What daily rush hour queues at MTR Admiralty station reveal

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A service delay on the Tsuen Wan line causes long queues at Admiralty Station on July 27, 2017. The platform at the interchange station remains crowded during the evening rush hour, with a knock-on effect on other MTR lines. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 7:33am, 6 Sep 2018Updated: 7:33am, 6 Sep 2018

Has anyone in MTR operations bothered to look at the dreadful congestion at Admiralty station from 5.30pm to 7pm every weekday? The long queues make for tens of thousands of frustrated and exhausted commuters. Surely the hardworking people of Hong Kong deserve a better commute after a long day at work? What prevents the MTR from running dedicated trains at regular intervals that start from Admiralty and end at Chai Wan during the peak hours, which would significantly ease congestion and allow a better ride for all commuters?

Is that too much to ask, given the billions in profits that the MTR makes every year? Social consideration could take a front seat for once.

Is the MTR too much of a tight squeeze?

Recent scandals around substandard construction work on the Sha Tin to Central rail link and multiple operational issues or glitches raise serious questions about the competency of the MTR leadership and their sense of accountability. This has even led to a shake-up at the top.

It’s high time the Transport Department became more proactive in managing the way the MTR is run and enforced accountability, with passenger interest taking precedence.

It takes years to build credibility but days to destroy it, and I am sure the MTR would want to avoid the ignominy of being called the “Most Terrible Rail” system, and this it can do by rebooting itself.

Arun Garg, Taikoo Shing