Tai Po

Coordinates: 22°26′42″N 114°10′12″E / 22.445°N 114.170°E / 22.445; 114.170 Tai Po /ˌtaɪˈpoʊ/ is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong. It refers to the vicinity of the traditional market towns in the area presently known as Tai Po Old Market or Tai Po Kau Hui (大埔舊墟) (originally Tai Po Market) and the Tai Wo Town (Tai Wo Market) on the other side of the Lam Tsuen River, near the old Tai Po Market Station of the Kowloon-Canton Railway (British Section). Administratively, it is part of the Tai Po District.

Both market towns became part of the Tai Po New Town in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In present-day usage, "Tai Po" may refer to the area around the original market towns, the Tai Po Town (Chinese: 大埔市), or the entire Tai Po District.

It is becoming a popular suburb of Hong Kong and also for people working in Shenzhen. There are a mixture of public housing complexes in the densely populated area of Tai Po plus many expensive high-end private properties in the sparsely populated area surrounding Tai Po.

Tai Po Market Station

Tai Po Market Station, located in Tai Po near Uptown Plaza, is a station on the East Rail Line in the New Territories East, Hong Kong. The station has three tracks and four platforms. Platform 1 is for northbound trains to border crossing stations at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau and platform 4 is for southbound trains to Hung Hom, Kowloon while platforms 2 and 3 use the same track and is reserved for peak hour traffic.

The station went under major renovation which was completed in 2009. During the renovation, it remained open though most of the retail outlets were closed.

The Hong Kong Railway Museum is located a short distance from the Tai Po Market Station. The old Tai Po Market station building currently forms part of the museum. The museum also contains displays of a steam locomotive and carriages from older trains that were once used by the KCRC.

Timetable

Station layout

The station consists of two island platforms, with platforms 2 and 3 sharing the same centre track. This centre track serves as the terminus of some trains during the day, and the departure of some extra trains southbound during morning peak hours. Northbound trains that arrive here after 11 p.m. use the centre track.