Signal Failure Disrupts Traffic On Kwun Tong Line

A signal failure near Choi Hung Station on the Kwun Tong Line left service disrupted between Kowloon Tong and Kwun Tong stations for about 30 minutes on Wednesday afternoon, leaving many passengers temporarily stranded.

The MTR authorities said the service was suspended from 2.15pm before its personnel located the glitch and fixed it.

During that time service between Whampoa and Kowloon Tong stations, and from Kwun Tong Station to Tiu Keng Leng station, also ran at a reduced frequency, at 10 minute intervals.

Hundreds of passengers were caught unaware at the stations that were left without train service.

The disruption seemed to catch the MTR staff at Diamond Hill station off guard as passengers sought directions and availability of shuttle buses.

Lack of information in English also left some stumped. "I was stuck on the train for 20 minutes in between stops, now we got here. I don’t hear anything in English, first of all, I just hear Chinese, and I’m going all the way to Tai Wo, which is far away from here still," said a middle-aged man, named Lyle.

"So I have no idea how to get there, don’t know what buses I could take, where to get them, what transportation options I have, there," he said.

But as passengers scrambled for other means of transport, the ripple effect led to more disruptions. Long queues were soon waiting for minibuses and taxis.

A secondary school student, who have her name as Renee, said the sudden rush for bus skewed her journey schedule to the school.

"I don't ride MTR to school. But since the MTR is not working and many people waiting in the minibus station, it affected my travel schedule," she said. "I have an exam at 3pm and it is only to 20 minutes [left]. I think I will be late for that now."