The MTR head yesterday admitted the new Tseung Kwan O line did not meet service standards and would need further 'fine-tuning'.
His comment sparked criticisms that the line had not undergone sufficient trials and tests before being put into service last month.
Jack So Chak-kwong, chairman of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation, said: 'Since the opening of the Tseung Kwan O line, it has not reached MTR service standards. I want to apologise to the passengers for the inconvenience caused.'
His comments came after 5,000 commuters were stranded for 45 minutes in the rush hour when a Tseung Kwan O line train broke down at North Point last Thursday morning. The MTR later said the stoppage was caused by a short-circuit in a switch. In response to criticism that the MTR had reacted slowly and only informed the Transport Department 14 minutes later, Mr So said: 'We wanted to fix the problem within 10 minutes. But when we failed to do so, we immediately notified the Transport Department.'
The MTR estimated that about 100,000 passengers enjoyed free rides yesterday morning as the corporation compensated travellers for the chaos. The offer involved free rides to cross-harbour Octopus card commuters entering or leaving stations between Shekkipmei and Po Lam.
Democratic Party legislator Andrew Cheng Kar-foo said the MTR should not have opened the new line without carrying out sufficient tests and trials.