Editorial | MTR door incident must be prevented from reoccurring
- The latest accident involving the city’s rail system saw two doors dislodged from a moving train carriage at the height of rush hour. This must be thoroughly investigated as passenger safety and the reliability of the city’s transport services are at stake
Initial examination by MTR Corp shows a billboard along the platform track is to blame. The components of a convertible panel for rotating advertisements were said to have loosened and struck the train as it arrived at the platform.
It remains unclear how the components came off, one week after replacement by a contractor. There is nothing wrong with the train body and the doors, according to the railway operator. As a precaution, the billboards with the same design in other stations were immediately removed.
There has been much speculation over the possible causes over the past two days. The MTR management has set the right tone by launching a thorough probe, including looking at the design and condition of the billboards as well as the relevant operating and replacement procedures for their use. But the need of a wider scope of review cannot be ruled out.
We trust the operator and the government are fully aware of the severity of the matter. It was fortunate that no one was hurt in the incident. The consequence could have been more serious if luck was not on the side of the MTR.
Commuters were understandably outraged when their journeys and appointments were delayed or cancelled. Even though there have been previous large-scale disruptions of train services, the emergency response still left much to be desired. Many passengers were scrambling for alternatives as other transport operators beefed up their services.
The government could have played a more active role, not just in overseeing the emergency response, but also in the supervision of the MTR. This is not the first time the operator has come under fire for its services and new projects. Even though the government is the major shareholder of the rail giant, it is often criticised for its “back-seat approach” in monitoring performance. At stake are passengers safety and the reliability of the city’s transport services. It falls short of public expectation if officials merely express dismay and concern when major incidents happen.