bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Cannix Yau

The MTR Corporation was ­accused of a cover-up on Thursday after it admitted to awarding a HK$6 billion contract for 93 new trains to a mainland manufacturer while being aware of problems with its trains two years ago.
The rail operator said on Thursday night it knew back in 2014 that Singapore had found cracks on subway trains supplied by CSR Qingdao Sifang – now CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
MTR Corporation in spotlight amid revelations faulty trains were secretly shipped from Singapore to mainland for repairs
But NeoDemocrat lawmaker Gary Fan Kwok-wai accused the MTR Corp of a cover-up as it concealed important information until the last minute.
“There is a big cover-up. Why did the MTR Corp still insist on allowing the mainland firm to be a bidder when it already knew about the faulty train problems? The circumstances are really unusual. It needs to give the public a detailed account,” he said.
Of the 35 subway trains purchased by Singapore, 26 had cracks on their bodies and in key structural components. They were quietly recalled and shipped back to Qingdao for repairs.
“We immediately inquired with the Singapore authorities. We were told that the problems would not affect the trains’ safety operation, and that CSR Sifang would conduct follow-ups on the faulty trains,” the MTR Corp said.
MTR bosses were also aware that Singapore’s transport operator, SMRT Corp, continued to procure new trains from the firm despite the problems.
“Based on all these, we thought this incident would not affect CSR Sifang’s qualification as a bidder [for our trains],” it said.
The MTR Corp ended up awarding the HK$6 billion contract for 93 new urban trains to the mainland maker in July last year.
In March 2012, following a “rigorous” tendering process, the rail operator granted CSR Sifang a contract for nine trains for the ­express rail link to Guangzhou.
The MTR Corp stressed stainless steel material would be used for the bodies of the 93 trains, ­instead of aluminium alloy used for the Singapore trains.
The railway firm also rejected allegations that it had bypassed a standard industrial inquiry required for tendering train contracts, saying such an inquiry was not compulsory for the tendering process depending on the circumstances.
The revelation came as the Transport and Housing Bureau said on Thursday night the Highways ­Department had already sounded warnings to the MTR Corp early last year after the bureau received some emails about the train problems in Singapore.
However, a bureau spokesman said the rail operator had failed to provide tendering information to the government about its procurement of the new trains.
Transport minister Anthony Cheung Bing-leung confirmed his bureau had received some tip-offs early last year, but insisted he had not seen the emails personally.
“I am asking my colleagues to find out whether there was any follow-up after they received the emails, or if they had followed it up with the MTR Corp. I will disclose the findings later,” he told reporters on Thursday.
CSR Sifang said on Wednesday that the defects in the Singapore trains stemmed from the quality of the aluminium alloy material used for the cars. But it stressed the material did not pose a safety risk.
“We have adopted a series of measures to ensure this incident can be satisfactorily resolved,” it said.
 


Yau Tong project nearly sells out, raising hopes of market recovery in 2026

Electoral commission head David Lok to lead committee probing Hong Kong fire

Hong Kong property finds its feet as Sino Land development sells 149 units within hours

Man arrested for allegedly urging Hongkongers to boycott Legco election

MTR Corporation

Hong Kong’s MTR comes under fire after admitting it knew about faulty trains before awarding contract to manufacturer

Transport chief Anthony Cheung said his bureau had received tip-offs about train flaws. Photo: David Wong

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong transport chief also admits that his bureau received emails on the issue over a year ago


Hong Kong’s MTR comes under fire after admitting it knew about faulty trains before awarding contract to manufacturer

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hong Kong transport chief also admits that his bureau received emails on the issue over a year ago

Hong Kong transport chief also admits that his bureau received emails on the issue over a year ago