Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Thales to set up new signalling simulation facility in Singapore

SINGAPORE – Signalling system provider Thales will set up a simulation facility here by the end of next year to perform additional simulation tests for the rail network here, following the train collision at Joo Koon MRT station on Nov 15.

Signalling system provider Thales will be setting up a communications-based train control (CBTC) simulation facility in Singapore, announced the LTA as it concluded its investigations into the train collision at Joo Koon MRT station. TODAY file photo

Signalling system provider Thales will be setting up a communications-based train control (CBTC) simulation facility in Singapore, announced the LTA as it concluded its investigations into the train collision at Joo Koon MRT station. TODAY file photo

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE – Signalling system provider Thales will set up a simulation facility here by the end of next year to perform additional simulation tests for the rail network here, following the train collision at Joo Koon MRT station on Nov 15.

The facility, which will open in two phases, will strengthen testing processes for the new signalling system on the North-South and East-West Lines, by enhancing the authorities' ability to test solutions for communications-based train control (CBTC) "in a controlled setting without affecting train services", a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesperson said. "This new facility will allow us to perform additional simulation tests which are tailored to the environmental and infrastructural conditions of the rail network in Singapore," the spokesperson said.

The first phase will be completed by the first half of next year to allow for off-site testing of the East-West Line's signalling system before it is introduced for passenger services. The second phase will further augment the facility's CBTC system software testing capabilities. When completed, the facility will be the first of its kind outside Paris or Toronto where Thales — a French multinational company — is based.

The initiative was announced on Monday (Dec 18) as the LTA said it has concluded its investigations into the collision which injured 38 people including two SMRT staff. LTA said it has corroborated its findings with the final investigation report submitted by Thales. Further "extensive tests and analysis" were also done by LTA, SMRT and Thales, including on-site re-enactments.

The detailed findings were consistent with LTA's initial findings made public on Nov 21, and confirmed that the incident occurred due to a confluence of a few "failure conditions". These include a "software logic issue" with the signalling system which was not configured to cater for the conditions that had contributed to the incident.

LTA found that the train developed an "abnormal condition" with its on-board signalling equipment and this prevented it from communicating with the trackside signalling equipment.

When this happens, the system would have developed a "protective bubble" around the affected train to ensure its safety. But the train had crossed a point on the track that has not yet been fully modified for the new signalling system. As a result, the "protective bubble" around the affected train was unexpectedly disabled and this led to the collision.

The East-West Line is running on two different signaling systems, with the old one in use from the Pasir Ris to Pioneer stations while the new one runs between the Pioneer and Tuas Link stations. The complications from operating two signalling systems concurrently on a single line had led to these failure conditions, the LTA spokesperson reiterated.

The CBTC signalling system allows trains to run closer together, at intervals of up to 100 seconds instead of 120 seconds during peak hours under the previous system.

In a precautionary move, train operations from the Joo Koon to Tuas Link MRT stations have been separated from the rest of the East-West Line since Nov 20. Thales has also completed its circuit modification works for the incompatible track point and is modifying the software logic of the signalling system to prevent future disabling of the protective bubble.

Stressing that the safety of the MRT system is of "paramount importance", the LTA spokesperson said the authority and SMRT have worked closely with Thales to ensure the safe operation and testing of the new signalling system. "Thales has given its full assurance that the CBTC signalling system used on the NSL and TWE are safe and robust, and that CBTC works will not impact the continued operation of the legacy signalling system," she added.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.