Lightning struck trackside equipment, not train that stalled at Bedok station: SMRT
PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO
Lester Hio
SINGAPORE - Transport operator SMRT has refuted claims that a lightning strike hit a train as it approached Bedok station on Monday (Nov 20), which caused the westbound train to stall.
Instead, trackside equipment was affected by lightning, causing the disruption, SMRT said on Tuesday.
It added that the train driver who was admitted to hospital after the supposed “lightning incident” had also been on medical leave for two days over the weekend.
Following the incident, he was admitted for observation as a precautionary measure after reporting that he was feeling unwell.
“He has been assessed to be well and remains under observation,” said SMRT spokesman Patrick Nathan.
After investigations, “our engineers… confirmed that the train was not hit by lightning. Instead, lightning affected trackside equipment”, SMRT said in its statement.
“After the lightning incident, the train was immediately able to recover and move on its own power, moving passengers safely to Bedok station. At Bedok station, passengers alighted and the train was promptly withdrawn from service to allow for a thorough inspection by our engineers,” said Mr Nathan.
He added that it is safe for passengers to travel in trains during a lightning storm as trains are protected by a Faraday Cage.
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Protraying the type of protectionism that back rumours of cronyism
Published on 2017-11-21 by Ghui
by Ghui
No one is in doubt that Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan is working very hard and trying his best. That said, in the face of an ongoing transportation crisis, does hard work equate effective results?
Even if Minister Khaw is indeed doing all he can, the point of the matter is that public confidence in him has completely eroded and sometimes, those in power have to make the hard decisions for the greater good. It bears remembering that this is a job like any other and if one is not performing, one has to face the consequences of not doing so. This isn’t a schoolyard gang where you back up your own. This is a public service job funded by public money.
Are Minister Shanmugam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong putting party loyalty above state concerns?
I understand that both PM Lee and Minister Shanmugam are trying to be supportive of their fellow minister and putting up a cohesive front. But does this closing of ranks best Singapore’s interests? However unintentionally, it just comes across as they type of protectionism that provides fodder for rumours of cronyism even if that is the not case.
Minister Shanmugam has tried to defend Minister Khaw by listing all of his previous accomplishments in other government departments. How is that relevant to our current issue?
He then proceeds to talk about how Mr Khaw has had a tough few years. No offence but how is that solving the problem? We all have had tough times at our jobs and still had to perform or face the risk of a chop. The two issues are completely unrelated. The Ministers get paid huge salaries for doing their jobs. In the face of these series of blunders, there is no time for a “there there you poor thing” pat on the back!
Is this the pervading attitude of those ensconced in power - which they are given slack because the job is tough?
PM Lee is a little more contrite, acknowledging that public confidence has been hurt. While that sentiment is encouraging, he stopped short at providing solutions and also attempted to explain how difficult the job is which in my opinion, misses the point completely. He even asked the public to go on supporting Mr Khaw.
While I have nothing personal against Mr Khaw and do sincerely believe that he has inherited a poisoned chalice, I still think that there has to be some semblance of accountability. He is the face of public transport. If it isn’t working out, we need a new face to bring on change. The government must see that and do the right thing. The ills that have plagued the MRT are not new and in fact keep on escalating!
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2 full-day shutdowns, shorter operating hours for 19 NSEWL MRT stations in December: LTA, SMRT
By Lianne Chia @LianneChiaCNA
21 Nov 2017 05:30PM (Updated: 21 Nov 2017 05:32PM)
SINGAPORE: Seventeen East-West Line (EWL) MRT stations and two North-South Line (NSL) MRT stations will be fully closed on Dec 10 and Dec 17 to allow for extended engineering hours, train operator SMRT and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a joint statement on Tuesday (Nov 21).
In addition, from Dec 8 to Dec 31, the 17 EWL stations from Tiong Bahru to Tuas Link as well as Bukit Batok and Bukit Gombak stations on the NSL will close earlier on Fridays and Saturdays (at 11pm) and open later on Saturdays and Sundays (at 8am), according to the statement.
The shorter operating hours will double engineering and track access time for engineers to “accelerate” re-signalling works on the EWL, LTA and SMRT said.
Bukit Batok and Bukit Gombak are affected as engineering works will extend to Jurong East MRT station, a heavily used intersection of the NSL and EWL, they added.
