- HOW PERVASIVE IS THE MALPRACTICE WITHIN SMRT?
- HOW HARD WAS IT FOR MAINTENANCE STAFF TO GET TRACK ACCESS?
- SHOULD MILITARY MEN BE RUNNING THE COMPANY?
SMRT flooding incident: Experts highlight how other sectors prevent major lapses
PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO
Having experienced quality audit teams and strong safety culture among measures
Adrian Lim Transport Correspondent
Like in rail transportation, enforcing maintenance regimes plays a critical role in sectors such as aviation, public bus service and chemical engineering.
While staff may cut corners, having experienced quality audit teams, a maintenance structure and a strong safety culture can help in spotting problems before they result in widespread failure, experts in those fields told The Straits Times yesterday.
On Tuesday, SMRT revealed that staff in charge of the pump system of a storm water pit had signed off on maintenance work that was not done. This led to flooding of the train tunnel at Bishan station last month, rendering services on a stretch of the North-South Line inoperable for 20 hours over two days.
It is suspected that the falsification of the quarterly records went as far back as December last year.
SMRT said on Tuesday that it will engage external experts to carry out a system-wide inspection, and form a 50-strong inspection team that reports independently to its Board of Audit and Risk Committee.
Asked about the latest revelations, an engineer from the public bus sector, who declined to be named, said: “What surprised me was that the team got away with it for so long.”
He said a quality audit team conducting random spot checks would keep staff on their toes. But being able to spot anomalies - such as signs that parts have not been removed or dismantled for servicing, or paperwork being too neat and clean - comes with knowledge and experience, he added.
50 Number of people to form the inspection team that reports independently to SMRT’s Board of Audit and Risk Committee.
Discrepancies can also be flagged by other departments like storekeeping, such as when spare parts that are ordered and scheduled to be used accumulate on shelves - a sign that maintenance work has not been done, he said.
But lapses can still fall through the cracks. He said: “If the guys are signing out the (replacement) parts and throwing them away, it gets difficult to catch.”
In the chemical and process engineering field, a highly structured method of managing maintenance is employed.
This is by using an international asset management standard, to classify all plant equipment - such as pumps, motors, valves and compressors - into a risk matrix in terms of failure frequency and consequence, said Mr Norman Lee, chairman of the chemical and process engineering technical committee with The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES).
continue reading here :
Train service resumes at Punggol LRT following power fault
SBS Transit had announced the disruption in a Twitter post at 4.27pm, before updating that services had resumed in a tweet at 4.48pm.
PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGOUPDATED1 HOUR AGO
Fabian Koh
SINGAPORE - Train service on the Punggol LRT line’s East loop has resumed after a disruption on Thursday (Nov 2) due to a power fault.
SBS Transit had announced the disruption in a Twitter post at 4.27pm, before updating that services had resumed in a tweet at 4.48pm.
It later added in a 5pm tweet that free bus rides and bridging bus services on the line had ceased.
The operator also apologised for any inconvenienced caused to commuters.
continue reading here :
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...to-power-fault
I wonder why is there a power fault ? Did you guys forget to pay your utilities bill ?
Our embattled MRT system is still okay
There are some silver linings based on our most charitable take on things.
By Fasiha Nazren | November 2, 2017
Lately, it seems like whatever can go wrong with the MRT system has gone wrong.
And then some.
For example, as breakdowns and delays become normalised, the Bishan MRT station flooded and service was halted for almost 20 hours and this was due to maintenance works not having been carried out properly since last year, with the possibility that records of maintenance were falsified.
Needless to say, it is a cause of frustration for paying commuters.
But if you’re too poor to take a taxi every day or buy a car, and you have to dig deep as you appeal to the most charitable part in you, here’s what can be said to continue to keep the faith in our MRT system.
Affordable fares
Believe it or not, train fares in Singapore have been among the lowest in the world.
Singaporeans pay just S$1.33 for a 10km train journey — the sixth lowest in a comparison of 36 major cities.
From Dec. 29, 2017, to encourage behavioural changes, pre-peak commuters who take the train before 7.45am can spend up to 50 cents less, as part of a new initiative by the Public Transport Council (PTC).
There is always a contingency plan
Train breakdowns are no doubt a big inconvenience, especially when it happens almost every time when you’re rushing to work.
