The MTR Corporation has announced its plan to enhance railway asset management and maintenance regime with focus on five action areas, including putting in more than HK$65 billion (US$8.3 billion) on railway asset maintenance and renewal in the next five years. The Corporation will also accelerate the use of innovation and technology, advancing railway asset management to a higher standard.

The comprehensive review of MTR’s railway asset management and maintenance regime was conducted in response to the incidents that occurred at Yau Ma Tei Station and Tseung Kwan O Station in November and December 2022 respectively, as instructed by the MTR Board in December 2022. An Expert Panel chaired by Ir Edmund Leung, former President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, was appointed by the Corporation to conduct the review with the support of SYSTRA, an international consulting group. The review also took into account the views of the Independent Monitoring Panel of the Government.

The Expert Panel report mentioned that MTR railway asset management system is certified with ISO and MTR Passenger-Journey-On-Time consistently reaches over 99.9 per cent. The Expert Panel concluded that MTR’s railway asset management has a good foundation and to achieve a higher standard, improvement can be made to both the railway asset management system and the maintenance regime. It includes aligning asset management strategic objectives and integrating documentation, strengthening risk anticipation, strengthening asset registration and fostering staff awareness on asset management.

The Corporation is implementing the recommendations in the Expert Panel report with focus on five action areas, to enhance railway asset management and maintenance regime, including:

  • Put in over HK$65 billion on railway asset renewal and maintenance in the next five years.
  • Accelerate the application of innovation and technology in railway services and asset maintenance.
  • Enhance risk anticipation and management for early detection of abnormal conditions to minimise incidents of high consequence.
  • Implement initiatives to gain extra working time in the non-traffic hours maintenance window.
  • Address manpower challenges, while fostering staff awareness on asset and risk management.

The Corporation’s goal is to achieve ‘data-driven’ and digitised asset management. MTR will put in resources to accelerate the application of innovation and technology in the coming five years such as launching a digitised asset management system, setting up a joint laboratory with the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), using big data and comprehensive analytical tools to enhance risk anticipation, and uplifting management of suppliers’ products and contractor works.

‘During the review process, the Expert Panel conducted a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of MTR’s railway asset management, providing valuable suggestions on enhancing risk anticipation and incident prevention. The Independent Monitoring Panel of the Government also conducted a thorough examination and closely monitored the review. We appreciate the valuable suggestions and advice from the Expert Panel and the Independent Monitoring Panel. The Corporation will implement the recommendations in the report including increasing resources for railway asset renewal and maintenance, and will continue to provide service with dedication to respond to public expectations’ said Ms Jeny Yeung, Hong Kong Transport Services Director of the MTR Corporation.

‘The efficient and reliable railway service of MTR is down to the tremendous efforts of our colleagues. The company thanks our colleagues for their dedication and hard work, and will ensure that they have sufficient resources and solid plans, including innovative technology and maintenance window, to carry out railway asset management and maintenance, and provide ‘Smart Railway’ to serving passengers’ said Dr Tony Lee, Operations Director of MTR Corporation.

Please refer to the annex for the full report on the Comprehensive Review on Asset Management and Maintenance Regime of MTR’s Railway Operation.