NSL disruption: Train services between Ang Mo Kio, Newton still unavailable, says SMRT
08 Oct 2017 06:23AM (Updated: 08 Oct 2017 08:14AM)
SINGAPORE: Train services along the North-South Line (NSL) from Ang Mo Kio to Newton are still not available, said SMRT on Sunday (Oct 8), a day after two separate incidents along the NSL disrupted services for several hours.
SMRT said in a Facebook post that services between the two stations in both directions had not yet been restored and advised commuters to seek alternative transport. It added that free regular bus and bridging services along the affected stations are available.
“We are striving to start service between Newton and Ang Mo Kio stations at 9am. Additional time is needed for final checks and to conduct test runs with trains before resuming passenger service,” said SMRT.
“Train services from Jurong East to Ang Mo Kio and from Newton to Marina South Pier stations (in both directions) are running normally.”
Train services between Ang Mo Kio and Marina Bay stations were disrupted for five hours on Saturday after water entered a section of tunnel following a heavy downpour and a small fire was spotted trackside in another area.
While train services were mostly restored later, those between Ang Mo Kio and Newton were not.
Read more at
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...-still-9290220
Such world class mrt transport system indeed . Well done PAP and SMRT .
Please note that we are not complaining about the workers who worked tireless throughout the night . We are complaining that the management is not doing enough to solve all these disruption in services . In other countries such incidents usually results top management taking responsibility and resigning from their post . There is no sense of accountability and responsibility at all .
Quote:
Originally Posted by
northbrom
Nowadays train breakdown not reported in Shit Times? Damn long never buy, save up for massage
Now Chanel News Asia reporting .
NSL disruption: Flooded MRT tunnels cleared, train service resumes between Ang Mo Kio and Newton
08 Oct 2017 06:23AM (Updated: 08 Oct 2017 02:05PM)
SINGAPORE: Train services along the North-South Line (NSL) from Ang Mo Kio to Newton resumed at 1.50pm on Sunday (Oct 8), following “all-out” overnight works to clear water from flooded MRT tunnels between Bishan and Braddell. Service had been suspended along a large section of the NSL since 6pm on Saturday.
At about 10.10am on Sunday, transport operator SMRT said water in the tunnels between Bishan and Braddell MRT stations was almost cleared, thanks to an overnight effort by teams from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), PUB, Land Transport Authority and SMRT.
“Our engineering teams are concurrently working on cleaning, replacing and testing trackside equipment to reopen this stretch of the line,” SMRT said.
It added that its engineers would deploy several empty trains on the tracks between Newton and Ang Mo Kio for final safety checks before passenger services resume.
SMRT had said it was striving to restart service at 9am on Sunday, but tweeted at 8.30am that it was unable to do so as the works required more time.
It added that free bus and bridging bus services have been made available between Newton and Ang Mo Kio stations with SMRT staff deployed at boarding points to assist commuters.
Read more at
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...newton-9290220
Finally train services resumed . Will LTA fine SMRT or not ? Such a serious disruption in services . I think commuters you should boycott mrt services and plan for alternative transport . No telling what will happen inside the tunnel since now tunnel can flood and have fire .
P.S. Thanks to the workers and engineers who worked hard through the night to get the train services up and running .
Commission inquiry MUST be held to ascertain reason of flooding in SMRT train tunnel
Published on 2017-10-08 by Terry Xu
Yesterday late afternoon, transport operator SMRT announced that the train service between Bishan and Toa Payoh stations along North-South Line was interrupted due to a track fault.
At first, people assumed it to be the usual train fault that they are faced with on a day-to-day basis. But subsequent media reports revealed that there is flooding in the NSL train tunnel.
Photos of the flooding in tunnel were shared on social media, some widely spread such as the ones posted by Gilbert Goh, founder of Transitioning.org and Singapore’s well-known organiser of protests at Hong Lim Park.
It was only till this morning that SMRT made the announcement on its social media channel, 12 hours after the first announcement of track fault, that the actual reason for the disruption is due to flooding in its train tunnel.
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received a call from SMRT at 7.07pm about flooding in the tunnel between Braddell and Bishan MRT stations and it was reported that SCDF had to use portable pumps to remove water in the tunnel. This raises questions as to why there are no measures to install pumps at the lowest level of the tunnels in the event of flooding, given that SMRT had already taken the opinion that flooding is likely a possible occurrence and had built several flood barriers in MRT stations.
According to a source from the SMRT technician team, some parts of the tunnel were flooded up to four feet and that the fire that broke out was due to short-circuiting from the water.
