MTR collision caused by signaling software failure, with service suspension set to continue

Jacob Kam addresses reporters at a briefing at Central MTR station, Screengrab via Facebook video/RTHK.
Jacob Kam addresses reporters at a briefing at Central MTR station, Screengrab via Facebook video/RTHK.

A signaling software failure during a test of a new backup system was to blame for two trains on the Tsuen Wan line colliding in the early hours of this morning, the MTR Corporation confirmed this afternoon.

The announcement comes after it was announced that services on the Tsuen Wan line between Central and Admiralty would be suspended for at least part of Tuesday as the rail operator needs more time to clear up the debris from the crash.

Speaking to reporters gathered on the Central MTR station concourse today, the corporation’s managing director, Jacob Kam, said that at the time of the incident, the MTR had been testing the second backup computer for a new signaling system, noting that the current system only has one backup.

Kam — who will be replacing Frederick Ma as MTR Corp’s chief executive officer in April — said that the incident happened as one train left Central station’s platform two and was crossing over to platform one as it headed towards Admiralty station.

At the same time, a Central-bound train heading from platform four of Admiralty station was also attempting to cross over to platform one at Central station.

Kam said that the new signalling system had allowed the two trains to pass through the crossover point at the same time, RTHK reports.

Jacob Kam demonstrates on a white board how the trains collided. Screengrab via Facebook video/RTHK.
Jacob Kam demonstrates on a white board how the trains collided. Screengrab via Facebook video/RTHK.

“This scenario, in terms of safety, is unacceptable,” he said, adding that the software’s supplier, the French company Thales, had identified the same issue during a computer simulation in its lab in Toronto.

Kam said that Thales would be sending several experts to Hong Kong soon, and that an in-depth investigation into the cause of the crash could take two to three months.

The MTR Corp also convened an emergency meeting this afternoon, with the corporation’s board of directors expected to hold another emergency meeting tomorrow.

Kam, meanwhile, apologized to passengers for the delays caused to their commutes, and said that all trials of the new signalling system would be suspended pending the results of the investigation.

The director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Alfred Sit, told reporters today that his department had requested the MTR submit a report on the incident as soon as possible.

Sit added that the EMSD will also be carrying out its own independent investigation into the crash.

“The focus of our investigation is whether there is any problem with the new signal system, in particular on the software side,” he said. “But at the present moment, what we can promise to the public is that we are going to have an in-depth, independent and comprehensive analysis and investigation to make sure the railway system is safe and reliable for use before we can have the new signal system put into service.”

Earlier in the day, Tony Lee, the MTR Corporation’s chief of operations engineering, told reporters that there was only a three-hours window overnight when workers could remove the damaged trains, and warned that the Tsuen Wan line service may not resume normal service tomorrow morning, Ming Pao reports.



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on