Too much emphasis on "SOP". When the fiasco happens, the press conference say not enough SOP or SOP not comprehensive enough.
I think they are on the wrong track. It is not about SOP. "Not on the SOP" or "no SOP" - does not mean you stop thinking and reacting to new and unpredictable situations. You don't become brain dead and just wait to be told what to do.
It is about empowerment of ground staff, so when they do something to alleviate the situation without waiting for top mgt instructions, they do not have to worry about being blamed or punished later.
here is also another
NUTS (no u turn syndrome)
anything that is not SOP, requires green light from the higher ups. which in return, needs more green light from more higher ups.
its not just in SMRT really. schools too. i had my fair share of that.
Yes, I do think this sums up the situation when the trains broke down.
Station staff and SMRT as a whole was more interested in matching situation and actions to 'template' than treating commuters as people and taking any means necessary to get people comfortable or out of the situation.
MTR in HK at peak hour is a nightmare lols... Door closing till ppl rush in... driver need retry door close ~2-3 times than can go.
At the circle line, the station staff only interested to prevent us not to go in anymore as the train is supposedly full (but lots of space in middle of carriage).
Why?
Cause if the train doors cannot close or needs to re-close and all that, it hinders the train times.
I'd rather they focus on asking (or shoving ) ppl into trains and overall safety (eg. blow a whistle for all clear).