MTR Corp faces record HK$25 million fine after crash that left line between two of Hong Kong’s busiest stations closed for two days
- Overnight test of new signalling system resulted in two trains going through crossing at same time
- Accident came on back of system failure in October that caused commuter chaos
Hong Kong’s embattled rail operator is expected to be slapped with a record HK$25 million penalty for the city’s first MTR crash, which caused an unprecedented two-day suspension of service between two of its busiest stations.
The accident on the Tsuen Wan line forced trains to be cancelled between Admiralty and Central for two days early last week, with the wreckage finally being cleared over the weekend.
In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council’s railways subcommittee on Thursday, the MTR Corporation said under the penalty mechanism, it would allocate the relevant fine for the two days’ service disruptions as fare concessions for passengers. But it did not say how much.
Under the Service Performance Arrangement, the rail operator can be fined for any disruptions lasting 31 minutes or more, and the maximum fine for each incident is capped at HK$25 million. Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun said the rail giant was expected to pay a penalty of HK$25 million. This represents roughly 70 per cent of its HK$36.2 million daily revenue from MTR train services.
The fine follows an HK$8 million (US$1.02 million) penalty for service delays in October, after a simultaneous breakdown of four MTR lines caused by the incompatibility of two signalling systems.
Two trains collided last Monday at a crossover junction near Central station during an overnight trial of the new HK$3.3 billion (US$420.4 million) signalling system meant for seven rail lines. One carriage was derailed, injuring a driver, but no passengers were on board.