MTR trains delayed after water pipe bursts

A burst water main disrupted services on the East Rail Line yesterday, prompting lengthy delays for hundreds of passengers just one day after the rail operator increased its fares.

The damaged pipe shot a jet of water some 20 metres into the air - high enough to hit the overhead electricity cables close to Fo Tan station and cause a power failure that disrupted services for almost two hours.

Services between Sha Tin and Tai Po Market were completely suspended for about an hour after the pipe burst shortly before 2.30pm. Limited services then resumed on that section of line using a single track for both directions. Waiting times were about 15 minutes. Delays also hit other sections of the line, with services from Tai Po Market to Lo Wu running at eight-minute intervals and between Tai Po Market to Lok Ma Chau at 25-minute intervals. Services from Hung Hom to Sha Tin ran every eight minutes.

"If I had any other more convenient transport choices, I wouldn't take the MTR," said Connie Chan, a 33-year-old clerk who was waiting at Fo Tan for a southbound train to Sha Tin. "It's just unacceptable to have services delayed just one day after the fare hike."

The MTR Corporation increased fares by an average of 3.6 per cent this week despite recording a net profit of HK$13 billion for the financial year.

The MTR, which is 76.5 per cent government-owned, has also come under fire after admitting that all five of its expansion projects have been delayed.