Hong Kong rail operator MTR Corp has reported that four of its lines have returned to normal operations after a signalling glitch resulted in service disruptions lasting nearly six hours.
The signalling issue affected commuters during morning peak-hour and impacted the transportation system.
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MTR stated that a temporary fix was made and all services were restored to their normal schedules around noon.
The glitch forced the company to operate the Island, Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan and Tseung Kwan O lines manually, slowing down trains and increasing travel times by up to 40 minutes.
MTR operations director Lau Tin-shing said: “Manual controls only provides around 20%-30% of the services we normally provide during peak hours.”
The signalling problem affected the frequency of the trains, reducing it to once every 12-15 minutes.
The MTR system serves as a major transportation hub in the city, carrying approximately 5.8 million commuters on a weekday. Due to the delays, the system has witnessed overcrowded platforms and trains.
The operator suggested that passengers opt for other modes of transportation.
MTR also stopped escalators at some stations to prevent further inflow of passengers onto already crowded platforms.
The disruption put heavy pressure on road networks, leading to traffic congestion.
