MTR urged to review staffing after Tseung Kwan O Line disruption

The MTR should review whether its staffing arrangements and emergency response procedures are adequate, spokesman for the Hong Kong Federation of Railway Trade Unions Lam Wai-keung urged.

His comment follows a major service disruption on the Tseung Kwan O Line on May 22, when the line was completely suspended for over three hours, with partial service disruptions lasting more than five hours. 

Speaking on a radio program on Tuesday, Lam said although frontline employees evacuated passengers in accordance with regular protocols, they were unable to effectively manage the large crowds due to a lack of personnel, with just five to six employees per station.

Lam noted that during major incidents, affected stations often rely on additional support from other stations or headquarters, causing delays. 

He also raised concerns about the composition of MTR’s special response team, which handles repairs during emergencies. 

While the team was initially staffed with specialists from various maintenance divisions, it now primarily consists of signaling system personnel, who may lack the expertise to address complex issues on-site.

Instead, they often rely on taking photos and relaying them to the control center for further instructions, a process Lam believes should be reevaluated.

Lawmaker Stanley Li Sai-wing, urged the MTR to improve crowd management and shuttle bus arrangements during full-line suspensions. 

He questioned whether closing entire stations was necessary, as it could create additional inconvenience for citizens.

Another legislator, Michael Tien Puk-sun, criticized the MTR’s explanation to lawmakers regarding its decision not to switch to manual operation during the disruption. 

He argued that the failure to implement slower manual train services reflected poor judgment and a lack of experience among management.

(Ayra Wang)