Latest news with #EastWestLine
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Singapore's SMRT fined RM7.9m for six-day MRT disruption in 2024, down from initial RM9.9m
SINGAPORE, July 26 — Singapore public transport operator SMRT will pay a reduced fine of S$2.4 million (RM7.9 million) over a major six-day MRT disruption on the East-West Line in September 2024, following a review by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The penalty is S$600,000 less than the initial amount announced in June. According to The Straits Times, the updated fine was revealed in an LTA statement yesterday. The regulator said it had considered SMRT's representations and the challenges the operator faced during the incident, including pandemic-related supply chain disruptions that delayed spare parts for train overhauls. The fine will go into the Public Transport Fund to help lower-income households with commuting costs, said LTA. SMRT has also been directed to invest at least S$600,000 within a year to strengthen its maintenance capabilities and submit documented proof of the improvements. 'In reaching this decision, LTA took into consideration the considerable challenges SMRT had faced in planning and executing their overhaul regime for the Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) trains,' the authority said, citing the global delays triggered by Covid-19. The disruption stemmed from a faulty component on a first-generation KHI train that led to a partial derailment between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations on the morning of September 25, 2024. Services were affected until September 30, disrupting about one in six trips each day. Investigations found that SMRT had extended overhaul intervals without a detailed engineering or risk assessment. The root cause was traced to degraded grease, which led to the detachment of an axle box — a key component connecting the train's wheels — near Dover station. One of the train's bogies derailed as a result, damaging 2.55km of track and trackside infrastructure. SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai responded in a Facebook post, saying the operator will 'strengthen its direct engagement with original equipment manufacturers of trains and systems' and invest in technical expertise through deeper collaboration. Lam added that SMRT has long prioritised workforce development and upskilling, and will continue supporting the secondment of LTA engineers — a practice ongoing since 2018. SMRT is also working with LTA and Alstom to progressively roll out the new R151 trains, with all 106 units expected on the North-South and East-West lines by 2026. As of June 29, 61 R151 trains were in operation. The ageing KHI fleet is set to be retired by September. The Straits Times reported that LTA had earlier described the original S$3 million fine as 'proportionate', but also took into account SMRT's financial outlay for emergency bus bridging and shuttle services during the disruption, as well as repair costs. SMRT had submitted its representations on June 6 after receiving LTA's notice of intention to penalise the operator on May 30. The transport regulator reviewed the submission before confirming the revised fine on July 25. SMRT has 14 days to appeal the penalty to Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow. Asked by The Straits Times whether it would do so, Lam said only that SMRT had 'noted that LTA had considered its representations'. The S$2.4 million penalty is the second-highest imposed on a rail operator in Singapore's history. The record fine remains the S$5.4 million SMRT incurred following a 2015 disruption that shut down the entire North-South and East-West lines during evening rush hour.
CNA
03-07-2025
- CNA
Teenager charged with trespassing onto operational railway track along East-West Line
SINGAPORE: A teenager was charged on Thursday (Jul 3) with trespassing onto an operational railway track along the East-West Line on the night of Mar 27. The 17-year-old Singaporean cannot be named under the Children and Young Persons Act as he was under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offence. He was given two charges linked to the incident: First, for wilfully endangering the safety of rail travellers under the Rapid Transit Systems Act, and for committing criminal trespass under the Penal Code. According to charge sheets, he entered "scaffolding point 12" at about 8.20pm on Mar 27 along Upper Changi Road. The area is under the Land Transport Authority (LTA). He then climbed up the scaffolding and gained access to the MRT train tracks during operational hours, the charges indicate. Soon after, he allegedly trespassed onto the railway track between Simei and Tanah Merah stations, endangering the safety of people travelling along the track. He was remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for medical examination and will return to court later this month. The police said in an earlier statement that they had received a report about the incident on Jun 10. Officers identified the teen and arrested him on Jul 1. After the police identified the teenager's alleged point of entry, LTA took immediate action to enhance security measures at the location to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents, the police said. If convicted of criminal trespass, the boy can be jailed for up to three months, fined up to S$1,500 (US$1,178), or both. If convicted of wilfully endangering the safety of people on the railway, he could be jailed for up to five years, fined up to S$10,000, or both.
