The MTR Corporation subsidiary that operates Shenzhen's subway network blames passengers for frequent breakdowns of automatic doors and malfunctioning escalators, and says delays by the trains' manufacturers - and not underestimates of passenger flow - have led to overcrowded carriages.
MTR Corp (Shenzhen) said seven accidents over the past five months - including a signal failure and land subsidence - occurred because the network is in the early stages of its operation.
Mainland media reported that an empty train was derailed and 125 metres of track damaged on the Shenzhen MTR's No4 Longhua subway line in March, while trains were delayed in May and June because of signalling failures and malfunctioning doors.
In July, at least two passengers were injured while using a mainland-made escalator at an MTR station, which the company said had met official safety requirements. Last week, an automatic door suddenly opened for about a second on a running train before it stopped 10 seconds later.
General manager Adi Lau Tin-shing said those incidents were probably a result of passenger behaviour. Lau said an investigation suggested the two passengers on the escalator fell, while the automatic doors had likely broken down because of passengers inside pushing against them.
'The escalator resumed service after an inspection by the Shenzhen and Beijing safety watchdog showed it met safety requirements,' Lau said, and stressed that safety was the operator's priority.
Technicians adjusted the closing force of the doors from 150 to 200 newtons to avoid further breakdowns at peak times, Lau said.