LTA, SBS Transit conduct largest emergency response drill to date at Newton MRT station

SINGAPORE — In the largest emergency preparedness exercise at an MRT station here to date, an estimate of more than 10,000 commuters boarding the Downtown Line (DTL) at Newton station went through bag checks and security screenings on Sunday (Feb 4).

The eight-hour drill, which took place from 10am to 6pm, was jointly conducted by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SBS Transit. Some 60 security personnel were involved in total.

Dubbed “Exercise Station Guard 2018”, the drill aimed to test out SBS Transit’s security measures and ground implementation plans at public transport nodes during periods of heightened security threats.

“It is also to sensitise commuters to the possibility of bag checks and to factor in additional travel time in the event of a security threat,” said Mr Joseph Goh, Deputy Director (Public Security), LTA.

During the exercise, the fare gates at Exit C of the Downtown Line at Newton MRT station were closed and commuters were directed to the fare gates near Exit A instead, where they underwent security screening.

As part of the exercise, commuters’ belongings and baggage were scanned by X-ray machines. They were also required to pass through metal detector frames before entering the fare gates.

The high volume of commuters passing through Newton station was one of the reasons why it was chosen as the venue for the first exercise this year.

Mr Goh from the LTA explained that approximately 1,500 commuters pass through the fare gates at Exit A of the Downtown Line at Newton station every hour.

Transport operators have conducted similar exercises, such as Exercise Greyhound 01/2017 at Little India station in March last year. The exercise involved a mock power fault resulting in passengers being evacuated to the station platforms.

Leading up to Sunday’s exercise, the LTA had informed commuters through media advisories, notices and their social media platforms.

Commuters were advised to avoid carrying large bags and to cater for additional travel time to factor in security screening.

Mr Goh said the checks were estimated to take between eight to 10 minutes for every passenger.

Commuters TODAY spoke to said that despite the operator’s messages, they were still “caught off guard” by the bag checks.

Mr Raymond Tay, who was rushing to work at about 1pm on Sunday afternoon, said: “When I exited the North-South Line (NSL) gantry and saw the security signages, I was quite surprised and worried if it would cause me to be late for work.”

However, the 30-year-old salesman said that the checks went “quickly and smoothly” and it was “not a concern” for him in the end.

Another commuter, who wanted to be known as Mr Lim, 42, said: “(The notices) could have been larger and (put) somewhere more obvious.”

“I was quite surprised by the checks when I entered the station.”

Ms Kei Yoo, who was travelling on the DTL with her husband and two children, said: “Even though I was not aware of the checks before hand, the queues moved fast.”

The 36-year-old housewife added: “It may take up a little more time, but I think (such checks) are necessary given today’s heightened security threat.”