Key facts
- Two rush-hour disruptions occurred at MTR Lam Tin station within 15 hours.
- The first incident on Tuesday evening involved a trackside fire from an insulating rubber component.
- The second incident on Wednesday morning involved smoke from platform equipment in an electrical plant room.
- Both incidents occurred during peak hours.
- The MTR will investigate potential links between the two disruptions.
Two rush-hour disruptions at Hong Kong’s MTR Lam Tin station within 15 hours could be connected if they involved the same power supply circuit or exposed procedural shortcomings, an engineering expert has said. The first disruption came on Tuesday evening, when an insulating rubber component in a track turnout caught fire, halting services for about an hour. On Wednesday morning, platform equipment emitted smoke after a fire alarm from an electrical plant room, leading to the evacuation of about 2,000 people and trains skipping the station. MTR chiefs apologized for the inconvenience and stated they would conduct an in-depth investigation into both incidents, examining various factors and inviting independent experts. The Secretary for Transport and Logistics has requested a report within a month and a comprehensive review of the system's security.