Wear And Tear Problem Adds To Express Rail Woes

The MTR Corporation on Thursday confirmed reports that the wheels of trains on the future express rail line have been getting a lot more worn out than expected during trial runs, but said the problem had been fixed with the help of lubricant.

Officials admitted their surprise over the amount of "wear and tear", but did not reveal how much damage had occurred.

They insisted, however, that there was nothing to worry about and that the new "Vibrant Express" trains still meet operational standards.

"Steel wheel and steel rail, when they run on each other, they will have some natural wear," said the corporation's head of electrical and mechanical construction TM Lee.

"This is a new system and we are adjusting all the lubrication quantity, location etc, to minimise it. At the moment, the situation has improved remarkably," Lee said.

The wheel issue is the latest in a series of hiccups for the HK$84.4 billion cross-border rail link. Earlier in the week, MTR bosses confirmed there had been water seepage at the West Kowloon terminus and also in a tunnel.

The operator has also been investigating a partial train derailment early last month.

MTR operating chief, Francis Li, rejected criticism that the corporation only gives an account of such problems after they are first revealed by the media.

Li said his team hopes to uncover as many teething problems as possible during the trial runs so they can be fixed before the line opens in September.