Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation further reduces operations after logging record 227 new coronavirus infections among staff
- More than 1,100 of the company’s employees have contracted Covid-19, and an unknown number have been ordered to isolate as close contacts
- Given the manpower shortage, trains will run less frequently on the Island and Tuen Ma lines during rush hour
The rail operator said on Tuesday morning that trains would be running less frequently on the Island and Tuen Ma lines after several conductors were either infected or quarantined as close contacts.
“Since these train drivers can’t report for duty, the rail service on the Island line and Tuen Ma line has to be slightly adjusted during peak hours … The service will run at a longer interval by up to half a minute,” a spokeswoman said.
The rail firm reported 227 Covid-19 infections, including preliminary-positive ones, on Monday. So far, more than 1,100 MTR employees – including train drivers, station staff, maintenance workers and cleaners – have contracted the virus since the city’s fifth wave struck in late December.
An unknown number of employees have also been placed in quarantine or isolated for compulsory testing. The MTR Corp employs more than 17,000 people, 10,000 of whom are operational staff.
The MTR Corp had already slightly reduced services on the Tuen Ma line during peak hours on Monday and temporarily closed some customer service centres due to staff shortages.
“This situation has posed a tremendous challenge to rail operations,” the spokeswoman said.
The company said it would not rule out further reducing services and even temporarily shutting down some stations if the situation continued to worsen.
“If the situation worsens, posing a greater impact on the MTR service such as further adjustments to train timings and temporary closures of rail stations, the company will inform the public as soon as possible through appropriate channels.”
Last week it cut back rail services during off-peak hours, citing a 40 per cent drop in ridership in the post-Lunar New Year period compared with December. Ridership for weekday evenings and weekends also plunged 50 to 60 per cent from December.
Waiting times during non-peak hours increased by one to two minutes, and almost doubled to six on some rail lines.
Hong Kong Federation of Railway Trade Unions vice-chairman Tam Kin-chiu said that since Monday, the company had required all frontline staff to pass a compulsory rapid antigen test every day before coming into work.
“We find this measure acceptable as we hope to maintain rail services as much as we can. Many people need the rail service to provide essential services to Hongkongers,” Tam said.
“Many colleagues have been very supportive. They have offered to work overtime to replace infected colleagues or those who are unable to work due to being isolated as close contacts.”
