MTR delays hit Hong Kong passengers for second time in October
- Train services for Tseung Kwan O and Kwun Tong lines gradually resuming after short suspension and delay
Hong Kong MTR passengers faced disruption for the second time in a month on Thursday, when trains were delayed on two rail lines.
Train services for the Tseung Kwan O Line and Kwun Tong Line were gradually resuming after a short suspension and delay, according to MTR announcements early that morning.
Train services for Po Lam station were earlier suspended due to power supply problems, the operator announced at about 7am. Shuttle buses were arranged for affected passengers.
Services for other stations along the Tseung Kwan O Line were also delayed as a result.
At the same time, services on the Kwun Tong Line were delayed due to signal problems. Train frequency was reduced to every 10 minutes.
The MTR Corp later confirmed there had been a power supply interruption at Po Lam station that prevented the first North Point-bound train from departing and subsequently led to the suspension of services from Hang Hau to Po Lam.
The control centre immediately arranged for the North Point train to be removed from the tracks, and services resumed at 7.05am.
As for the problems on the Kwun Tong Line, the operator blamed a signal fault between Tiu Keng Leng and Yau Tong stations, which occurred at about the same time as the problems on the Tseung Kwan O line. Trains were forced to travel at slower speeds and services had to be adjusted accordingly.
MTR engineers eventually replaced signalling system components, and services were back to normal by 6.45am.
The signalling system is the hub of all railway operations. It controls train operations, transmits data through a monitoring and communications system and brings trains to an automatic halt if any irregularities are detected.
“During the events, broadcasts at stations and in train cars were made to inform passengers of the latest information on train services,” the operator said.
The MTR experienced its worst breakdown ever on October 16, when the signalling system on four major lines – Island, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong and Tseung Kwan O – stopped working shortly before rush hour.
Additional reporting by Ernest Kao
