Safety concerns over MTR’s new signalling system means likely delay in bringing it online after crash
- The SelTrac system is part of MTR Corp’s ‘Rail Gen 2.0’ initiative
- Supplied by French company Thales, it was expected to be introduced in 2018, and had already been put back until later this year
Progress in upgrading the signalling system on two of Hong Kong’s busiest metro lines has been left in limbo, as off-hours tests are suspended until further notice because of safety concerns arising from Monday’s crash.
The accident, which took place between Central and Admiralty stations at 3am, occurred as MTR Corporation employees were testing the new signalling system on the Tsuen Wan line.
The system, supplied by French company Thales and known as SelTrac, is also to be installed on six other lines as part of the “Rail Gen 2.0” initiative MTR Corp had undertaken to upgrade the city’s train system.
Adi Lau Tin-shing, the rail firm’s operations director, said the incident would delay the introduction of the new signalling system.
“We must ensure safety before rolling out [the new system], I believe the project will be impacted,” Lau said, without giving an estimate on when it might be ready.