It Will Take Days To Reopen MTR Track, Says Expert

An engineering expert on Tuesday warned that it might take a few days before two damaged trains can be removed from the tracks and the section of the Tsuen Wan Line between Admiralty and Central can be reopened to traffic.

Peter Chiu, a former head of the department of engineering at the Institute of Vocational Education, said that he believes it will take MTR a few days to clear the wagons.

He was speaking after MTR authorities said on Tuesday that the trains, which crashed during a signal testing run on Monday, are still blocking the track and they don't know when they will be removed.

"There are two major parts. The first part is taking away such very heavy things from the ground to the rail again. And probably they may need some form of repair so that the train ... to bring it outside. That will take time." he said. "They have only three hours of time a day for that purpose."

"After taking the train away, they have to repair the rails and other equipment. That might take some time as well," the expert said.

Chiu said the MTR should hire a team of experts who are not part of the project to challenge the signalling system by trying to come up with various scenarios to see how it operates under severe strain.

He recalled that this is something authorities did not do when the airport at Chek Lap Kok opened and unexpected problems were found with the baggage delivery system.

Chiu told RTHK's Janice Wong that such measures are needed to regain the confidence of the public.