Fine looms for MTR after eight-hour disruption

Ayra Wang

The "unusually long" delay in resuming MTR services yesterday could trigger the fining mechanism for disruptions, legislator Gary Zhang Xinyu says, after it took eight hours to resolve the issue involving a malfunctioning engineer's train near Tai Wo station.

Zhang, a lawmaker for New Territories North who is also a former engineer for MTR Corp, warned that he will raise the penalty issue at a Legislative Council panel on transport tomorrow.

The rail operator announced a disruption on the East Rail Line at 5.21am yesterday due to faulty equipment on an engineer's train, causing up to 25-minute intervals between some stations.

Train service did not resume until around 1pm after the engineer's train was moved.

The MTR said a carriage of the engineer's train had slightly tilted to the left due to a faulty level-sensing system, requiring repairs to ensure its safe movement.

Zhang agreed the company handled the incident properly and that it is dangerous to move a tilting train. "I understand that a failure in the shock absorber caused the carriage to tilt. Any attempt to forcibly move the train could have worsened the situation," he said.

But he noted that the insufficient dissemination of information at stations and the long service disruption may lead to fines.

Any service disruption that lasts over three hours during off-peak hours will cost HK$8 million, with a HK$4 million fine added per subsequent hour.

During rush hours, a three-hour service disruption will be fined HK$9.6 million, with HK$4.8 million added per subsequent hour. The maximum fine is HK$40 million.

MTR is obligated to arrange a "half-fare day" if it accumulates HK$25 million in fines for disrupted service.

Zhang urged the company to reveal the cause of the incident as soon as possible and check similar malfunction risks in other engineer's trains of the same age.

Engineering lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok criticized the long service disruption, which caused significant inconvenience to passengers. "Commuters and students were heavily affected due to limited train operation during the morning rush hour," Lo said.

It also disrupted the journeys of tourists heading to and from Shenzhen, he added.

Passengers crowded onto platform one at Tai Wo station as the other platform was closed due to limited operation.

Secondary school student Chong, who traveled from Sheung Shui to Tai Wo, expressed frustration, saying the disruption would make her 15 minutes late for class.

The Transport and Logistics Bureau said it is "deeply concerned" by the incident. It added that the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has requested MTR Corp to conduct a thorough check and submit a report within a month.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com