SMRT Forms Working Group to Enhance Rail Safety Following Major Disruptions

SINGAPORE – Following a series of unfortunate rail disruptions, SMRT has announced the establishment of a tripartite working group aimed at enhancing the reliability and safety of its rail network. This decision comes in the wake of the East-West Line (EWL) incident that marked the longest disruption in Singapore’s MRT history since 2017, hampering services for six days.

Composition of the Working Group

The newly formed group includes representatives from SMRT, the Land Transport Authority (LTA), and the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU). SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai will chair the group, while LTA deputy chief executive Yee Boon Cheow will serve as co-chair. Their collective experience will focus on evaluating existing practices and systems in line with international standards.

Aiming for High Standards

  • Review of life cycle management, asset renewal, and maintenance practices.
  • Benchmarking against Guangzhou Metro Corporation and Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation.
  • Exploration of insights to enhance service reliability.

In a Facebook post on 1 November, SMRT reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a mean kilometres between failure (MKBF) target of one million train-km since 2019, a crucial metric for rail reliability.

Background on Recent Disruptions

The East-West Line was severely affected by a faulty train that caused a derailment, leading to extensive track damage. Additionally, earlier disruptions in September included power outages on the Circle Line, leading to significant operational challenges.

Collaborating for Safety Improvements

NTWU executive secretary Melvin Yong emphasised the importance of a collaborative approach to ensure all stakeholders’ views are taken into account. “Safety improvements should arise from collaboration at all levels, not solely from the top down,” he stated, underlining the role of unionised structures in promoting better workplace safety.

Meanwhile, LTA has initiated separate investigations to understand the EWL disruption fully, fostering accountability in public transport operations. The Transport Minister also highlighted the extensive efforts made by engineers to restore services promptly.

Moving Forward

As SMRT embarks on this path to enhance rail safety and reliability, commuters can expect continual improvements that address not only current issues but also prevent future disruptions. The focus on peer benchmarking reinforces a commitment to learning from the best practices of leading metro operators.