【明報專訊】LAST September a train on the East Rail Line derailed. An investigative report by the MTR reveals that the accident happened because of a problem with the spacing between rails. The MTR's management blames the accident on the "unusual location of the rails involved", adding that it was not aware of the problem previously. However, as clearly evidenced by the issue, there is a loophole in the maintenance of tracks. No error should be allowed when it comes to rail safety. It was extremely fortunate that the accident (in which the derailed train broke off in half at Hung Hom Station) did not result in heavy casualties. Very often there is a management issue behind a technical one. The MTR's management must learn a lesson seriously and must not blame the matter on the front-line staff's mistakes. The MTR has a sprawling web of business. From construction, daily operations to maintenance, it has been caught up in one accident after another in recent years. This has severely tarnished its image of safety. The report on the derailment once again shows that the MTR must concentrate on its principal business — train operations. It must not mistake a branch for a root just to pursue profits.