With extended engineering hours from December 2017, the completion of re-signalling works on the EWL will be “significantly accelerated” from the end of 2018 to June 2018, authorities added. Works for the NSL are on track to be completed by next month.
In the first half of 2018, reduced train service hours will also be introduced along other stretches of the NSEWL, said LTA and SMRT. Parallel shuttle buses will be provided along affected MRT stations during affected hours and fares will follow the rail fare structure.
The move comes after a software glitch in the EWL signalling system caused two trains to collide at Joo Koon MRT station last week, injuring 38 people.
Later that day, authorities identified the “inadvertent” disabling of a software protection feature as the reason for an approaching train hitting another, stalled train at Joo Koon station. The software glitch arose when a faulty train was transiting between the old and new signalling systems, said LTA earlier.
Two signalling systems actively operate on the EWL - the new Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system, which is active between Tuas Link and Pioneer MRT stations, and the legacy signalling system, which controls train movements between Pioneer and Pasir Ris stations.
The revised engineering schedule announced on Tuesday will accelerate re-signalling works on the EWL, “so that train services on the entire line, including TWE (Tuas West Extension), can run seamlessly on the new CBTC system”, the joint statement said.
This will also provide more time for other renewal projects and maintenance works to “improve overall reliability” on the NSEWL.
Mr Ngien Hoon Ping, LTA’s chief executive, said that more details would be announced at a later date and that LTA would “work with public transport operators” to ensure there are alternatives for commuters who need to travel along the stretches affected.
Read more at
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...wl-mrt-9425326
Why don’t you guys close the entire NSL & EWL for 1 month to further expedite the process ? In the mean time please provide free bridging bus services for your commuters . Please ensure all safety protocols for your workers during this period of time .
Joo Koon train collision: Signalling system provider Thales ‘could have done better’, says Khaw Boon Wan
Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan speaking to reporters after a joint press conference on Nov 21.
21 Nov 2017 06:27PM (Updated: 21 Nov 2017 06:45PM)
SINGAPORE: The French company which supplied the new signalling system for the East-West Line (EWL) on which a train collision happened last week “could have done better”, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Tuesday (Nov 21).
He acknowledged that Thales was faced with a “challenging situation”, having to deal with two different signalling systems on the EWL. Most of the line runs on the old signalling system, while a segment of the Tuas West Extension (TWE) runs on the new system provided by Thales.
“Still, Thales could have done better. They have acknowledged their mistake and have apologised,” said Mr Khaw.
The minister was speaking after a news conference by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), train operator SMRT and Thales detailing their findings on the train collision at Joo Koon MRT station on Nov 15.
The collision was caused when a protective “bubble” around the first train was “unexpectedly disabled” when it passed a trackside device at Clementi. This device had not been modified to be compatible with the new signalling system.
As the second train did not sense the protective “bubble”, which ensures safe distances between trains, it started to move forward automatically and hit the first train, said SMRT and LTA.
“There was no human error in this case,” the transport operator added.
For the time being, the signalling systems on the TWE and the rest of the EWL will be kept separate to “reduce the complications” of operating two different systems, said SMRT and LTA.
This means there will be no train service between two stations - Joo Koon and Gul Circle.
“I think that is a good decision,” said Mr Khaw. “To end their (Thales’) misery, we just keep this complete separation.”
Read more at
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...-could-9425970
Again someone open his big mouth and blame someone else instead of accepting accountability and responsibility . How can we trust the PAP ? Somemore the Tuas side is only a few months old and this sort of thing can happen which injures 38 people . Do you think it is fair to those commuters ? Such incompentencies from those in charge . In Japan they would have committed harikiri .
SMRT driver involved in lightning incident discharged
By Cynthia Choo
A train captain in his 20s has been injured, after lightning struck the MRT train he was driving towards the Bedok station on Monday evening. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY
Published20 November, 2017
Updated 21 November, 2017
SINGAPORE — A train captain who had to be taken to the hospital after a lightning incident has been discharged, SMRT said on Tuesday (Nov 21) in an update on his condition.
It was initially reported that lightning had struck the MRT train he was driving towards the Bedok station around 4pm on Monday. The driver, who is in his 20s, was subsequently taken to the Changi General Hospital.
