(Yicai Global) March 20 -- The drivers of two Hong Kong subway trains were injured when their trains ran into each other during new signaling tests carried out by the transit authority.

The collision took place between Central and Admiralty stations on the Tsuen Wan Line at about 3.00 a.m. on March 18, online news outlet Jiemian reported, citing Mass Transit Railway Managing Director Jacob Kam. It caused heavy damage to the trains and the drivers were sent to the hospital.

The incident stemmed from a software issue, the report said, adding that Thales Group and Alstom supplied the new signal system. The two French firms penned a deal worth EUR330 million (USD374.5 million) with MTR at the start of 2015 to renew and upgrade the system in seven subway routes, including the Tsuen Wan Line.

Safety should be the primary consideration for railway transport operation, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said yesterday, adding MTR's new signal system should not be in service before it achieves sound test results. 

The companies are responsible for replacing the existing systems, including the control centers, automatic train supervision and interlocking and automatic train control that are used on the trains and in stations, Alstom said yesterday in response to the accident.

French Connection

The French team is working jointly to implement the project, with Thales Group being the main technology supplier and Alstom handling overall management, providing remote controls for trackside equipment to realize the seamless linkup between these and existing devices, Saint-Ouen-based Alstom noted, adding it will continue to monitor the accident as follow-up.

Thales Group said it is aware of the crash during non-peak hours and will cooperate closely with and support the ongoing investigation.

MTR must set up a team of experts to probe the collision and report to Hong Kong's government, Lam said, stating the special administrative region's Electrical and Mechanical Services Department will also conduct its own independent in-depth inspection as a regulator.

The probe will also look into software issues and systematic guarantees against recurrence, in addition to the accident's causes, and it is projected to take at least two or three months for it to reach a preliminary conclusion, Kam said.

Editor: Ben Armour