MTR branded 'irresponsible' for not reporting sparks in tunnel

The MTR Corporation has been urged to explain why it did not report to police or the Fire Services Department when a driver saw sparks coming out of a tunnel wall.

A driver reported that he saw smoke and sparks in the tunnel between Yau Tong and Quarry Bay at 8.40am yesterday. Services for two trains were disrupted for three to four minutes, the company said.

A smell of burning and waves of warm air were felt when the rode on trains between the two stations yesterday morning. One of the trains also stopped in the middle of the tunnel with no announcement. Maintenance workers were seen on the platform at Quarry Bay station.

Police, the Fire Services Department and the Transport Department said they did not receive any report from the MTR, while the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department said the company had informed it of the incident. It said it was following up with the MTR to establish the cause.

An MTR insider said sparks "gushed out" from one of the emergency exit doors in the tunnel, and an empty train carried workers to the spot to check the cause. Foam was sprayed at the location every two hours, the source said.

"[The MTR] was ignoring the risks to continue train services," the source said, adding that the company should have ceased service to inspect the cause.