SMRT, which had earlier said it was investigating a “possible lightning strike”, clarified on Tuesday that lightning did not strike the train. A thorough inspection by its engineers found no burnt marks.
Trackside equipment, however, was affected and a number of track circuits “experienced failure”, said SMRT Trains chief executive Lee Ling Wee on Tuesday. He was speaking at a briefing on the Joo Koon collision on Nov 15, which injured at least three dozen commuters.
In a separate reply to queries from TODAY, SMRT said the train captain had been on medical leave for two days prior to the incident, adding: “After the lightning incident, he reported that he was feeling unwell and as a precautionary measure to ensure the wellbeing of our staff, he was admitted to hospital for observation.”
continue reading here :
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...-mrt-train-ewl
Glad to hear that he had been discharged from hospital .
Lightning bolt did not strike MRT train & driver warded in hospital was previously on MC
The lightning strike affected trackside equipment instead.
By Sulaiman Daud | 3 hours
On Nov. 20, it was reported that a lightning strike had disrupted train services along the East West Line, between Paya Lebar and Tanah Merah MRT stations.
The train captain who felt unwell had to be taken to hospital by the SCDF.
Investigation concluded
It was initially reported that lightning had struck the MRT train itself, but SMRT have conducted an investigation and found that this was not the case. The lightning bolt had instead affected trackside equipment.
Here’s the statement, from SMRT’s Vice President of Corporate Communications Patrick Nathan:
“We have completed our investigations into the west-bound train that stalled as it was approaching Bedok MRT station yesterday. Our engineers, upon inspection, confirm that the train was not hit by lightning. Instead, lightning affected trackside equipment.
After the lightning incident, the train was immediately able to recover and move on its own power, moving passengers safely to Bedok station. At Bedok station, passengers alighted and the train was promptly withdrawn from service to allow for a thorough inspection by our engineers .
We would like to reiterate that passengers’ safety, as well as that of our staff, is of paramount importance to us. We wish to assure all passengers that it is safe to travel in our trains during a lightning storm because trains are protected by a “Faraday Cage”. This is an enclosure formed by conductive material that blocks electric fields and electric currents, such as lightning strikes, from entering the trains. During lightning, the electric current will travel through the outside shell of the train and not into the cabin. It then travels through the wheels to the track.”
As mentioned in our earlier article, it is safe to travel in trains even during a lightning storm as the passengers inside are protected similarly to trains and planes.
Injured man was on MC
But if that’s the case, why was the train captain warded in hospital?
Well it turns out that he had been on MC prior to the incident and was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
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SMRT: Who is Thales?
November 22, 2017
Thales is the signalling expert working with SMRT, and a French multinational company that designs and builds electrical systems and provides services for the aerospace, defence, transportation and security markets.
With 62,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of €14 billion in 2015. Thales Group is ranked the 475th largest company in the world by Fortune 500 Global. It is also the 10th largest defence contractor in the world and 55% of its total sales are military sales. The CEO of Thales Group is Patrice Caine who has been in the top post since December 2014.
THALES IN SINGAPORE
A software update, developed and tested by Thales, was installed on the new signalling system on the North-South Line (NSL) this year, according to SMRT. The upgrade was carried out in the nation’s two oldest lines, the North-South Line and the East-West Line.
Currently, most of the East-West Line still runs on the 30-year-old signalling system while only a segment of the Tuas West Extension (TWE) – a four-station, 7.5km-stretch that extends from Joo Koon station – is using Thales’ new signalling system, which allows trains to arrive at up to 100-second intervals, instead of the current 120 seconds.
Thales has been present in Singapore for over 40 years, providing state-of-the-art solutions for customers in the aerospace, defence, security and transportation (S&T) domains. Thales employs over 600 people in the country today.
Thales has been providing the Singapore Armed Forces with equipment in air defence, communications and naval sensors, and continues to be a partner in safeguarding the security and sovereignty of Singapore. It is also involved in building up local industrial capabilities in avionics production & Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO).
Thales professes that it works closely with the government of Singapore, lending its expertise to develop cutting-edge defence technologies with its research arms DSO National Laboratories and the Future Systems & Technology Directorate.
