Rail disruptions: SMRT fined S$1.6 million, SBS Transit fined S$50,000

SINGAPORE — SMRT will be slapped with fines totalling S$1.6 million for four rail disruptions occurring between October last year and May this year on the North-South and East-West Lines (NSEWL) while SBS Transit will incur a penalty of S$50,000 for a North East Line (NEL) disruption in March this year.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the incidents were “fully preventable” if operators had exercised due diligence and vigilance, adding that they will further tighten oversight on the operators’ training regimes.

The number of service delays lasting longer than five minutes, normalised per 100,000 train-km, have increased, rising from 1.30 last year to 1.56 and 1.54 in the first and second quarters respectively for the NSEWL. However, the LTA pointed out that this has come down for the NEL and Circle Line (CCL).

The number of train withdrawals for the NSEWL has also dropped to 1.3 by the second quarter of this year, compared to 3.3 in 2012. Train withdrawal numbers for the NEL and CCL have dropped to 0.2 and 0.5 respectively, compared to 0.7 and 2.1 in 2012.

Fines will be donated to the Public Transport Fund to help needy families with transport fares.

SMRT’S RAIL INCIDENTS AND PENALTY

• S$400,000 fine for failure to observe signal lights on Oct 9 2013

Train services on the EWL between Boon Lay and Joo Koon stations (in both directions) were disrupted for about 70 minutes after a westbound train passed a red signal light en-route to Joo Koon station. About 10,000 passengers were affected, and the train damaged a track point. Services resumed after SMRT conducted checks on the safety and integrity of the tracks.

• S$900,000 fine for failure to observe signal lights on Jan 22, 2014

Train services on the EWL were disrupted for about an hour when a westbound train travelling from Expo station to Tanah Merah interchange passed a red signal light. About 10,500 passengers were affected, and the train damaged a track point. Services resumed after SMRT conducted checks on the safety and integrity of the tracks

Findings:

Both incidents were due to lapses in compliance with operating procedures. Both times, the train captains failed to observe and act in accordance to the signal lights on the respective tracks, resulting in serious safety breaches. The Operations Control Centre was also slow in responding to prevent the trains from damaging the track points.

SMRT has since tightened its operating procedures and stepped up on its staff training to address the lapses identified.

• S$200,000 fine for NSL train push-out incident on Jan 20, 2014

Southbound train services on the NSL between Yio Chu Kang and Ang Mo Kio stations were disrupted for about 40 minutes — affecting about 19,000 passengers — after a train stalled between the two stations. SMRT had to conduct a 12-car push-out operation to recover the faulty train.

Findings:

Lapses by an SMRT technician and train captain resulted in no auxiliary electrical supply to the affected train. The train eventually stalled when its back-up battery power was completely drawn down, and a push-out operation had to be conducted to recover the train before service could be resumed.

SMRT has since enhanced its maintenance processes with a more robust framework of additional checks when carrying out crucial inspections and maintenance works.

• S$100,000 fine for NSL traction power incident on May 2, 2014

Northbound train services on the NSL between Yio Chu Kang and Yishun stations were disrupted for about 50 minutes — affecting about 1,000 passengers — when traction power could not be turned on that morning.

Findings:

SMRT’s Project Team for sleeper replacement works had failed to remove a Short Circuiting Clamp that was installed, a breach in operating procedures. SMRT has since enhanced its work processes to better account for all equipment used for sleeper replacement works.

SBS TRANSIT RAIL INCIDENTS AND PENALTY

• S$50,000 fine for NEL traction power trip incident on March 21, 2014

Train services on the NEL were disrupted for about 40 minutes — affecting about 5,900 passengers — on both bounds between Dhoby Ghaut and Hougang stations due to a power trip. Services resumed after the electrical fault was rectified.

Findings:

An SBST maintenance team, when carrying out non-critical maintenance work on Potong Pasir station’s electrical system, caused a short-circuit that disrupted the Overhead Catenary System (OCS) traction power supply at Boon Keng, Potong Pasir and Woodleigh stations in both bounds.

SBST has since tightened its maintenance processes, and will conduct non-critical maintenance works only during non-service hours.

• No penalty for NEL traction power trip incident on April 6, 2014

Train services on the NEL were disrupted for close to an hour on both bounds between Farrer Park and Boon Keng stations due to a power trip. Services resumed after the electrical fault was rectified.

Findings:

An aluminium-foil helium balloon had entered the tunnel and came in contact with an electrical insulator of the OCS near Boon Keng station, causing an electrical fault. No action was taken against SBST as incident was caused by passenger action.