Faces on the Subway: Grandpa’s ‘wild stories’ keep alive his love for train journeys

Every day, hundreds of thousands of passengers take the MRT, traversing across the island for work, school and leisure. The spate of disruptions and incidents, which the operators and authorities are looking to resolve, and the inconvenience caused to commuters, have brought into focus how the rail network has become a big part of our lives. So, too, are the countless faces we meet on the subway, some growing familiar over time and each with a story to tell.

In our Faces on the Subway weekly series, we speak to commuters who start their day while it is still dark, or call it a night when others are already fast asleep — people on the first or last train.

SINGAPORE — Mr Vicnan Oolaganathan, 31, has always been fascinated by trains as a young boy, listening to tales of his grandfather who was a train master on the now-defunct Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) trains between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“He had so many stories of the interesting things they would come across on long-distance rides, such as the different animals they could see when the train chugged through forested areas, and the ‘mysterious’ passengers, especially on the late-night rides,” he said.

Mr Oolaganathan was speaking to TODAY while taking a late-night ride himself — on the last train along the Downtown Line heading towards Bukit Panjang.

Having landed a job as a senior customer service officer with SBS Transit about two years ago, he has been tasked to see that the last train returns to its depot after operating hours, among other things. Other times, he would be on the first train, starting his shift at 4am. Each shift can stretch beyond 12 hours, he said.

When the job offer came, he was excited to take it up, even if it is nowhere near what his late grandfather, Mr Krishnasamy Sundram Naidu, used to do.

He recounted how his grandfather was once also on board a KTM train heading back to a depot after all passengers had alighted, when he noticed a woman in one of the carriages. He struck up a conversation with her, went back to his control car, and the train came to a sudden stop for animals crossing the tracks. When he returned to where she was later, she had disappeared.

“Till this day, I remain fascinated by these wild stories,” Mr Oolaganathan said.

As a teenager, he had an interest in railway movements and engines. “I used to collect toy trains as a kid, but it was only in my teens that I got a chance to see a real, functioning train… I had always wanted to learn how to drive a train.”

Talking about the Downtown Line — which has a driverless train system — he said: “(The MRT trains) are more computerised (compared to) locomotives (which) are totally different, more manual, and you get to release the pressure for the train and literally drive it.”

He added: “My job is a bit more mundane, but I have to take up whatever is available to gain (work) experience and support my family.”

Mr Oolaganathan, who graduated with a diploma in engineering, lives with his widowed mother in Woodlands. On the last train, he would give her a call — a routine they have established for the days when he is on the night shift.

He said he has a close-knit relationship with his mother, who will wait for him to return home before going to bed. Her husband died more than seven years ago, while Mr Oolaganathan’s sister lives with her own family.

“My mum is my closest relative and I usually spend my (non-working) days with her, such as going shopping or for short trips to Malaysia.”

He added that most of his grandfather’s curious encounters on the KTM trains were also told to him by his mother.

While he himself had not personally encountered “vanishing” passengers on the Downtown Line, Mr Oolaganathan has had to deal with those who are “dead drunk”. These passengers have to be hauled out of the cabin when the train reaches the terminal station.

“We need to handle them with care to ensure that they leave the train safety… But we often have a hard time because they do not wake up. Many of them also urinate and puke, making a mess in the trains,” he said.

Another aspect of the job that sometimes upsets him is how the work of station and train crew often go “unappreciated”.

For instance, some commuters utter hostile comments to them as they go about their daily duties, he said. “Sometimes, I get asked why I am pacing up and down the trains or platforms… We are patrolling the trains to keep you guys safe, but I feel (the commuters) don’t appreciate us.”

The frequent disruptions to train services and other glitches in rail infrastructure may have perpetuated such attitudes, Mr Oolaganathan admitted.

“I don’t blame the commuters for being angry or frustrated over the breakdowns, but I certainly hope they can understand and appreciate that we are trying our best to cater to their needs… As (the) public transport crew, our jobs are to help commuters get around with greater ease and convenience, and we are trying our best.”

Before he joined SBS Transit, Mr Oolaganathan was an avid diver working at the Maritime Experiential Museum on Sentosa Island and educating people about marine diversity.

These days, he still occasionally puts on a wetsuit and head into the seas. He had obtained his scuba-diving certification a decade ago.

“Underwater, it’s a different world. There is always something new to uncover, especially the things that are seemingly hidden in total darkness,” he said.

Apart from dolphins, what intrigues him most are the anglerfish and their “light bulbs” — a fleshy luminous growth atop their heads that act as lures.

“Singapore may be a small country, but we have rather comprehensive facilities and a good environment to promote marine education,” he said.

On whether he would rather be doing this than working with a transport company, Mr Oolaganathan said: “I still block out certain periods for me to pursue other passions like diving... But I feel committed to stay on in my job now, especially at such a difficult time for the MRT system in Singapore… Perhaps when these problems (with rail infrastructure) are ironed out, then I will see where my future takes me.”