Train services on Hong Kong line back to normal but lawmaker warns commuters to expect more delays because of creaking signalling system
- Legislator Michael Tien says more service disruptions are likely to occur because of slow progress in upgrading decades-old signalling system
- But Wednesday’s case is likely to be an isolated incident on the East Rail line as it is already using new signalling system, he adds
Train services on Hong Kong’s East Rail line were disrupted for more than five hours on Wednesday because of signalling system faults, marking the seventh such case across the network this year in a rising trend a lawmaker said he expected to continue.
Legislator Michael Tien Puk-sun said he believed more service disruptions were likely to occur because of slow progress in upgrading the decades-old signalling system.
“It’s possible there will be another delay, and that will affect the progress for other lines as well.”
MTR Corp exhibition in Hong Kong tracks history of rail operator
The city recorded seven service disruption cases in 2022, 14 last year and five in the first three months of 2024. Another signalling system-related disruption occurred along the Airport Express and Tung Chung line on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, East Rail line services were disrupted during the morning and evening peak hours, with trains running between Admiralty and Lok Ma Chau every 15 minutes.
The MTR Corp said engineering staff had failed to adjust a signalling system component in the morning after replacing it at a rail section between Sheung Shui and Lo Wu, causing the problem.
“Because of it, there have been some teething problems. To ensure smooth rail operations, train services on the East Rail line were adjusted during the morning and evening peak hours,” an MTR Corp spokesman said.
“Our engineering staff will follow up on the signalling issue after traffic hours.”
At around 7.30am, trains between Admiralty and Lok Ma Chau were running every 12 minutes. Between Admiralty and Tai Po Market, trains ran every four minutes and between Admiralty and Lo Wu at six-minute intervals.
Viral clip of man leaping between Hong Kong MTR platforms sparks police action
Services returned to normal at around 10.30am, but the evening peak hours were hit by further disruptions.
At 5.30pm, trains between Admiralty and Lok Ma Chau were reduced to running every 15 minutes. Between Admiralty and Tai Po Market trains ran every four minutes and between Admiralty and Lo Wu every four to eight minutes.
“After a review, maintenance personnel will adjust the signalling system component near Sheung Shui station after traffic hours end tonight to complete recovery works,” the rail giant said earlier.
“Longer waiting time on East Rail line platforms can be expected. Please allow more time to travel … We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Tien, a former chairman of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, which merged operations with the MTR Corp in 2007, said Wednesday’s disruption was likely to be an isolated incident on the East Rail line because it was already using the new system, along with the Tuen Ma line.
00:59
Delays on Hong Kong’s MTR after trains collide in overnight test, and separate incident of a person on tracks
Earlier disruptions this year mainly involved the Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, Island and Tung Chung lines and Airport Express, all of which use the old system.
The MTR Corp had planned a signalling system upgrade in the early 2010s to boost capacity, with the Tsuen Wan line expected to be the first to use it in 2018.
But the project suffered a major setback in 2019 after two trains collided at Central station on the Tsuen Wan line during an overnight trial of the new signalling system. The project was suspended pending a review of the software by the contractor.
The MTR Corp earlier said that the new system would be put into operation on the Tsuen Wan line by 2025-26, and extended to the Island, Kwun Tong and Tseung Kwan O lines over three years.
