High-level team is formed amid calls to punish mishaps more
The MTR Corporation has set up a top-level taskforce to investigate delays and improve its track record, amid calls by legislators for harsher penalties for repeated holdups and problems.
The eight-member taskforce, with deputy operations director Andrew McCusker as chairman, was announced by MTRC chief executive Chow Chung-kong at a special meeting of the Legislative Council transport panel yesterday.
Mr Chow said it would include senior department managers from infrastructure maintenance, station and train operations.
'We understand that these incidents raise public concerns and the corporation itself is concerned about whether the MTRC system has aged and whether repair work is sufficient,' said Mr Chow. The group will seek technical improvements to minimise delays.
The MTRC, under increasing government pressure to do better, has appointed British-based experts Lloyd's Register Rail to review the company and its services.
Yesterday's announcement came as the MTRC reported 33 delays of eight minutes or more in the past three months.