But with every breakdown, there is a guaranteed alternative for affected commuters.
For example, bus bridging services are always provided whenever a major breakdown happens.
Such situations somehow manage to bring the community together, like The Alternate Transport Advisory & Singapore Magnificent Rescue Team (TATA SMRT) Facebook page, a support group whose members sometimes offer free car rides in times of need.
And if you’re lucky, surge prices on private-hire cars could be suspended so you don’t have to pay an exorbitant amount to reach your destination.
Clean trains Something we might all take for granted is the cleanliness of our trains because we’re very used to it.
Aside from the occasional oily scalp stains on train windows or stink bombs from a fellow commuter, our trains are relatively clean and odourless.
continue reading here :
SMRT asks staff to admit to lapses during amnesty period ahead of audit
ADRIAN LIM & CHRISTOPHER TAN, THE STRAITS TIMES
Nov 03, 2017 06:00 am
SMRT has asked rail staff to own up if they have been cutting corners in their work and assured them that they will not be penalised.
But only if they admit to any breaches during the “amnesty” period, which ends today.
After today, SMRT’s internal audit division will conduct a wide-scale inspection and audit, and lapses discovered will be penalised. The move is aimed at ensuring commuter safety and quickly plugging gaps in maintenance operations - one of which resulted in the flooding of an MRT tunnel last month.
The Straits Times understands the rail operator sent an e-mail to employees a few days ago, offering them a chance to own up on work that they had not done, or if they had not adhered to company procedures.
When contacted, SMRT declined to provide more details.
It was revealed on Tuesday that some employees responsible for maintaining the pumps of a storm water pit had signed off on work that was not done.
It is suspected that the falsification of the quarterly maintenance records went as far back as December last year.
The manager and staff responsible have been suspended and are assisting in investigations. SMRT also replaced its vice-president of maintenance a week after the flooding, which disrupted train services for about 20 hours over two days, affecting 250,000 commuters.
National University of Singapore transport researcher Lee Der Horng was not in favour of the “amnesty” approach. He felt it would be more effective to conduct checks and identify problem areas and staff.
But an experienced auditor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The objective is to get to the nub of the problems as fast as you can. If you do an extensive audit, it takes time.
“In the meantime, for example, if the train breaks down because of a lack of maintenance, even though it was supposed to have been serviced regularly, it creates a bigger issue. Once this is tackled, then we can deal with accountability.”
Mr Yee Chia Hsing, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said: “I can understand that some people may think that giving an amnesty is letting the staff off too easily.
continue reading here :
http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/smr...od-ahead-audit
I wonder why the management never check their work and they blindly sign off the report ?
This further proves that a paper general does not know how to run a business organisations .
Singapore public transport system ranked in the top 10 of the transport systems of 100 cities around the world
November 2, 2017
Singapore has been ranked eighth in a 2017 index of the urban transport systems of 100 cities around the world.
The list, the 2017 Sustainable Cities Mobility Index by design, engineering, and management consultancy group Arcadis, considered indicators such as safety, ridership, congestion, delays, affordability and more to rank the best transport systems.
Singapore is the third Asian city in the top 10, having bagged 8th place. Hong Kong earned the top spot overall while Seoul came in 4th in the index, thus having the second best transport system among all Asian cities.
Zurich and Paris took 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
The study found that European nations consistently ranked among the highest in the list, while North American and Australian cities made up the middle of the index since residents of those regions mostly rely on private vehicles for transportation.
continue reading here :
http://www.theindependent.sg/singapo...und-the-world/
Sure or not ? Do you guys believe this report ? I can bet only 1 person will be happy with this report .
Flooding of MRT tunnels to be addressed in Parliament
By Valerie Koh
Published: 4:05 PM, November 3, 2017
Updated: 4:17 PM, November 3, 2017
SINGAPORE – The flooding incident at Bishan MRT Station last month will take centre stage when Parliament sits on Monday (Nov 6), with Members of Parliament (MPs) filing a slew of questions on the topic for oral and written answers.
A total of 11 MPs, both from the People’s Action Party and the Workers’ Party (WP), have tabled 15 questions for Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.
For example, Choa Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad wants to know about the transport ministry’s investigation findings, as well as whether a Committee of Inquiry will be appointed to review the incident.
