FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1993
REPORT ON MTR TRAIN SEPARATION INCIDENT PUBLISHED
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) PUBLISHED THE FULL REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTING OFFICER OF THE BRITISH RAILWAY INSPECTORATE, MR ALAN COOKSEY, INTO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION'S TRAIN UNCOUPLING INCIDENT ON APRIL 27.
APART FROM
ALREADY BEEN MADE MAINTAINING A HIGH
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*
FOR
CONFIRMING THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT, WHICH HAS PUBLIC, THE REPORT CONTAINS 10 RECOMMENDATIONS LEVEL OF TRAIN SAFETY, THEY ARE:
PENDING CONSIDERATION OF THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, MTRC SHOULD CONTINUE WITH THE SAFETY MEASURES INTRODUCED SINCE THE INCIDENT, INCLUDING THE DAILY INSPECTION OF COUPLERS BEFORE A TRAIN IS PUT INTO SERVICE;
MTRC SHOULD CONSIDER THE PROVISION OF A SIMPLE AND ROBUST TRAIN SEPARATION INDICATOR FOR THE TRAIN OPERATORS;
MTRC SHOULD PROCEED WITH ITS DETAILED HAZARD ANALYSIS OF THE COUPLER MECHANISM ΤΟ IDENTIFY ANY AREAS OF RISK IN ITS DESIGN, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE;
MTRC SHOULD REVIEW THE DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES TRAIN OPERATORS AND CONTROL ROOM STAFF;
BETWEEN
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MTRC SHOULD CONSIDER PROVIDING IMPROVED VOICE BETWEEN THE CENTRAL CONTROL ROOM AND TRAINS, TRAIN OPERATORS AND PASSENGERS;
COMMUNICATION
AND BETWEEN
A
VISUALLY AT
MTRC SHOULD CONSIDER INSPECTING THE COUPLERS GROUND LEVEL. BEFORE AND AFTER CARRIAGES ARE COUPLED TOGETHER;
MTRC SHOULD LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ALLOWED IN THE CONTROL ROOM TO THOSE WHO REALLY NEED TO BE THERE;
THE OPEN GANGWAY DESIGN LINKING MTR CARRIAGES HAS MANY ADVANTAGES INCLUDING CONTRIBUTING TO CRIME FREE OPERATION AND FACILITATING EMERGENCY EVACUATION. IT SHOULD BE
RETAINED:
KCRC SHOULD EXAMINE THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT TO SEE WHETHER THESE MIGHT BE RELEVANT TO THEIR OPERATIONS; AND
THE TWO RAILWAY CORPORATIONS SHOULD SUBMIT TO THE CHIEF INSPECTING OFFICER OF THE HONG KONG RAILWAY INSPECTORATE REGULAR PROGRESS REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WITH THE FIRST SUCH REPORT то BE MADE WITHIN FOUR MONTHS AND SUBSEQUENT REPORT'S AT SIX MONTHLY INTERVALS THEREAFTER.
GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THESE RECOMMENDATIONS HAD BEEN FULLY ACCEPTED BY THE MTRC AND WERE BEING CONSIDERED AS PART OF THEIR OWN ENQUIRY WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY MID JUNE.
/RELEVANT RECOMMENDATIONS