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MTRC power failure incident
The following is a question by the Hon Zachary Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in the Legislative Council today (Thursday):
Questions:
In regard to the recent incident of power failure of the Mass Transit Railway which occurred during the morning rush hours and which resulted in disruption of train services for several hours, will the Government inform this Council whether it is aware of the following:
(a) what were the causes of the incident?
(b) how the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) will prevent similar
incidents from occurring in future?
(c) what contingency measures does the MTRC have to divert passengers in
the event of a serious incident occurring during rush hours?
(d) whether the measures mentioned in (c) are effective; if not, whether the MTRC will be asked to review such measures and devise new ones; and
(e) whether the MTRC has any plans to purchase buses for emergency and contingency use; if so, when such plan will be put into effect; if not, why not?
Reply:
Mr President,
The MTR service disruption between Kowloon Tong and Choi Hung Stations on 22 September 1995 lasted for 3 hours and 45 minutes. This was caused by the loss of power supply resulting from a fractured insulator supporting the overhead power line. At no time during the incident was passenger safety at risk.