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Rail services fully resumed on Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O line on Thursday night following a five-hour suspension caused by malfunctions in both the power supply and signalling system, with passengers hearing an “explosion-like noise” on a train near Quarry Bay station.
Rail operator the MTR Corporation said its preliminary investigation found that the breakdown was triggered by a displaced overhead cable component in a tunnel section which led to a short circuit. It added that the noise was likely to have been caused by it and pledged to conduct an investigation overnight.
The rail giant also apologised to the public after the rush-hour shutdown left tens of thousands of people scrambling to find alternative transport to get home.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said she was highly concerned about the disruption and had asked the operator to submit a report on the incident.
Cheris Lee Yuen-ling, chief of the firm’s operating and metro segment, said the incident was linked to the power system tripping in the tunnel between Yau Tong and North Point stations, causing interruptions to the supply at about 5.15pm and halting services between the two.
Shortly afterward, the signalling system between North Point, Po Lam and Lohas Park stations was affected, prompting a suspension of the entire line shortly before 6pm.
The operator had to move grounded trains to different platforms before all the passengers could leave at about 6pm, she added.

Lee Kim-hung, the MTR Corp’s chief of operations engineering maintenance, said there were signs of short circuits in the overhead section, and he believed it might be behind sparks and an “explosive noise” reportedly experienced by passengers on a train near Quarry Bay.
Police said they received a call at 5.18pm from a passenger, who reported hearing an “explosion-like noise” before a blackout while on a Tseung Kwan O line train travelling from North Point towards Yau Tong near Quarry Bay and subsequently left the compartment.
A spokesman for the Fire Services Department said it had received a report at 5.16pm that a fire had broken out in the tunnel between Quarry Bay and Yau Tung stations, but its investigation found no signs of one. No one was injured in the incident, it said, adding it would follow up with the railway operator.
About three hours after the breakdown, services partially resumed from 8.40pm and were fully restored two hours later.




Earlier, hundreds of passengers rushed out of Tiu Keng Leng station and gathered at bus stops, while crowds packed pavements outside North Point station waiting for public buses and taxis.
In a knock-on effect, the suspension resulted in lengthy traffic jams between Wan Chai and Island East, and between the Eastern Harbour Tunnel and Kai Tak.
At Quarry Bay station, an interchange on the Tseung Kwan O line, staff directed passengers away from escalators leading to the platforms and guided them towards other exits.
The MTR Corp said it had arranged free shuttle buses for passengers during the suspension while various franchised bus operators ramped up their services.

Lawmaker Gary Zhang Xinyu, an engineer who previously served as a station services manager at the MTR Corp, said he expected the disruption would trigger a penalty mechanism, adding that the incident would be followed up at next Monday’s railway affairs subcommittee meeting in the Legislative Council.
“Several serious incidents have occurred within a short period this year. This raises questions about whether there are challenges concerning the manpower of frontline operations and the transfer of knowledge and skills,” he said.


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Hong Kong transport

Services fully resume on MTR’s Tseung Kwan O line after 5-hour suspension

Firefighters inspect a platform in Quarry Bay station. Photo: Handout

Commuters battle for alternative transport in North Point. Photo: Handout

Passengers stream out of Tiu Keng Leng MTR station. Photo: Handout

MTR engineers check out the problem. Photo: Handout 

News

Hong Kong

Transport

MTR Corporation says disruption caused by a displaced overhead cable component in a tunnel section, which led to a short circuit


MTR Corporation says disruption caused by a displaced overhead cable component in a tunnel section, which led to a short circuit.


MTR Corporation

Services fully resume on MTR’s Tseung Kwan O line after 5-hour suspension

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}MTR Corporation says disruption caused by a displaced overhead cable component in a tunnel section, which led to a short circuit

MTR Corporation says disruption caused by a displaced overhead cable component in a tunnel section, which led to a short circuit