WP’s Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh wants more details about the “deep-seated cultural issues” in SMRT, which the operator’s chief executive Desmond Kuek had called attention to during a press conference on the flooding. Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Liang Eng Hwa also has questions on whether more risks assessments will be done on the entire train system to identify other potential hotspots, and whether more regulatory supervision will be carried out on public transport operators.
On October 7, a heavy downpour had led to Bishan MRT station being flooded, and train services on the North-South Line being shut down for over 20 hours.
Earlier this week, SMRT released the preliminary findings of its internal probe into the incident. The report showed that the crew responsible for the maintenance of the pump system at Bishan MRT Station had signed off and submitted maintenance records for nearly a year, without carrying out the works.
continue reading here :
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...sed-parliament
Please sack the two jokers . Set up a COI . Transport Minister must also be held accountable and responsible for the incident.
SMRT staff take up offer of amnesty, own up to lapses before large-scale audit
PUBLISHED 11 HOURS AGO
Adrian Lim Transport Correspondent
Royston Sim Assistant Political Editor
SINGAPORE - Staff from at least one department in SMRT have admitted to lapses in their work so far, in response to a company call to own up - without penalty - before a wide-scale audit is launched.
The Straits Times understands that the employees are from SMRT’s building and facilities department, which oversees areas such as MRT tunnel ventilation, and flood and fire protection measures at train stations.
It is unclear how many staff have come forward in the “amnesty” exercise that ends on Friday (Nov 3), and which is targeted at quickly plugging gaps in maintenance operations - one of which caused the flooding of an MRT tunnel last month (October), bringing down train services on a stretch of the North-South Line for about 20 hours.
When contacted, SMRT said it was unable to comment on the amnesty offer, which was made known to staff in an e-mail a few days ago.
The offer was made to quickly establish the extent of improper practices, and to allow staff to “volunteer information in open reporting as a mitigation against further disciplinary action”, SMRT’s group chief executive Desmond Kuek said in a statement on Thursday evening.
SMRT has told staff that it will embark on a massive audit and inspection exercise following the amnesty period, and lapses uncovered will be dealt with.
These measures follow revelations that SMRT staff responsible for maintaining the pumps of a storm water pit at Bishan station had signed off on work that was not done. It is suspected that the falsification of the quarterly maintenance records went as far back as December 2016.
The manager and staff responsible have been suspended and are assisting in investigations, while SMRT also replaced its vice-president of maintenance a week after the flooding.
Observers said SMRT’s amnesty offer is a rare move, and held mixed views on its effectiveness.
Mr William Thien, a principal consultant at EON Consulting and Training, said: “It’s a good effort to identify potential gaps quickly, calling on the conscience of employees to do the right thing.
“Giving amnesty is not a common thing in companies. But given that SMRT is providing a public good, which has a great impact on public transport, I can understand why,” Mr Thien added.
He said organisations mostly rely on whistle-blowing channels to bring up lapses.
continue reading here :
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...ge-scale-audit
My question here is : why didn’t the management go to onsite and check to see if the work was done or not before signing the service report ?
Delays on East-West Line due to track point fault: SMRT
SMRT advised commuters at 3.07pm to add 10 minutes to their travel time.
PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGOUPDATED 1 HOUR AGO
Charmaine Ng
SINGAPORE - Commuters along the East-West Line were hit by delays that lasted nearly 40 minutes on Saturday (Nov 4) due to a track point fault.
In a tweet at 2.53pm, SMRT advised commuters travelling from Queenstown to Jurong East stations to add 30 minutes additional travel time.
SMRT Corporation @SMRT_Singapore
[EWL]: Due to a track point fault, pls add 30mins train travel time from #Queenstown to #JurongEast. (Not linked to new signalling project).
At 3.07pm, SMRT shortened the estimated additional travelling time to 10 minutes.
SMRT Corporation @SMRT_Singapore
[EWL]: Due to a track point fault, pls add 10mins train travel time from #Queenstown to #JurongEast. (Not linked to new signalling project).
12:07 AM - Nov 4, 2017
The transport provider added that the track point fault was not linked to the new signalling project.
continue reading here :
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...int-fault-smrt
Come on SMRT please don’t find fault at your staff you must spend all your efforts to solve all your problems first before something serious will happen . For a start SMRT should sack the 2 jokers of your top management . Really such a world class mrt transport system run by world class jokers . So how Mr Khaw still think your mrt is reliable ? Sill want to vote for PAP ?
