wyliepoon
Senior Member
... the Toronto way.
(Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...y-service-during-morning-rush/article1905857/
Cracked rail knocks out downtown subway service during morning rush
Toronto— The Canadian Press
Published Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 9:00AM EST
Last updated Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 9:04AM EST
Commuters had to squeeze into shuttle buses on downtown Yonge Street during the morning rush hour today after a cracked rail knocked out subway service.
The subway was shut down between Bloor Street and Union Station because of the cracked rail at the King Street station.
Long lines waited for shuttle buses at Bloor Street.
The above zero temperatures prompted some people to complete their trip to work on foot.
The problem was fixed by about 8:30 a.m.
... and the Hong Kong way.
(The Standard)
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_...0&sid=31309306&con_type=1&d_str=20110216&fc=2
Critics take crack at MTR over transparency
Serinah Ho
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Critics have railed against the MTR Corporation for not being transparent enough in wake of its admission that the two cracks found recently on its tracks are just the tip of iceberg.
The subway operator said on Monday that 14 serious cracks were discovered in tracks since 2008: two in 2008, three in 2009, six last year, and three so far this year.
Of the latest three incidents, two caused peak-hour disruptions - on Thursday and on January 19.
The worst cases were found on the East Rail route in 2008 and 2009, with the cracks measuring nine millimeters initially.
In 12 incidents, the cracks ran from top to bottom, with six of them found on the East Rail line, four on the Tsuen Wan sector and two on the Kwun Tong route.
The earliest incident this year, January 13, resulted in a brief service disruption when a three-millimeter crack was found on the East Rail line close to Fo Tan station. Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Wong Kwok- hing said: "The MTR must fully report and publish each case since it is a matter of public safety."
Wong called for a special Legislative Council meeting to discuss the problem of the MTR's lack of transparency and slack government supervision.
Polytechnic University mechanical engineer Lo Kok-keung said the MTR should be more forthcoming. "The public should be informed when a crack is dangerous enough to cause derailment," Lo said.
But he believes the tracks are safe as the longest crack is just nine millimeters. "Based on my knowledge, a derailment may only happen when a crack lengthens to 310 millimeters," Lo said.
MTR chief of operations engineering Morris Cheung Siu-wa reiterated at no time was the public in any danger.
Cheung said track safety depends on whether deviations take place on both sides of the rail.
"Each section of track is about two feet wide and is anchored by metal locks attached to the ground, which will not shift if cracks occur. It is safe even when the train goes across the affected sections," he said.
Cheung stressed that Hong Kong has one of the highest frequencies of rail maintenance in the world, especially in the use of ultrasonic testing.
(Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...y-service-during-morning-rush/article1905857/
Cracked rail knocks out downtown subway service during morning rush
Toronto— The Canadian Press
Published Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 9:00AM EST
Last updated Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 9:04AM EST
Commuters had to squeeze into shuttle buses on downtown Yonge Street during the morning rush hour today after a cracked rail knocked out subway service.
The subway was shut down between Bloor Street and Union Station because of the cracked rail at the King Street station.
Long lines waited for shuttle buses at Bloor Street.
The above zero temperatures prompted some people to complete their trip to work on foot.
The problem was fixed by about 8:30 a.m.
... and the Hong Kong way.
(The Standard)
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_...0&sid=31309306&con_type=1&d_str=20110216&fc=2
Critics take crack at MTR over transparency
Serinah Ho
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Critics have railed against the MTR Corporation for not being transparent enough in wake of its admission that the two cracks found recently on its tracks are just the tip of iceberg.
The subway operator said on Monday that 14 serious cracks were discovered in tracks since 2008: two in 2008, three in 2009, six last year, and three so far this year.
Of the latest three incidents, two caused peak-hour disruptions - on Thursday and on January 19.
The worst cases were found on the East Rail route in 2008 and 2009, with the cracks measuring nine millimeters initially.
In 12 incidents, the cracks ran from top to bottom, with six of them found on the East Rail line, four on the Tsuen Wan sector and two on the Kwun Tong route.
The earliest incident this year, January 13, resulted in a brief service disruption when a three-millimeter crack was found on the East Rail line close to Fo Tan station. Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Wong Kwok- hing said: "The MTR must fully report and publish each case since it is a matter of public safety."
Wong called for a special Legislative Council meeting to discuss the problem of the MTR's lack of transparency and slack government supervision.
Polytechnic University mechanical engineer Lo Kok-keung said the MTR should be more forthcoming. "The public should be informed when a crack is dangerous enough to cause derailment," Lo said.
But he believes the tracks are safe as the longest crack is just nine millimeters. "Based on my knowledge, a derailment may only happen when a crack lengthens to 310 millimeters," Lo said.
MTR chief of operations engineering Morris Cheung Siu-wa reiterated at no time was the public in any danger.
Cheung said track safety depends on whether deviations take place on both sides of the rail.
"Each section of track is about two feet wide and is anchored by metal locks attached to the ground, which will not shift if cracks occur. It is safe even when the train goes across the affected sections," he said.
Cheung stressed that Hong Kong has one of the highest frequencies of rail maintenance in the world, especially in the use of ultrasonic testing.