and yadda yadda. **** buses.

 

[SimonSays99]

Seen some pics of the opening with protesters wanting to make Ocean Park to close their dolphin show - I guess that qualifies for a local PR disaster...

 

[Gavin]

That would have been great a couple of years ago. I got to the park easy enough but my bus I wanted to catch back to Admiralty didn't turn up so I had to wait an extra 20 minutes for the next one. Wasn't happy.

Gavin, I still have an Octopus card with credit on it. Not planning to go to HK anytime soon so I can send it to a UK address if you want it.

Cheers, but I've got about 5 of the things sitting around with various states of credit on them.

^ PR disaster is slightly over the top really. The dolphin protests happen fairly frequently. Obviously the timing is ripe for one as the metro line opens, but I imagine it'll make a minor blip in local news and disappear like all the others.

The new metro line isn't just for Ocean Park; it's connecting entire neighborhoods nearby to the system, who previously were reliant on buses or taxis, so the focus will be there really.

Having said all that, I wouldn't be surprised to see the dolphins phased out eventually. Hongkongers pride themselves on being a lot more in tune with animal rights than the mainlanders, and were successful in making Ocean Park back down from plans to get beluga whales. The exhibit was all built and ready for them, and they ended up using it for a few seals instead.

 

[Ben]

That's fab - it's not the worst to get to Ocean Park but the bus just makes it that bit more annoying so a Metro to the park will be fab.

Yay HK.