27th October 2026 – (Hong Kong) Preliminary findings on two fires at MTR Lam Tin Station within less than 15 hours mid-month point to failed insulating rubber on points gear that short-circuited, then overheated cables after a portable earthing switch was left closed for safety – with passengers due rebate money under the Service Performance Rebate scheme.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau and the MTR Corporation submitted papers to the Legislative Council on 27th October setting out causes for the twin blaze-related incidents on the Kwun Tong Line. Both disrupted train service and, on one day, forced an evacuation of the station. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has joined the inquiry, and the government has told MTR to file a detailed investigation report plus improvement measures within one month.
On 13th October, investigators say, a piece of insulating rubber between turnout-switch components near Lam Tin failed. That opened an unintended conductive path between the train traction circuit and the station earth, triggering a short circuit that generated high current, sparks and fire. Work now runs on two tracks: the material condition of the component itself, and whether site conditions or other factors weakened its insulating performance. MTR is running technical and laboratory tests with specialists to pin down the root cause.
The 14th October incident is cast as a knock-on of that night. During morning train service, a portable earthing switch in the electrical plant room stayed closed because of the previous day’s accident and safety concerns. With the switch shut, load on a busbar joint rose under prolonged high current and wear accelerated; the joint also has limits under certain heavy loads. Current therefore did not all follow the intended path into the earth grid and instead bled away through other earthing routes. Sustained higher current overheated cable earthing parts until they smoked. MTR has since repaired the joint, replaced damaged cables and restored normal operation of the system.
Under the Service Performance Rebate rules, MTR must set aside money for passengers when serious delays of 31 minutes or more fall within its control. Both Lam Tin incidents hit during peak periods, so the company must also stump up the peak-hour extras. Those sums go entirely into the rebate account. Once the pot reaches HK$25 million, a “special fare day” is arranged with half-price tickets for riders.
