MTR apologizes for tunnel escape walk

The MTR apologized yesterday for allowing 150 passengers to leave a train through a tunnel after the train went off the rails, ripping off two sets of doors, on Sunday.

Speaking to the press yesterday, the MTRC operations director, Tony Lee Kar-yun, said the evacuation arrangement was "totally undesirable" as some passengers saw another Kwun Tong Line train running in the tunnel. But he did not say whether they were in danger at the time.

On Sunday, chief executive Jacob Kam Chak-pui told reporters that it was safe to leave the train through the de-trainment ramp, and that the rail operator had standard de-trainment and evacuation protocols in place to ensure passengers' safety.

That came after a set of the Central-bound train's wheels, known as a truck, was derailed after it hit a metal installation next to the train track at Yau Ma Tei station, causing two sets of doors to fall off.

The rail operator said yesterday control center operators had initially failed to notify train captains on the Kwun Tong Line toward Whampoa to temporarily halt services before the passengers got off the train.

Lee said a public announcement did not accurately convey the message that the passengers should leave the train via the platform at Yau Ma Tei Station and they had left the train through the de-trainment ramp instead.

"The driver was not alerted about the emergency rear exit being opened as the instruments in the train's cab were damaged in the accident," he said. Several minutes passed before staff noticed people leaving from the back of the train.

After the passengers left through the de-trainment ramp at the back of the train, there was a delay before the MTR control center could notify captains on the Kwun Tong Line to stop services to ensure passengers' safety as they walked along the tracks to Mong Kok Station, Lee said.

The passengers were walking along the tracks when a Whampoa-bound train departed from Mong Kok Station, Lee said, adding "that sort of experience is totally undesirable."

The MTR said it submitted to the government yesterday its initial report of the derailment, which said the train had hit a metal barrier, seven meters long and 2.4 meters tall, in the tunnel a few dozen meters behind the platform.

That derailed a truck on the first train carriage, causing two pairs of doors to be displaced. "The train came into contact with the metal barrier. We believe this was what caused the derailment," Lee said.

Asked whether the displacement of the barrier was caused by human error, he only said an investigation panel with overseas and local experts has been formed. Lee said MTR personnel have conducted inspections of 30 such barriers along the MTR's urban lines, adding that investigations will look into maintenance arrangements, the barriers' structural condition, environmental conditions and the installation's original design intent.

On contingency measures, Lee said the company deployed 900 shuttle buses to and from Jordan and Lai King stations, and 350 MTR personnel to help commuters at affected stations along the Tsuen Wan Line.

He said more than 150 workers were deployed to make repairs through the night and ensure normal operations on Monday morning. They were tasked with replacing installations both on and beside the train tracks, and conducting maintenance work on the affected train.

Lee also said the rail operator will complete a full investigation within the next two months to identify what caused the derailment and suggest strategies for improvement, followed by another large-scale investigation in six months to be submitted to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.

Control center staff will receive additional training, and the operator will also improve real-time monitoring of train tracks with technological solutions.

In a statement last night, the government acknowledged receipt of the report, adding that it has requested the submission of a second detailed report no later than January 12.

"Regarding incident handling, the Transport and Logistics Bureau has requested the MTR Corporation to review the relevant arrangements immediately to ensure proper handling of incidents and protect passenger safety," said a bureau spokesman.

cjames.lee@singtaonewscorp.com