Contractor Blamed For MTR Crash, But Firm Stays On

The MTR Corporation has concluded that the contractor responsible for its new signalling system is to blame for a train collision during an overnight trial run in March, but added that it will not be firing the firm.

The accident on March 18 was one of the railway company’s most serious ever – two drivers were injured and the collision paralysed train services between Admiralty and Central stations on the Tsuen Wan Line for 48 hours.

A three-month investigation has now concluded that the clash was caused by a software glitch resulting from changes made two years ago, and a sequence of faults caused backup-systems to fail during the trial run.

The report said the contractor – Alstom-Thales DUAT Joint Venture, or ATDJV – has to take responsibility for failing to deliver a safe and reliable system.

It noted that the contractor has since replaced its software design and development team.

But the MTR's Operations Director, Adi Lau, says the company won't replace the contractor, and will instead step up the monitoring of ATDJV.

“It is important that our panel has looked into the root cause of this incident, and also looked at all these recommended improvement measures, and to satisfy ourselves that if these improvement measures are implemented, would they be able to deliver a safe system?” said Lau.

“Also, I need to emphasis that this system will not be retested again until it satisfies all these requirements, and also until the government gives us the green signal,” he added.

Lau added that the railway firm will seek damages from the contractor, according to the terms set out in their contract.

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, meanwhile, said it agrees with the investigation panel's findings and recommendations.

It stressed that the MTR won't be allowed to resume tests of the new signalling system until it gets the nod from the government.