Hong Kong’s MTR passes evening rush hour test after morning travel chaos
No repeat of morning disruptions on rail network as Hongkongers return home after work
The MTR Corporation had mobilised 200 extra staff to deal with the evening rush.
The simultaneous disorder, unprecedented in the history of the MTR, had begun shortly before 6am and lasted for more than six hours. It initially affected the Island, Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan lines but the disturbance subsequently spread to the Tseung Kwan O line.
Delays were not that frequent in the past but now there are eight to 10 per year.
Winnie Lam, who works in the insurance sector, said it took her an hour to travel from Quarry Bay to Central because of the traffic disruption on Tuesday morning. The journey usually takes about 15 minutes.
The 40-year-old said she had lost confidence in the MTR.
“Delays were not that frequent in the past,” she said, “but now there are eight to 10 per year.”
“Hongkongers rely on the MTR too much. Whenever there is a glitch, then the seriousness [of the impact] is huge,” she said.