How deep is the SMRT rot? 4 questions about the rail company that an inquiry could answer
SMRT announced that falsified maintenance records were behind the flooding of their tunnels that led to a major disruption.
ALPHONSUS CHERN
PUBLISHED 6 HOURS AGO
SINGAPORE - Flooded train tunnels a month ago caused large segments of the North-South MRT line to grind to a halt for over 20 hours, affecting 250,000 commuters.
In a shocking announcement last week, SMRT announced that falsified maintenance records were behind the major disruption.
Engineers tasked with maintaining the pumps quarterly had signed off without doing the work. Maintenance had not been carried out since September 2016.
In this week’s Insight, Christopher Tan calls for a formal inquiry to investigate how deep the problems at SMRT are. Insight also looks at four questions such an inquiry can answer.
A key issue that needs to be investigated is whether the doctoring maintenance records was an isolated incident or a widespread practice.
Last week, SMRT offered staff a two-day amnesty deadline for owning up to wrongdoing without penalty, ahead of a far-reaching internal audit. Some have already stepped forward.
The extent of the malpractice needs to be determined before the appropriate corrective action can be prescribed.
An SMRT worker looks on as maintenance works are carried out on a stretch of track between Orchard and Somerset stations. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
A senior SMRT insider told Insight that possible factors behind the maintenance breaches include complacency and difficulty in getting track access.
Because of an ongoing overhaul of the signalling and power systems of MRT lines, the slots for access to the tracks for maintenance works have been reduced.
Maintenance staff may have decided to sign off on the work after failing to secure access to tracks - banking on the fact that the pumps have never failed before.
After former Chief of Defence Force Desmond Kuek became chief executive of SMRT in 2012, he brought in a number of military men to helm important departments within the company.
For example, SMRT Trains chief Lee Ling Wee used to be head of Air Engineering and Logistics with the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Chief corporate officer Gerard Koh was a colonel in the Singapore Armed Forces.
Are they the right men to be running SMRT? A former senior SMRT executive told Insight that military men may lack the experience and the deep knowledge of the rail system to tackle the company’s problems.
continue reading here :
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...hat-an-inquiry
The answer is so obvious .
SMRT’s maintenance woes: Formal inquiry needed to get to the bottom of issues
Christopher Tan
Senior Transport Correspondent
PUBLISHEDNOV 5, 2017, 5:00 AM SGT
There’s a need to address questions like what prompted the staff to do what they purportedly did, and how they managed to go unchecked for so long
Lapses happen. In a big organisation like SMRT, which has some 10,000 employees, it is understandable that mistakes occur.
But it is quite another thing if workers wilfully breach standard operating procedures, as is suspected of the team in charge of maintaining the flood prevention system at Bishan depot.
One burning question is how did they get away with something as blatant as that - not once, but multiple times. The next is why did they do it?
Is this serial disregard for safety what SMRT’s chief executive Desmond Kuek meant by the operator having “deep-seated cultural issues”?
When Mr Kuek first used those words, they came across as an honest assessment when, freshly minted as chief executive five years ago, he faced his first corporate crisis in the form of a bus-driver strike.
But as he repeated almost the very same words two weeks ago, at a press conference on the tunnel-flooding incident which shocked the public, they underscore the seriousness of the rot within.
Even though Mr Kuek stressed that the problem was only with one in 10 employees, where those employees are and what they do can have far-reaching consequences for SMRT.
And the fact that Mr Kuek and his team have not been able to address this problem after five years suggests that the 10 per cent or 1,000 workers within are elusive at best. That is no comfort to the commuting public.
What commuters want to know now is whether other parts of the system - be they signalling, tracks or rolling stock - are exposed to the same risks.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) as regulator - or perhaps another ministerial body altogether - must do a proper audit to see how far up the totem pole this problem goes. Does it stop at mid-level managers, or does it go higher up?
continue reading here :
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...ttom-of-issues
As it is already 2 SMRT workers died on Mr Desmond Kuek watch . How many more will die or injured before he take his responsibility . We all of course thanks the generals who kept Singapore safe and sound . But they definitely are not suitable to lead a business organisation or even become an Education Minister . Getting the right people with the right skills and mindset will go a long way to any businses organisations. Civilian lives are at stake here .