In 2011, a Committee of Inquiry (COI) was convened to look into the disruption of train Services along NSL on 15 and 17 December 2011, the longest disruption in Singapore history and submitted its report to the Minister for Transport on 3 July 2012. It was only through the breakdowns and leaks from the SMRT company that Singapore got to know that the company had been cutting down costs on maintenance despite having an aging rail system.
Following the conclusion of the COI, SMRT and the Transport Ministry poured in millions upon millions trying to rectify the damage done to the rail system from cost cutting exercise. TOC also reported how employees over the past decade had been leaving the company due to cost cutting exercise and the poor attitude that SMRT middle and top management have on maintenance issues. Despite the findings, things have not seen to have improved for commuters. Students and workers are often faced with delays or even breakdown in train service during the morning rush hours.
Lawyer and political activist, Lim Tean wrote on his Facebook page, calling for newly elected President, Madam Halimah Yacob to convene an inquiry into the reason for the disruption,
Another disastrous day for the Singapore commuter on the MRT, and it seems that the problem is not resolved yet . Disruptions are happening with such regularity that our MRT must occupy bottom or near bottom ranking in the ranking list of world MRT systems . Frankly, it is disgraceful and our MRT system has become a laughing stock. Our MRT woes are symptomatic of this government which in my opinion is the worst PAP government in my lifetime and I am the same age as independent Singapore .
If the new President claims to be independent (a claim I have never accepted ), she should now do the right thing and convene a Commission of Inquiry to look into the problematic MRT. This continuing problem affects the welfare of a large number of Singaporeans in their daily lives . Schoolchildren have been greatly inconvenienced going to school and important national exams. Employees are late for work leading to a loss in productivity. The President has powers under Section 2(1)c of the Commissions of Inquiry Act (Cap 48) to convene an inquiry to look into any matter that affects the welfare of the public .
continue reading here :
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...-train-tunnel/
Would the PM of Singapore set a Commission of Inquiry to look into the latest disruption of service or not ?
NSL disruption: Commuters fear a repeat of flooded tunnels stalling train service during work week
Published 2:45 AM, October 08, 2017
Updated 2:45 AM, October 08, 2017
SINGAPORE — As services along a stretch of the North-South Line (NSL) crippled by flooded tunnels resumed on Sunday (Oct 8) afternoon, commuters reacted tepidly, wondering if the problem would recur during weekdays, where the public transport network is busier.
The Meteorological Service Singapore has forecast thundery showers over many areas on Monday morning, leading commuters to fear that there would be chaos if rainwater builds up again in underground tunnels when they travel to work.
Posting on Facebook page TATA SMRT, which was set up recently to crowdsource real-time information on train disruptions as well as suggestions for alternative travel routes, Mr Vincent Lee wrote: “(Tomorrow) how? Will happen again?”
On NSL operator SMRT’s Facebook page, another user, Mr Luke How, said: “In Singapore, there are monsoon rains every year, but there has never been flooding in tunnels before. What is the reason for the flooding this time? Are we going to have breakdowns every time it rains from today onwards?”
This weekend’s transport chaos began around 5:33pm on Saturday, when SMRT halted train services between Bishan and Toa Payoh MRT stations “as a precaution” due to flooding in the tunnel from Bishan to Braddell MRT stations, following a heavy downpour. In a separate incident, a small fire on the trackside in the tunnel between Marina Bay and Raffles Place MRT stations was also reported, though the flames later died out on its own.
SMRT suspended train services between Ang Mo Kio and Marina South Pier shortly after “for safety reasons”, then scaled back the shutdown to Newton to Ang Mo Kio stations later.
continue reading here :
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...ce-during-work
If scare take mrt simple plan other mode of transport. Complain to CASE ; SMRT CEO & Managing Director and Mr Khaw.
NSL train disruption: Malfunctioning water pump system to blame for flooded tunnel
By Low Youjin
Published 3:14 AM, October 08, 2017
Updated 3:53 AM, October 08, 2017
SINGAPORE – A malfunctioning water pumping system allowed rain water to build up in the train tunnel near Bishan MRT station, which resulted in a massive disruption along the North South Line (NSL) at the weekend.
In a statement released on Sunday (Oct 8) evening regarding preliminary investigations into the disruption, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) noted that water had entered the tunnel through a portal opening near Bishan MRT station, where aboveground rail tracks make the transition underground.
It said that under normal circumstances, accumulated rainwater in the adjacent storm water sump pit would have been siphoned off by a system of pumps.
But as the pumping system had malfunctioned, rainwater overflowed from the storm water sump pit into the tunnel opening, and accumulating at the lowest point of the tunnel between Bishan and Braddell stations.
