Hong Kong authorities to audit MTR Corp after 2 engineering train glitches

‘Grave concern’ expressed over malfunctions that caused disruptions twice in three months on East Rail line

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A technical fault on an MTR engineer’s train near Fo Tan station at around 5am on Sunday caused over six hours of delays. Photo: Sun Yeung

Published: 2:25pm, 28 Apr 2025Updated: 10:44pm, 28 Apr 2025

Hong Kong authorities have expressed “grave concern” and pledged to conduct a special audit of the maintenance capabilities of the MTR Corporation after services were disrupted two times in three months on the same line due to faults that left engineering trains stranded on the tracks.

A lawmaker on Monday also called on the city’s rail operator to upgrade its technology and invest more in maintenance to avoid such disruptions.

An engineering train used for inspecting overhead cables malfunctioned near Fo Tan station on the East Rail line on Sunday, causing more than six hours of service disruptions and adding 10 to 15 minutes to travel times.

In February, another engineer train used for lifting operations broke down near Tai Wo station on the East Rail line, also causing disruptions and delays

“The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has expressed grave concern over the occurrence of two engineering train-related incidents affecting train services within three months,” the department said.

“[It] will also initiate a special audit to holistically review [the MTR Corp’s] maintenance emergency preparedness concerning engineering trains.”

According to the department, preliminary findings suggested that the incident on Sunday was due to an equipment fault that hindered the lifting platform from descending.