Government Starts Probe Into Express Rail Hiccup

The government has sent officials to start a probe after an express rail train carriage slipped off the tracks following a trial run.

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) said the MTR Corporation has asked experts from the manufacturer of the trains, Qingdao Sifang, to take part in the probe.

The government has demanded a report from the MTR on the incident and asked it to include improvement measures.

The department stressed that the rail link can't open until it passes numerous tests conducted by an independent expert, the rail operator and government departments.

Commenting on the incident, Civic Party lawmaker Tanya Chan said she hopes the safety of passengers will not be put at stake for the multi-billion dollar project, which she says also damages the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.

Chan said the MTR has still not divulged the details and should explain why it took more than five hours to make the incident public.

She said she has written to the legislature's Railways Subcommittee asking to discuss the matter at its next meeting.