The government expressed its concern Monday regarding significant delays on the East Rail Line caused by a malfunctioning engineering train near Fo Tan Station on Sunday. While passenger services continued, travelers faced extended journey times of 10 to 15 minutes due to the incident.
In an official statement, authorities indicated that preliminary findings attribute the disruption to an equipment fault that prevented the train’s lifting platform from lowering. This complication necessitated additional safety measures, particularly as the platform was situated near overhead wires, delaying efforts to move the affected train.
This incident marks the second occurrence of similar issues with engineering trains this year; in February, a breakdown near Tai Wo Station led to comparable service interruptions.
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has initiated an investigation into the matter and plans to assess the maintenance practices employed by the MTR Corporation for its engineering trains. Furthermore, the government has directed the MTR to conduct its own review of the incident and submit a comprehensive report.
As the investigation unfolds, commuters remain hopeful for swift resolutions to ensure the reliability of one of the city’s key transportation lines.