CNA
16-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Fines not the only tool to make public transport operators do their job: Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow
SINGAPORE: Fines are not the only tool to ensure that public transport operators do their job, said acting Transport Minister Jeffrey. He was speaking in a wide-ranging interview with the media earlier in June, where he also gave his views on hot-button transport issues that have dominated the headlines since he took on the role last month. One of these was the Jun 3 announcement that transport operator SMRT would be fined S$3 million (US$2.33 million) over a six-day disruption along the East-West Line in September 2024. Commenting generally on using fines to penalise public transport operators for lapses in service, Mr Siow said the system was used as a means of reducing the financial resources of the public transport company. This in turn affects the company's bottom line and consequently, 'what it can pay to its people and what it can do for itself'. But beyond financial penalties, it is about "working with them together as part of the whole system, making sure that their interests and their motivations are aligned overall with the longer-term goal; with a larger goal of making public transport a good transport system in Singapore', said Mr Siow. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said earlier this month that as asset owner, it has since strengthened its oversight of operators' management of assets, including internal procedures to adjust maintenance schedules, among other measures taken. Mr Siow said he could not comment on the specific incident in September, as it remains unknown if SMRT will appeal the fine. He separately noted that rail reliability has improved over the years, from 67,000 mean km between failure (MKBF) in 2012, to 2 million MKBF today. MKBF is the widely accepted engineering measure for rail reliability. "It doesn't mean that it is perfect ... I think disruptions will happen every now and then, invariably, and that's where it's important for the train network to be resilient," he said. And one important feature of a resilient network is for commuters to have alternative routes should a train service on a particular track be disrupted. This is where the Circle Line and the future Cross Island Line is "absolutely critical", he said. These lines cut through many others, ensuring that if one line is down, commuters can switch to another to get to their destinations. "Slightly longer, but it's not disastrous," said Mr Siow. ON PHV DRIVERS' WORKING HOURS Mr Siow was also asked if more could be done to manage the working hours of private-hire drivers, after the death of 49-year-old Gavin Neo last month from a stroke. The Grab driver was known to have worked up to 15-hour days to support his two teenage children. Mr Siow said that whether the highest tier of incentives for private-hire drivers should exist on ride-hailing platforms like Grab is 'something worth asking them about'. 'I think they have a certain incentive system, and there's a very high achieving tier … My understanding is that there's very few drivers on that tier,' said Mr Siow. 'The question is whether they really even need that at all if there are very few people on the tier." Drivers that CNA earlier spoke to said that while the incentive systems of some ride-hailing companies could motivate them to earn more money, it could also have the unintended effect of pushing them too hard and thus result in health issues or accidents. Grab has told CNA that its incentive programmes are within guidelines set by the tripartite Workplace Safety and Health Council; and that on average, the number of hours spent by its drivers are well within those guidelines. The Council encourages drivers to limit their shifts to no more than 12 hours. In the wake of Mr Neo's death, Member of Parliament Yeo Wan Ling, who is adviser to the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) and National Taxi Association (NTA), urged platform operators to take steps to improve the lives and livelihoods of platform workers by creating fair incentives. 'Avoid schemes that incentivise platform workers to work long hours to get rewards,' she said. 'Allow reasonable rest duration for workers to avoid fatigue.' As to whether LTA would step in to better regulate the working hours of private-hire drivers, Mr Siow said these could come into play if it was a matter of safety. 'Meaning that we find that the accident rates of PHVs are much higher than private vehicles, then obviously we have to step in,' he said. However, this is 'not really the case' based on prevailing data, he added. Mr Siow also noted that the union has not called for regulation of hours either. "Because I think they recognise that PHV drivers themselves have different views on … what's the right number of hours to drive,' he said. The Ministry of Transport told CNA that taxi and private-hire car drivers undergo training on occupational health hazards as part of their vocational licence courses, which recommend taking short breaks after every two hours of driving. It added that all taxi and ride-hailing platform operators have guidelines for drivers to have sufficient rest, and remind them either through taxis' mobile data terminals or ride-hailing apps to take breaks after long shifts. 'Some operators have also deployed various forms of driver assistance technology and anti-fatigue systems to promote safe driving,' a ministry spokesperson added.
