Hong Kong’s MTR Corp to be fined at least HK$1 million for 7-hour disruption

Hong Kong’s rail operator will be fined at least HK$1 million (US$128,400) for a severe service disruption that lasted more than seven hours, while a transport official has pushed back against calls for a review of the penalty mechanism following the delays.

Authorities confirmed the fine on Friday during a panel meeting in the legislature to discuss the disruption to East Rail line services earlier in the week.

Jeny Yeung Mei-chun, a managing director of the MTR Corporation, apologised again on behalf of the company.

A faulty sensor left an engineer’s train sitting stationary on the tracks near Tai Wo MTR station on Wednesday. All southbound and northbound trains passing through the station were required to use the same platform to let passengers alight and board.

Passengers were forced to wait on platforms for up to 24 minutes between services as workers scrambled to conduct repairs.

Yeung said the engineer’s train weighed nearly 80 tonnes. The amount was double the weight of normal passenger trains, making the removal more difficult and extending the delay.