Concern is growing over the safety of the Mass Transit Railway after a sudden power cut (電力中斷) disrupted (中斷) train services between Admiralty and Causeway Bay during the morning rush hour (繁忙時間) yesterday.
About 2,000 passengers on two trains were affected and thousands others packed (成群擠在一起) platforms during the 20-minute disruption.
At about 9am, a tripped (解扣，鬆開) switch(軌閘轉轍器) cut the power supply to two trains running on the tracks between Tin Hau and Admiralty stations in the direction of Sheung Wan, a spokesman for the MTR Corporation said last night.
An automatic safety system kicked in (note 2) and cut power to sections of the line between the two stations in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai.
Between 1,100 and 1,200 passengers on each train were asked to leave (被請離開) in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay and wait until services resumed (恢復).
At Wan Chai station, platforms were packed as thousands were also stopped from entering the turnstiles (入閘) during the disruption. They had to wait even longer when services resumed at about 9.20am as arriving trains were already full.
The MTR spokesman said both trains still had enough power to move to the depot. An investigation is ongoing (note 3) and he could not say what caused (引致) the power cut.
Several passengers said they saw smoke coming from a carriage (車卡) as the train entered Wan Chai station from Causeway Bay. They called the police. Firemen were on standby (note 4).
The MTR spokesman said the smoke might be caused by dust igniting (點燃) after building up (note 5) on one of the trains' high-voltage electric cables.
"The train reduced its speed abruptly before it reached Causeway Bay station," said Chan Ho-pong, who was travelling on the train from Tin Hau to Causeway Bay. "People lost their balance (note 6) as there was no announcement before the sudden stop."
From good to better English:
(note 1) riled up=惹怒，激怒 (anger, upset)。Rile的同義詞有 aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, disturb, exasperate, fret, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, provoke。
(note 2) kick in=啟動。Kick=踢、戒除(毒癮)。Victor loves kicking around = Victor經常改變行業。Kick off=開始(某種活動)。Kick oneself =嚴厲自責。Kick out=逐出，解雇，開除。Kick the bucket=翹辮子。Kick up a fuss=引起騷擾。There is not much kick in the Kowloon Tong cocktail=這種九龍塘雞尾酒沒有多少勁兒。
(note 3) ongoing=進行中的 (In progress or evolving)。ongoing的同義詞有ceaseless, constant, continual, continuous, endless, eternal, everlasting, incessant, interminable, nonstop, perpetual, persistent, relentless, round-the-clock, timeless, unceasing, unending, unfailing, uninterrupted, unremitting。例句: Victor helped Bo Bo secure a job and is now giving her vital, ongoing support= Victor幫 Bo Bo找到工作並繼續給她支持。
(note 4) on standby=待命 (Ready and waiting)。stand by someone=支持。例句: Julian stood by Victor’s criticism of the government= Julian支持 Victor對政府的批評。
(note 5) building up=增加 (accumulate, increase)。The clouds are building up. Better close the windows, Victor tells Mo Mo= Victor告訴Mo Mo把窗門關上，因為雲層越來越黑。
(note 6) lost their balance=失去重心。
Vctor’s View: Thousands of people rely on the MTR to work and do business. It would cause so much inconvenience and loss of business opportunities if train service is disrupted for a period of time. There’s no room for complacency.
Victor Fung Keung, director of HK Baptist University’s M.A. in international journalism program, has published 4 books on English-enhancement [the latest, titled <<學會演說、改變你的人生>>, was published on July 18] and plans to write 6 more by the end of 2012. Write to him: deanfungenglish@gmail.com)
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