“As a safety measure, SMRT immediately deactivated the trackside power supply,” said LTA’s statement.
“The pump system has since been repaired. Detailed investigations into the cause of this incident are ongoing.”
Other tunnel portal pump systems located throughout the North-South and East-West Lines have also been inspected.
Train services between Newton and Ang Mo Kio resumed around 1.50pm on Sunday, more than 20 hours after rain water flooded tunnels and crippled train operations on Saturday evening.
continue reading here :
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...flooded-tunnel
Sure or not malfunction of water pump which was hardly used ? Or is there something more serious as to why the flood can leak into the tunnel ?
MRT disruption ‘could have been avoided’, says expert
FELICIA CHOO & YUEN SIN, THE STRAITS TIMES
Oct 09, 2017 06:00 am
Transport experts have called for more measures to be taken to prevent a repeat of a nearly 21-hour disruption of the North-South Line over the weekend, one of the worst here since 2011.
A malfunction in a water pumping system had caused flooding in the MRT tunnels.
Experts said more checks and having a back-up system could prevent a repeat of the incident.
Thousands of commuters on a 13-station stretch of the North-South Line from Ang Mo Kio to Marina South Pier were affected when services were halted for more than four hours on Saturday night.
More than 40 buses from SMRT and SBS Transit were deployed for bridging services and officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force, PUB, Land Transport Authority and SMRT worked overnight to clear water from the tunnel and restore train services.
The disruption stretched further yesterday - services between Ang Mo Kio and Newton MRT station were restored only at 1.50pm.
Teo Wee Kiat also failed to ensure the procedures passed safety audits, were documented and disseminated
Yesterday, LTA said preliminary investigations showed that water had entered the tunnels between Bishan and Braddell stations through the opening near Bishan station - where aboveground rail tracks transit underground - after Saturday afternoon’s downpour.
MRT tunnels are equipped with pumps designed to kick in when water enters the tunnels.
Usually, rainwater run-off accumulated in the adjacent storm water sump pit - designed to collect water - would be siphoned off by pumps, said LTA.
But on Saturday, the water pumps failed, causing rainwater to overflow into the tunnel opening and accumulate at the lowest point of the Bishan and Braddell stretch of the tunnel.
SMRT deactivated the trackside power supply as a safety measure, and the pump system has been repaired. Investigations into the cause of the disruption are ongoing, added LTA.
The disruption was made worse by a trackside fire between Marina Bay and Raffles Place stations that died out by itself. LTA said that the fire was unrelated to the earlier incident and is investigating its cause.
National University of Singapore professor Lee Der Horng, who specialises in transportation systems, said the disruption “could have been avoided”.
continue reading here :
Inundated tracks reveal cracks in our transport system
October 8, 2017
By Kumaran Pillai
Trains were disrupted for the umpteenth time this year, this time, for rain waters flooding the train tracks between Ang Mo Kio and Newton, disrupting rail services for a good part yesterday (7th Oct) and this morning (8th Oct).
Various images of trains submerged in flooded tunnels were put up by Gilbert Goh on his Facebook page. If these images are true and un-doctored, then this government has a lot to answer given that the chief executive of SMRT, an ex- Lieutenant-General, Singapore Armed Forces, Mr Desmond Kuek Bak Chye made a cool S$1.87M in 2016 and S$2.3M in wages in 2015. That’s slightly more than sixteen times of what an average Singaporean household makes in a year.
Kuek is paid so much to provide a mediocre service, it begs the question of what is meritocracy for the ruling party and why we still have this man as the head honcho of SMRT? What are his qualifications? Why ex-military personnel with no experience running a train network is running SMRT? Did the government or SMRT put up a job advertisement inviting potential candidates to apply for this position? Was there a lapse in the hiring process? Is the transport minister culpable of a lapse in fiduciary duty?
All attempts to do damage control of the growing dissatisfaction has fallen flat on their face with this recent incident.
“I have never been overconcerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader. If you are concerned with whether your rating will go up or down, then you are not a leader. You are just catching the wind … you will go where the wind is blowing. And that’s not what I am in this for.” Lee Kuan Yew
I’ll go as far as calling for an independent panel to investigate on the current breakdowns and how these contracts were awarded. Minister Chan Chun Sing spoke about predictive maintenance, that they will have systems in place to foretell or predict the breakdowns. What the heck is predictive maintenance? I’d say, get the basics right before you embark on more ambitious projects.
