In a 2000 Hong Kong governmental study, two separate rail links were proposed as the
Deep Bay Link (后海灣線) and the
Chek Lap Kok Link (赤鱲角線). It was envisaged that the Deep Bay Link could connect
Nanshan,
Shenzhen with the new developing areas in
Hung Shui Kiu, possibly interchanging with
West Rail line (now
Tuen Ma line). The Chek Lap Kok Link would connect Hong Kong Airport and Lantau Island with
Tuen Mun. However it was determined that the projects were not warranted at the development levels of the served areas at that time. Shenzhen authorities also derived a similar railway project, initially named "
Western Shenzhen–Hong Kong intercity railway" () as a branch of
Guangzhou–Shenzhen intercity railway. The revised plan in 2007 described the railway running from
Qianhaiwan station and branching at northwestern New Territories, separately linking the airport and the central business district in
Central. In the same year
Sir Donald Tsang,
Hong Kong Chief Executive, also suggested linking the two airports with railway in the
Policy Address "to fully complement each other" in addition to the existing high-speed ferry services ply, which was strongly supported by the Shenzhen Municipal Government. In 2012, the government combined the projects and renamed it the "
Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway" (), offering three future distinct services, direct connection between
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (as Airport Rail Link); cross-border spur line between
Hung Shui Kiu and
Qianhai; and domestic spur line between
Tuen Mun and
Siu Ho Wan. In 2019, the
Guangdong Provincial Government announced ongoing "collaboration with Hong Kong over Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway". The conceptual intercity plan appeared in a 2020 official document of
National Development and Reform Commission. Two years later the Hong Kong Government confirmed the active planning of the Hong Kong – Shenzhen Western Rail Link, running between Hung Shui Kiu and Qianhai, and announced the proposal of extending the railway to
HKU station via
Tuen Mun East,
Sunny Bay, and
Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands. The proposal in 2021 Policy Address of the railway was to connect Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen and Qianhai of Shenzhen only. == Alignment and stations ==