Major Incidents
At 9:15 am on 14 February 2007, a passenger train broke down when one of the voltage transformers mounted on the train (EMU SP1900) roof exploded. It was suspected that the overheated transformer caused its insulating oil to vapourise, thus causing the explosion. The train borne circuit breaker, which was connected in parallel to the voltage transformer to the train pantograph, was not designed to isolate this kind of fault.
After the incident, all SP1900 EMUs have the voltage transformers replaced. The new voltage transformers are German-made dry type transformers, which will not catch fire even if they fail.
This incident occurred in a tunnel on the southbound section between Kam Sheung Road and Tsuen Wan West, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Tsuen Wan West. Around 650 passengers had to evacuate through the dark tunnel to the station, and around 340 people returned to the ground through a ventilation shaft at Chai Wan Kok. Eleven people were sent to hospital. Train services returned to normal after 4 hours.
As an apology, the West Rail was opened for free rides on 21 February 2007, the first working day after the Chinese New Year holiday.
Read more about this topic: West Rail Line
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