In June 2016, Thales appointed Kevin Chow as CEO of Thales Singapore. Mr Chow is the first Singaporean designated with this key role at Thales. He holds a Masters of Science degree in Aerospace Vehicle Design from Cranfield University, UK and Diplome d’Ingénieur (Masters degree in Engineering) from Ecole Nationale d’Aviation Civile in Toulouse, France. Mr Chow was also a former Vice President and General Manager from ST Aerospace.
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All S’pore’s public buses set to be green in colour because the LTA will own them
It’s not because they’re becoming the Hulk.
By Joshua Lee | 7 hours
If you’ve been keeping your eyes peeled on the road, you might have noticed that slowly, but surely, more of our buses are turning green.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced in 2016 that all buses will don the same kind of livery to create a “unified and distinctive identity for our Singapore Bus” once all buses return to the government’s ownership.
Increasingly, commuters are seeing public transport being consolidated and centralised under the control of the government, although they still insist that public transport is not being nationalised now or anytime soon.
How did we get here?
‘A World Class Land Transport System’
In 1996, the newly formed LTA released a land transport White Paper, titled ‘A World Class Land Transport System‘, which documented the initiatives the government was going to take to make public transport the main mode of transport for 75% of the population.
Page from the 1996 public transport White Paper. Via NAS.
Operating a world class land transport system was meant to be a partnership between the government, the public transport operators (PTOs), and the commuter.
For example, when it came to financing the rail network, the White Paper urged commuters to bear in mind that fare increases were going to be part and parcel of an improving public transport services.
The government also decided to to finance our public transport operations in the following way:
•Government pays for the infrastructure (viaducts, tunnels, tracks)
•Government pays for the first set of operating assets (trains, signalling system)
•Cost of future operating assets (new train, new system) shared by PTO (who pays the equivalent of the price of the first set of operating assets) and government (pays the balance)
•Commuters will pay fares that cover the operating costs, including depreciation.
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Khaw: Aside from the flooding incident and MRT collision, we are “actually making good progress”
November 22, 2017
Social media is rife with fresh citicism over Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan’s comments last night that aside from the flooding incident and MRT collision, “we were making good progress”:
“I gave myself 4 years. We are halfway through. If not for (the Joo Koon collision) as well as the flooding incident, we were actually making good progress, as PM Lee described before”
The Minister was referring to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s comments on the public train transport here, while he was speaking at the PAP Convention last Sunday.
Pointing to the train collision at Joo Koon station earlier this week that caused at least 36 people to sustain injuries and the MRT tunnel flooding incident last month that caused a 20-hour service disruption, PM Lee said: “We have made progress, but there have been setbacks.”
Commenting that the government’s standards must have dropped if this is considered “good progress,” netizens trolled Khaw mercilessly:
The Transport Minister’s comments came after a statement released by SMRT and LTA yesterday that 17 East-West Line (EWL) MRT stations and 2 North-South Line (NSL) MRT stations will be fully closed on Dec 10 and Dec 17 and that will close earlier on Fridays and Saturdays (11pm) and open later on Saturdays and Sundays (8am).
continue reading here :
http://www.theindependent.sg/khaw-as...good-progress/
People cannot wait for you for 4 years to improve your lousy mrt network . What happen if there is another serious incident that injures or even kill your commuters ? Will you and the PAP take responsibility ?
Majority think MRT is not well run, and are not confident things will improve soon: Survey
Published21 November, 2017
Updated 22 November, 2017
SINGAPORE — A poll conducted by a market research company has found that public confidence in the MRT system has been severely dented by several high-profile disruptions recently, with 65 per cent of respondents saying they do not think the system is well run.
The findings bear out an observation made by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Nov 19) that the incidents have “hurt public confidence a lot”.
Slightly more than half (55 per cent) rated the current train performance poorly, in the survey by Blackbox Research of 1,000 people aged 15 and older which was conducted from Nov 10 to 16 — a period that covered the train collision at Joo Koon station on Nov 15 that injured 38.
About six in 10, or 59 per cent, of the respondents do not think that things will improve in the next 12 months, although the authorities have said the signalling system upgrade on the North-South East-West Lines is expected to be completed within this period, bringing greater reliability to the train network.
continue reading here :
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...ve-soon-survey
However some people will still insist that the train reliability has improved.