How Hassell is transforming urban rail across Hong Kong and Shenzhen

A well-designed transport network doesn’t just get people from A to B; it shapes their experience of the city itself. 

When it comes to rail design, our international team of designers continually pushes the boundaries of the urban transport experience.

Over the past decade, our Hong Kong studio has been at the heart of shaping the way people move through Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Together with local contractors, engineers, and consultants, we’ve partnered with government agencies and rail operators to imagine, plan and bring to life some of the region’s most ambitious transportation projects — see the Hassell projects highlighted in the video below.

But the journey doesn’t stop here. With Hong Kong and Shenzhen setting their sights on a future where integrated transport networks support a population surge of over 2 million in the Northern Metropolis, the next chapter is just beginning.

At Hassell, we’re thrilled to be part of this transformative story, crafting passenger-focused infrastructure and vibrant, thriving urban spaces — always in close collaboration with our design partners and clients.

But what makes a successful urban transport network? According to Peter Morley, Hassell’s sector co-lead for urban transport, maximising a station’s value goes beyond transport. Multiple entrances can distribute economic benefits more widely, while well-integrated precincts create thriving urban hubs. 

And with technological advances, prefabrication, and sustainable design, the next generation of stations is taking shape — bringing in natural light, framing views of the sky and embracing biophilic design.

For more on the future of rail, and our award-winning urban transport and rail design, explore Peter’s insights on Stations for Superdense Cities and The Beauty of Rail: Creating a 100-Year Legacy.

Image at top: Au Tau Station, MTR Northern Link, Hong Kong.