Inquiry into Hong Kong MTR train derailing finds staff maintaining the track lacked knowledge, failed to follow protocols
- Substandard works beset by failures including not properly reviewing repairs after they were carried out
- Train came off the tracks on September 17 near repairs site, injuring eight and causing travel misery
Railway maintenance workers lacking knowledge and relying on their instincts more than scientific data contributed to the Hong Kong’s most serious derailment in more than two decades, an investigation has found.
An MTR Corporation inquiry into the East Rail Line accident on September 17 said the spacing between rails had widened to a dangerous level at a turnout on the track after staff had replaced two timber support beams there as part of regular track maintenance.
The track defects led to three carriages of the train coming off the track, injuring eight passengers as it approached Hung Hom station.
The report concluded that the maintenance team made a series of flawed judgments when trying to fix the track gauge, including the failure to strictly adhere to protocols in following up on the work they had done and not properly compiling reports for senior management.
Tony Lee Kar-yun, MTR Corp’s operations director, apologised and said the agency had introduced five improvement measures to address the issues highlighted in the report.
“Our colleagues had insufficient knowledge and tended to rely on their personal experience, so when they made judgments on rectifying the changing track gauge, the work was not good enough,” Lee said.
The accident at about 8.30am on September 17 forced the suspension of services between Hung Hom and Mong Kok East stations for the day.