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Written by: Chen Jingqi
2020-09-13 01:03
Last update date: 2020-09-13 01:09
The East Railway was originally scheduled to activate the new signal system and the new nine-car train on Saturday (12th), but it stopped on Friday. The MTR announced that it had discovered the "wrong line" problem in May, but the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department only learned of the incident on Thursday.
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department issued a paper late at night on Saturday (12th), stating that no problems were found in the test. The MTR had to explain the incident immediately when the incident was known. The government requested that the incident be prevented from recurring before it could be put into service.
The government believes that for the sake of prudence, the MTR Corporation must conduct further inspections and more detailed tests for the new signal system to prevent the occurrence of the above incidents before it can be put into service.
The MTR also has a new statement that the problem does not affect safety, and it planned to monitor the operation manually.
Tian Beichen, the former chairman of the KCRC, quoted sources as saying that the Engineering Department felt that it would be resolved by switching to manual operations, but the Operations Department did not agree and ordered the MTR to temporarily stop the plan.
MTR: The engineering team originally intended to manually monitor operations
MTR said on Saturday that during the relevant test in mid-May, it noticed that the performance of the route setting was not satisfactory, and it has been following up. The situation does not affect operational safety, nor does it affect the new signal system, new trains and trains. Existing trains mix arrangements.
The engineering team originally planned to cooperate through corresponding "operational control measures" (including manual monitoring and operation).
However, at the time of the final review, the company believed that it would better meet public expectations after improving the relevant situation before putting the new signal system into service. Therefore, it was decided to further optimize the system and corresponding arrangements to ensure the operation of the new signal system more reliably. Smooth.
Tian Beichen: MTR Engineering Department and Operation Department have different opinions
Former KCRC Chairman and Member of the Legislative Council Tian Beichen said in an interview with the media that the Engineering Department felt that it would be resolved by switching to manual operations, but the Operations Department did not agree and ordered the MTR to temporarily stop the plan.
"Of course, the operation department is shouting and killing. How can I go out and tell the public that my tens of billions, 100 billions, new, invincible cross-sea railway in the world originally required manpower (operation) from time to time. The engineering department said No, there is no safety problem. The operations department said that although there is no safety problem, there are perception problems and image problems."
He believes that it is unacceptable for the MTR to stop and announce the announcement one day before the opening. The management must improve the communication between the engineering department and the operations department.
Former KCRC Chairman Tian Beichen revealed that the MTR Engineering Department had wanted to use manual controls to pass the customs, but the Operations Department did not agree.
(Profile Picture / Photo by Gong Jiasheng)
Approved in August, and only discovered that there was an accident in September. Electrical and Mechanical Services Department: Previous tests with MTR were normal
"Hong Kong 01" asked the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department again to find out why the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department approved the new system to be put into service at the end of August, but only learned of the incident on September 10 whether it involved errors or MTR concealed reports.
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department replied late on Saturday night that it had arranged a comprehensive exercise with 30 trains across the entire line to ensure the safety and normal operation of the system. In previous tests conducted by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the MTR Corporation, the signal system can guide the trains into the correct route.
In view of the fact that the MTR Corporation notified the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department on September 10 that there had been abnormal conditions during the test conducted in May, which may cause trains to run on branch lines, such as Fo Tan and Racecourse stations, Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations, etc. , Mistakenly followed the section of the previous train and entered the wrong station. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department immediately requested the MTR Corporation to submit a report and explain the reason.
The government halted
The Government believes that for the sake of prudence, the MTR Corporation must conduct further inspections and more detailed tests on the new signal system to prevent the above incidents from recurring before it can be put into service to ensure the safety and reliability of the railway.
Time sequence of accidents in the new signal system of the East Rail Line
May | East Rail Line exercises new signal system "Wrong line" |
May 23 and 25 | Three accidents occurred in the new signal system of the East Rail Line: the captain flashed the lights, the console display was grayed out, and the interlocking system was shut down by mistake |
August | The EMSD approves the new signal system, which can be activated on September 12 |
September 10th day | "Hong Kong 01" is aware of the "wrong line" incident of the new signal system, consult the MTR and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department |
September 10 | The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department is aware of the incident. It is understood that the department urgently called the MTR to understand the incident that night |
Late night of September 10 | MTR responded to the 01 query, stating that "the initial system needs to be run-in" and will be activated as scheduled |
September 11 morning | It is understood that the senior management of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department held a meeting in the morning |
September 11 at 5 p.m. | "Hong Kong 01" published an exclusive report |
September 11 at 6:30 pm | MTR held a press conference to acknowledge the incident and stop the plan |
Early morning of September 12 | A spokesperson for the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department replied to "Hong Kong 01" enquiry, admitting that the incident was only learned on September 10 |
Source: Hong Kong 01 reporter interview
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