Flawed repair work led to Hung Hom derailment: MTR

Passengers from the train which derailed walk across the tracks near Hung Hom MTR Station. File photo: RTHK

Eight passengers were injured when the MTR train derailed on September 17 last year. File photo: RTHK

The MTR said on Tuesday that the derailment of an East Rail Line train approaching Hung Hom Station last September was linked to earlier repairs at the accident site, and staff who had tried to fix a widened gap between the rails didn't really know what they were doing.



The derailment during the morning rush hour on September 17 left eight passengers injured. The incident seriously disrupted services on the East Rail Line and also forced the cancellation of trains going to and from Guangzhou.



Following an investigation lasting five months, the railway operator said it had found that the accident was caused by a failed attempt by staff to fix a widened gap between the rails on August 4.



It said workers had replaced two worn-out timber support beams, known as sleepers, with new synthetic ones.



But the corporation said the replacement had unintended consequences, putting too much pressure on the new sleepers and causing the failure of three fixing screws and a widening of the gap between the rails, leading to the derailment.



It concluded that its staff didn't fully understand the problem with the track or how to fix it properly. The investigation panel also found that inspections at the site of the work "had not always been conducted strictly in accordance with MTR procedure".



The railway operator said it has replaced some 2,600 timber sleepers since the derailment and has improved its maintenance procedures.



It added that it has also provided more training for maintenance staff.



"On behalf of the Corporation, I sincerely apologise again to the passengers affected by the incident. We have learnt lessons from this incident and will spare no effort in putting in place the improvement measures recommended by the panel to enhance our track maintenance,” said MTR managing director Adi Lau.



The accident came during the height of Hong Kong's anti-government demonstrations, and speculation was rife at the time that protesters could have played a part in the derailment.