Preliminary findings linked two incidents at Lam Tin Station, less than 24 hours apart, to different faults. The first involved insulation failure that caused a short circuit and fire. In the second, wear to a grounding busbar while a portable grounding switch was closed caused a cable to overheat and emit smoke, according to findings from the Transport and Logistics Bureau and MTR.
Passengers had to be evacuated, and the incidents disrupted travel and Kwun Tong line services. MTR’s passenger services director apologised to those affected.
MTR Corporation Limited said the affected batch of insulation had been replaced in March, and that this type of insulation is normally replaced every two years. Since the incidents, it has inspected and cleaned similar insulation and has been measuring its insulating capability daily. Checks of similar insulation across running lines found no abnormalities, and MTR was also checking stations with portable grounding switches. MTR said it would investigate why the insulation failed.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau has required MTR to submit a report on the causes and improvement measures within one month. Under the existing mechanism, MTR must also allocate HK$4.8 million to its service performance rebate account for the two incidents. The relevant technical department and other departments will review the report after receiving it.
A DAB lawmaker called for targeted compensation, saying he believed the same passengers had been affected by both incidents and suggesting a free ticket or a direct fare deduction. The bureau said it would use the existing rebate mechanism for now and review it periodically. MTR said it would consider legislators’ views during next year’s review of the fare adjustment mechanism.