Independent Singapore
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Independent Singapore
SMRT fined S$3 million after six-day East–West Line breakdown: A closer look at what went wrong
SINGAPORE: When trains grounded to a halt on the East–West Line (EWL) from Jurong East to Buona Vista on September 25, 2024, half a million commuters found themselves in limbo for six days. On Tuesday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced it will impose a S$3 million penalty on SMRT, citing the gravity of the incident and the costs already borne by the rail operator. Here's how a seemingly small mechanical failure cascaded into one of Singapore's most disruptive rail incidents in recent memory—and how both LTA and SMRT are racing to ensure it never happens again. How a dislodged axle box sparked six days of chaos On the morning of Sept 25, a Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) train was being withdrawn from service near Dover Station on its way back to Ulu Pandan Depot. That routine move took a sudden, unexpected turn: one of the axle boxes—an essential housing that supports the train's wheels—came loose and fell off the track. As the train continued on its journey, the third carriage's bogie (wheel assembly) derailed, gouging 2.55 km of rail and trackside equipment, including power cables and the third rail that supplies electricity. Passengers on board felt a burning smell; SMRT immediately halted the train at Clementi and evacuated riders safely. But the derailed bogie had already ripped up track and cables between Dover and Ulu Pandan, forcing LTA to suspend EWL services for six days until repairs were completed on Sept 30. Services resumed on Oct 1, but not before thousands of journeys were severely delayed or rerouted. LTA's findings: Degraded grease and deferred maintenance LTA's thorough investigation—supported by an independent forensic analysis from SGS Testing and Control Services—could not pinpoint a single 'smoking gun,' but it zeroed in on a likely culprit: degraded grease within the axle box. Over time, this grease failed to lubricate the bearings properly, causing excessive friction and heat. High temperatures, hidden alerts : A Hot Axle Box Detection System (HABDS) near Lavender station had registered 118°C on the affected axle box in the hours before the derailment—nearly twice the normal operating temperature of 65°C. Unfortunately, an internal system error at SMRT meant that maintenance staff could not identify which train had triggered the alert. As a result, no follow-up action was taken. : A Hot Axle Box Detection System (HABDS) near Lavender station had registered 118°C on the affected axle box in the hours before the derailment—nearly twice the normal operating temperature of 65°C. Unfortunately, an internal system error at SMRT meant that maintenance staff could not identify which train had triggered the alert. As a result, no follow-up action was taken. Chevron springs and catastrophic failure : As the bearings overheated, the rubber layers between the chevron springs (metal plates bonded with rubber) began to burn. LTA's report found traces of burnt rubber and metal debris along the track, indicating that the springs disintegrated first. With support weakened, the axle box eventually dislodged completely. : As the bearings overheated, the rubber layers between the chevron springs (metal plates bonded with rubber) began to burn. LTA's report found traces of burnt rubber and metal debris along the track, indicating that the springs disintegrated first. With support weakened, the axle box eventually dislodged completely. Extended overhaul intervals: Regular preventive maintenance on this train on September 10, 2024, showed no anomalies, and the bearings and springs appeared nominal. However, SMRT had twice extended its overhaul intervals—beyond the stipulated 500,000 km—first to 575,000 km in August 2022, and then to 750,000 km in August 2024, citing overall fleet reliability. By the time of the incident, the train had clocked 690,000 km since its last overhaul in 2018. LTA notes that, had this train been overhauled 'in a more timely manner,' degraded grease could have been replaced sooner. The S$3 million penalty: Proportionate costs and public interest In determining the penalty, LTA weighed several factors: SMRT had already spent over S$10 million on emergency repairs, free shuttle buses and trains, and allowing commuters free travel between Jurong East and Buona Vista for the six-day duration. Rather than funnelling the fine to general revenue, LTA will channel the S$3 million into the Public Transport Fund, which supports lower-income families with travel subsidies—an acknowledgement that no matter how many repairs happen behind the scenes, commuters shoulder the immediate impact. SMRT Trains posted a net profit of S$7.5 million on revenues of S$886.7 million—meaning a S$3 million fine, while significant, is proportionate. Lessons learned, and the road ahead For half a million daily riders, six days without EWL service underscored how a single mechanical failure can ripple across an entire city's routines—from late-night hospital shifts to early-morning school commutes. LTA's final report makes one thing clear: routine maintenance and monitoring data must be treated as urgent red flags, not background noise. SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai acknowledged at a briefing that, despite decades of reliable service, 'a convergence of factors'—delayed train deliveries, extended overhaul intervals, supply-chain bottlenecks—'caught them off guard.' He added, 'In hindsight, we could perhaps have exercised greater caution in how we managed the transition and decommissioning of older trains.'
Independent Singapore
04-06-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
SMRT fined S$3M for September's train disruption; funds to help low-income families
Photo: FB screengrab/SMRT SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced a S$3 million fine against Singapore public transport operator SMRT due to a six-day MRT disruption on the East-West Line (EWL) in September last year. The penalty will go to the Public Transport Fund to help lower-income families with their public transport expenses, Bernama reported. LTA said the disruption from Sept 25 to 30 last year was likely caused by a degraded grease in the train's axle box, which caused it to overheat and fail. 'Degraded grease can cause increased wear and tear of the axle bearings, eventually causing overheating and failure,' LTA said in its Facebook post. LTA noted that burnt rubber and metal parts from the chevron springs were found along the track where the train passed. However, LTA said it was not possible to establish a definitive root cause. 'LTA also found that SMRT had extended its overhaul interval for the incident train beyond its stipulated maintenance requirement of 500,000km to 575,000km in August 2022 and 750,000 km in August 2024. These extensions were carried out based on their internal procedures, without any detailed engineering and risk assessment, as axle box failures are not common,' it stated. See also Transport Minister apologises for MRT power disruptions In deciding the penalty amount, LTA took into account the over S$10 million SMRT had already spent on repair works and on providing free alternative bus and shuttle train services at affected stations during the disruption period. Train services fully resumed on Oct 1, 2024, after six days of repair work. The following month, LTA announced a decline in the Rail Service Reliability Performance , particularly for the East-West Line (EWL). /TISG Read also: F&B operators near Buona Vista MRT station said their sales dropped up to 70% amid East-West Line service disruption
