An MTR train derailed at Yau Ma Tei Station on Tsuen Wan Line on the morning of Sunday 13th, causing 2 pairs of doors to fall off. The train service from Lai King to Jordan was suspended for the whole day and the MTR train was fined 25 million yuan. The MTR explained the accident yesterday afternoon. Preliminary investigations revealed that a metal guardrail in the tunnel moved and collided with the train, causing the accident. The cause of the movement remains to be ascertained. In addition, the MTR said that the content of the broadcast was unclear that day, forcing passengers to leave the emergency exit at the rear of the train. When passengers were evacuated along the platforms towards Mong Kok station, a train has passed. he admitted the situation was not ideal and apologized to the passengers concerned. Some members of the Legislative Council believed that the incident reflected serious deficiencies in evacuation procedures and proposed fitting additional alarm systems and installing CCTV at the gallows.
As per the government’s request, MTR filed a preliminary investigation report yesterday. Li Jiarun, director of railway operations of the MTR, said the preliminary investigations found that before the train entered the platform, a 7-meter-long and 2.4-meter-high metal guardrail in the tunnel was moved and collided with the train, causing the bogie of the first truck to veer off the track, causing the doors of the first two trucks to move. MTR will investigate the reasons for moving the metal guardrail in the direction of maintenance, wear and the original design intent.
After the accident that day, 600 people aboard the train were evacuated through the platform of Yau Ma Tei station. After another passenger heard the train announcement, about 150 people walked along the exit of emergency at the rear of the train to Mong Kok station. During this time a train passed and the evacuation procedure was questioned. Li Jiarun said that the original intention of the train control center on the day of the accident was to arrange the return of the affected passengers to the platform of Yau Ma Tei station through the platform screen door with the assistance of the staff, but the content of the live broadcast has not been clearly expressed Road out of the car. He also specified that due to the damage to the equipment in the head cabin, the train commander did not receive the emergency ramp opening alarm and only a few minutes later a station employee noticed the situation and reported to the check.
Ambiguity in transmitted content misleads passengers
Li Jiarun also said that when the control center learned that the passengers had exited the emergency crossing and walked along the platform, they immediately activated emergency arrangements, because there was a “crowd” between the Kwun Tong and Kwun Tong lines. Tsuen Wan, the control center immediately ordered the suspension of trains to the Kwun Tong line; however, he said there was a “time lag” between passengers using the emergency exit passage at the rear of the train and the control center’s order to stop the Kwun Tong line, according to the data. and they weren’t in time to stop the train. Therefore, when the passengers were evacuated, they still saw the Kwun Tong Line next to them. As the train was underway, he stressed, “We feel the passengers’ experience is less than ideal. We will investigate the arrangements thoroughly and apologize again to the passengers.” the contents of the transmission may have deficiencies.” It is understood that the contents of the transmission by the captain of the train involved were to instruct the passengers to “exit the compartment from the rear of the train”. of the platform, some passengers thought to push the emergency exit at the back of the car to exit the platform.
Li Jiarun stressed that he took this incident very seriously and sent nearly 900 shuttle buses that day according to the emergency mechanism. That day, more than 100 employees worked overnight to replace the tracks and equipment, so that Tsuen Wan Line service could resume the next morning. MTR will establish an investigative committee to follow up the accident, expecting to submit a report within 2 months, and will inspect more than 30 metal guardrails, as well as large-scale inspections of ground structural devices, which are expected to be completed within six months and reported to the Department Electrical and Mechanical Services. MTR will also strengthen the training of the control center and train captains and strengthen the monitoring and warning system of ground equipment.
The Bureau of Transportation and Logistics and the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services said they have received a preliminary report from MTR. The office has asked MTR to immediately review the relevant arrangements to ensure emergencies are handled properly. As for the detailed report, it is necessary to explain comprehensive improvement measures and implementation plans to ensure the safety and reliability of the railway system and prevent the recurrence of similar accidents. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department said it will appoint independent experts to advise on improvement measures, equipment condition assessments and maintenance plans to ensure the adequacy of maintenance measures and the safety of railway operations.
Lawmakers are calling for backup alarms and CCTV
Zhang Xinyu, vice chairman of the Legislative Council’s subcommittee on railway issues, who once worked as the MTR station manager, said the evacuation process was very dangerous and unsatisfactory, stressing that the collision order warning system did not succeeded, and neither the train nor the captain nor the control center knew that the emergency door had been opened, reflecting the station equipment. And there are loopholes in the response process. He suggested that MTR improve the design of the train and equip it with an alarm system: once the emergency ramp at the rear of the train is opened, an alarm will sound immediately and a motion detection system on the tracks should be used to detect if anyone who has entered the platform, so station staff can respond quickly.
Tian Beichen, a member of the Legislative Council (Northwest New Territories) who was the former chairman of the KCRC, said the accident reflected serious shortcomings in evacuation procedures. When a train breaks down or an accident occurs, the MTR should ensure that no other train passes on the stretch of road concerned, under penalty of serious damage. Tian Beichen also stressed that the MTR should explain the current regulations if it specified how to deal with the situation of passengers entering the runway, and also suggested installing CCTV at all intersections.
Originally released on AM730 https://www.am730.com.hk/Local/MTR Derailment Slamming door Accident-Train hit Shifting guardrail causing accident-Passenger evacuation sees moving train-Not ideal-/348280?utm_source=yahoorss&utm_medium= referrals
