Judul : MTR must take to heart its duty to minimise service disruption
link : MTR must take to heart its duty to minimise service disruption
MTR must take to heart its duty to minimise service disruption
Yet another equipment malfunction on the Tseung Kwan O line must spur efforts to strengthen maintenance and improve contingency plans Only last Sunday Hong Kong's railway operator had offered commuters half-fare rides to compensate for a serious service breakdown on a major rail line two months ago. So it was regrettable that the operation of the Tseung Kwan O line was disrupted again during rush hour yesterday morning, leaving passengers frustrated about the repeated malfunctions and inadequate contingency plans.
MTR Corporation first confirmed the service disruption at 7.49am, saying there would be a five-to-eight-minute delay to train journeys as some signalling equipment was not functioning properly.
Train frequencies were later adjusted to one every six minutes between North Point and Po Lam, and one every eight minutes between Tiu Keng Leng and Lohas Park. The delays resulted in long queues on train platforms at some stations, with some passengers having to wait for several trains to get on board.
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The disruption lasted less than three hours, not as long as the breakdown on May 22 when services were affected for five hours. But those caught by the delays were understandably outraged. Some asked why there were apparently no shuttle bus services arranged by MTR Corp or reinforcement by other transport operators this time.
The frustration underlines the high standards expected of the rail operator. Considering the MTR's reputation as a world-class urban transport system running with clockwork precision for more than four decades, passengers may feel inconvenienced by the slightest technical glitch.
The signalling malfunction on the Tseung Kwan O line yesterday was not the first. The breakdown in May forced tens of thousands of people to scramble for alternative transport home in the evening, after a displaced overhead cable component in a tunnel section triggered problems in the power supply and the signalling system.
Yesterday's disruption has amplified calls for the rail giant to conduct a thorough inspection of its systems and ensure services remain reliable and efficient. Some lawmakers have warned about recurring signalling problems, saying the system is decades old and may break down again before scheduled upgrades can be completed.
Notwithstanding the MTR's world-class efficiency and reliability, no system can guarantee zero incidents. The growing public reliance on its high-quality service means there is little tolerance for failures. In addition to more stringent monitoring and maintenance to minimise incidents, there needs to be comprehensive and effective contingency plans to reduce the impact that arises from a breakdown. This requires not just better response strategies from MTR Corp, but also coordination among the government and other transport operators.
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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