Editorial | Safety must not be compromised in the wake of MTR crash

The collision involving two Hong Kong trains early yesterday was met with surprise and dismay by the travelling public. The accident, which halted services between two key stations on the Tsuen Wan Line for at least a day, happened during ongoing tests of a new signalling system and was a blow for the city’s railway operator. The public needs to be assured that trains are run safely by the Mass Transport Railway Corporation, under the close supervision of the government. The authorities must fully investigate the crash and ensure the latest signalling system will not be used until it is shown to be absolutely safe.

Thankfully, there were no passengers on board at the time, the two drivers escaped with minor injuries and services were only disrupted between Admiralty and Central. However, the accident has blemished the relatively good safety record of the railway company after 40 years of operations. The signalling system being tested was also blamed for a collision between two trains at Joon Koon station on the East West Line in Singapore two years ago that left 38 passengers injured. Detailed investigations are needed before any conclusions are drawn, but rail travellers are justifiably concerned, especially when a separate protection system is supposed to have prevented trains from entering a section in use.

The ongoing HK$3.3 billion signalling upgrade aims to reduce technical faults while increasing train frequency and capacity, but this must not be achieved at the expense of safety. The MTR Corp has warned there may be further service disruptions when operations switch back to the old signalling system after overnight trials. Last October, four lines were hit in one of the worst service breakdowns since signalling tests began. However, the implications of yesterday’s crash are far more serious.

 Commuters are right to be dismayed because their reliance on the MTR is such that even the slightest problem can cause upset. However, it is not just a matter of inconvenience, and there is no room for error with a train system that is expected to carry millions of people each day with clockwork precision. Consequences would be devastating if such a crash happened between two full trains when the new signalling system is up and running.

The MTR Corp is perhaps correct when it says that there is no fault-free railway system in the world, but due diligence must be exercised to ensure services are as safe and reliable as can be. The suspension of trials is a step in the right direction, and the government has also acted correctly by calling an urgent board meeting of the railway operator to look into the crash. Under no circumstances can safety be compromised.