It seems like they are just whitewashing their failure and this sordid state of affairs. Has he has failed to realise that there is no panacea for incompetency?
continue reading here :
http://www.theindependent.sg/inundat...nsport-system/
The problem is there is no sense of accountability and responsibility . No transpenrency . The people in charge stills thinks that the rail reliability has indeed improved over the years . When in actual fact every weak you have disruptions in services . Why now LTA does not fine SMRT anymore ? Why now the PM does not look into the mrt breakdowns ? Even a stupid person can see that there is something seriously wrong with Singapore’s MRT system .
PS. Looks like going to rain today . Will the MRT tunnel get flooded again ?
Rain storm during Saturday’s NSL disruption ‘not unusually high’, weatherman says
By Kenneth Cheng
Published: 11:25 AM, October 10, 2017
Updated: 11:47 AM, October 10, 2017
SINGAPORE — While heavy, the rain storm that fell over parts of Singapore on Saturday (Oct 7) — when train services across nearly a quarter of the North-South Line (NSL) were crippled — lasted a “relatively short” time and was not unusually high by historical standards, the weatherman said.
Responding to TODAY’s queries, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said Bishan received the second-highest rainfall of 42.2mm within a half-hour period that day. Queenstown received heavier rainfall during that period, with 45.6mm of rainfall.
However, in terms of daily total rainfall, Ang Mo Kio registered the highest rainfall of 74.9mm on Saturday.
(Click to enlarge) The graph shows that the highest 24-hour daily total rainfall of 74.9mm on 7 October 2017 was recorded in Ang Mo Kio. Source: Meteorological Service Singapore
“While the rain over some parts of the island on Saturday was heavy, it was of relatively short duration and the rainfall recorded was not unusually high if compared to the long-term highest rainfall records for October,” said a spokesperson for the MSS.
Around the same period last year, rainfall was even higher. On Oct 3 last year, for instance, 53.4mm of rain fell over Changi in a 30-minute period, said the MSS.
(Click to enlarge) While the rain over some parts of the island on Saturday (7 Oct) was heavy, it was of relatively short duration and the rainfall recorded was not unusually high if compared to the long-term highest rainfall records for October. Source: Meteorological Service Singapore
On Sunday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) disclosed that a malfunctioning system of pumps was behind the underground tunnel flooding that began on Saturday evening and stopped services completely along six stops on the 26-station NSL.
The malfunctioning water-pumping system allowed water to overflow from the stormwater sump pit, where rainwater accumulates, into the tunnel through the rail tracks where trains from Bishan zip underground towards Braddell.
As a safety precaution, SMRT was forced to de-activate the trackside power supply, halting services between Ang Mo Kio and Newton stations until Sunday afternoon. This thwarted the journeys of thousands of commuters in one of the worst rail disruptions since 2011.
continue reading here :
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...eatherman-says
If it is not the rain that causes the flood in the tunnel so where does the water come from ? Another burst pipe ???
Straits Times forum letter lays smackdown on SMRT & LTA for not accepting blame for MRT faults
He put everything on our minds into just 189 words.
By Jeanette Tan | 2 mins
Straits Times forum letter writer Patrick Tan has, perhaps unwittingly, become the hero all Singaporean plebeian MRT commuters need.
In a pull-no-punches, refreshingly-harshly-worded letter published on The Straits Times forum on Oct. 10, Tan lets rip at beleaguered train operator SMRT and its parent government agency, the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
Why? Because its management and leaders have consistently failed to step up and publicly acknowledge responsibility for the recent major string of faults that have caused sustained delays and disruptions on the North-South and East-West Lines.
These culminated most recently over the weekend, when rainwater flooded tunnels on the North-South Line and caused a disruption between Ang Mo Kio and Newton MRT stations that stretched between Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.
Among the highlights of Tan’s letter include:
•The excuses SMRT and LTA have been giving for recent disruptions have been strange to read — basically everything except acknowledging and taking blame for what’s been happening.
•It appears that no one among the leadership of LTA or SMRT have been held accountable for the persistent problems plaguing the compass lines.
•The fact that SMRT has been privatised appears to have become a shield for it from public scrutiny, with its management continuing to be rewarded despite the struggles commuters continue to go through.
continue reading here :
https://mothership.sg/2017/10/strait...or-mrt-faults/
Like what we have said so many times before in this forum there is no accountability and responsibility by those in charge . On top of that those in charge kept quiet and still can claim that rail reliability had improved . It is obvious those in charge still do not know how to solve the problems. Please note that we are not angry with the staff at LTA & SMRT . We have high utmost respect for your work despite the constraints you guys are facing. So you still want to vote for PAP ?