The Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system has malfunctioned for the third time since its came into service on December 10, according to a statement by the operator.
According to the statement, the cause of the malfunction was due to an electricity supply problem. However, the cause of the incident yesterday still needed further investigation.
At about 1 p.m. yesterday, there was electricity supply problem between the Cotai West Station and Lotus Checkpoint Station, therefore services between Ocean Station and Cotai West Station were suspended temporarily, according to the statement, adding that service was resumed at 2:35 p.m.
The Fire Services Bureau (CB) received a report that at about 1.30 p.m. yesterday passengers were trapped on the LRT train, one of whom was reported to be unwell. When firemen arrived at scene, they conducted a health check of the passenger who didn’t appear to be in a serious condition and was given a clean bill of health.
This is the third time that the LRT has malfunctioned since it came into operation this month. The first malfunction happened on December 10, when the service first started while the second malfunction happened on December 22.
The government has spent 11 billion patacas on the LRT, which only has one line that is 9.3 kilometres long with 11 stations covering Taipa and Cotai.
The LRT was first proposed by the government in the early 2000s. However, the main construction – the Taipa section – only started in 2012.
Tomorrow is the last day on which people can take free LRT rides. Passengers will have to pay between six and 10 patacas depending on the length of the journey, although there are discounts for passengers using LRT top-up cards.
The trains run every 5 to 10 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 11:15 p.m.from Mondays to Thursdays, and from 6:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.from Fridays to Sundays, and public holidays.
This photo that has gone viral on social media shows passengers leaving the train after the system was temporarily suspended due to an electricity supply problem.
