Commute Goes Off The Rails Again In Hong Kong

The usual commute on MTR trains was a nightmare for many Hong Kong residents on Tuesday as trains often stayed at platforms for long periods, stations were shut down without warning, and announcements issued which often left people confused.

Trains which pulled up at stations were crammed, leaving many people waiting on platforms frustrated.

As time went on, the number of people crowding onto platforms increased. In places, armed police officers kept watch and in some stations they stopped people for ID checks.

Meanwhile the public broadcast system at stations kept on warning commuters about the truncated services and advising them to find alternative means of transport.

One passenger said the biggest responsibility for the confusion belonged to the MTR. He said he was in a stationary train for about 15 minutes and the announcements were chaotic and did not clearly explain the situation.

At Prince Edward Station, a large number of riot police officers went onto the platforms and ordered passengers to leave, angering some of those who were waiting for trains.

In Sai Wan Ho, a group of riot police guarded the MTR station and intercepted some people who held up slogans. At Tiu Keng Leng station a group of riot police were seen conducting searches on the platform.

Many office workers in Admiralty said they had gone out early because they were worried that traffic would be blocked. Some members of the public said that it had taken them two hours to travel from Tin Shui Wai to Admiralty.

Some passengers said the waiting times for a train were longer than usual as some people blocked the train doors from closing. Sometimes the doors closed and opened up to around 30 times, some complained.

At Tai Po Market Station, commuters were angry that staff had not posted any notice about about the disruption, but only posted two security guards at the main exit to explain the alternative arrangements.

By 8am, hundreds of people were seen waiting for feeder buses arranged to take people from Tai Po Market.

A man called Deng, who works on Hong Kong Island, said he was dissatisfied with the fact that the MTR did not make any broadcast outside the station. He criticised the MTR for the confusing arrangements and did not know where the feeder buses were.