- Our MRT is cursed (01:39)
- Our MRT has to learn from Taipei Metro (02:54)
Passengers can expect more accurate travel info from SMRT app starting in December
PUBLISHED 38 MIN AGO
Adrian Lim Transport Correspondent
SINGAPORE - To help commuters better plan their journeys during peak periods and train service disruptions, rail operator SMRT aims to provide them with more accurate travel information on their mobile devices in the coming months, starting in December.
Such information includes the number of trains that commuters may have to wait for before they can board as well as which station platform doors to stand at so they can get into a less crowded carriage.
The enhancements to SMRT’s travel app - called SMRT-Connect - will be rolled out in three phases, starting from next month until next September, when they are targeted to be fully launched.
Mr Patrick Nathan, vice-president of corporate communications at SMRT Corp, told The Straits Times on Monday (Nov 27) that this real-time information system will help users plan ahead, especially during service delays.
Mr Nathan said that to assess congestion levels, SMRT will tap on real-time information from multiple sources, including wifi access points, fare gate data, train load data and camera feeds.
continue reading here :
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...pp-starting-in
What about now ??? No information ???
SMRT sacks 8 staff, holds 5 others responsible over falsification of records
An unprecedented flooding of train tunnels crippled a large section of the North-South Line on Oct 7 and 8, 2017.
PUBLISHEDNOV 27, 2017, 6:40 PM SGT
Christopher Tan Senior Transport Correspondent
SINGAPORE - Beleaguered rail operator SMRT has sacked staff members found to have falsified maintenance records pertaining to an anti-flooding system, and demoted others in the wake of unprecedented flooding incident last month.
A total of 13 employees – several holding senior managerial posts – have been held responsible, the company said on Monday (Nov 27).
Of these, eight have been dismissed, two resigned while three others were subject to undisclosed discplinary actions.
Those sacked comprised those in the work team who had falsified pump maintenance records, and the managers and senior executive who were in charge of ensuring that pump maintenance was duly carried out during the period. They are made up of one senior executive, two managers and five technical staff.
The two men who quit had done so soon after the flooding of train tunnels which crippled a large section of the North-South Line on Oct 7 and 8. The incident affected more than a quarter of a million commuters.
Investigations had found that vice-president Tay Tien Seng and senior manager Ivan Kok had failed to exercise sufficient supervision during the period when the falsification of the pump maintenance records occurred.
“As they are no longer with the company, SMRT reserves its right to pursue legal action against them as may be appropriate,” the company said.
Although investigators have not found out why the pumps and related switches failed - individual components were in proper working order immediately after the incident - they concluded that the crew tasked with maintaining the system had not done so for nearly a year. The system is supposed to be serviced once every quarter.
continue reading here :
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...-flooding-case
Like this how can we ever expect to trust SMRT to do their job ever again ? Seriously something really very wrong within SMRT .
Taiwanese current affairs show discusses SMRT’s recent incidents & Bishan spooky stories
Wonder if they heard about Yishun, yet.
By Guan Zhen Tan | 9 hours
You may not have the habit of watching Taiwanese current affairs programmes regularly, but catch one or two shows and you will definitely recognise them for their entertaining and passionate delivery of news.
This time though, we’ve gotten Taiwan’s attention due to our recent MRT incidents.
That’s right, our MRT troubles have them talking about us.
This following video is from current affairs programme Crucial Moments (关键时刻). Hosted on the Eastern Broadcasting Corporation news channel (東森新聞), what seems to be a recording of an undated program was uploaded by a Facebook netizen Derrick Charters on Nov. 21.
The 6 minute plus video has since gone viral online. For those who are watching it on data or are short of time, here’s a quick breakdown (no pun intended) on what was said:
Other than the flood, and the collision that happened between two trains in Joo Koon, they also mentioned the tragic fatal accident last year in March, where 2 SMRT staff were killed on track.
“Singapore’s MRT is strange – it’s been 30 years, but from 2015 onwards, until today, over a period of 2 years, it’s like it’s cursed. Why? It shouldn’t have flooded, but it flooded. The water extraction system couldn’t even start up. And this should not have occured – an fatal accident happened – fatalities happened. The maintenance crew was there, but [they] ran over them. There should have been no way two stationary trains suddenly moved and collided with each other. Incidents happen one after another – in fact, virtually every one to two weeks, one incident occurs. We can only say Singapore’s MRT system is akin to being cursed. But their airport is managed well, their roads are managed well, they can even get F1 races on their common roads, but they have no idea what to do with their MRT.”
Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Nov. 7 that Singapore transport operator SMRT will invite a team of experts from Taipei Metro to conduct a review of its own operations.
This was not mentioned in the programme but the commentators did mention that we are seeking help from Taiwan.
They also quoted figures, comparing train distance travelled before delays happened.
continue reading here :
SMRT vice-president who resigned was awarded S$10,000 SkillsFuture fellowship in Aug. 2017
It was a monetary award.
By Belmont Lay | 5 hours
SMRT has sacked eight staff found to have falsified maintenance records pertaining to an anti-flooding system, while meting out other punishments.
A total of 13 employees have been held responsible:
8 sacked: 1 senior executive, 2 managers, 5 technical staff
2 quit but face possible legal action: 1 vice-president, 1 senior manager
1 demoted: 1 vice-president
2 unknown disciplinary action: 2 senior management executives
Resigned prior to inquiry ending
The two men who quit had done so soon after the flooding of train tunnels that left it unworkable on Oct. 7 and 8.
They are vice-president Tay Tien Seng and senior manager Ivan Kok.
Tay and Kok had resigned and left the company “prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary inquiry”, and SMRT has reserved the right to pursue legal action against them as may be appropriate.
Investigations had found that both men had failed to exercise sufficient supervision during the period when the falsification of the pump maintenance records occurred.
SMRT concluded that the crew tasked with maintaining the system had not done so for nearly a year, when the system is supposed to be serviced once every quarter.
continue reading here :
https://mothership.sg/2017/11/smrt-r...ice-president/
The question here one should be asking why didn’t the crew do what they are supposed to do in the first place ?
SMRT investigation result: CEO Desmond Kuek not responsible for flooded train tunnel
November 28, 2017
SMRT yesterday (Nov 27) wrapped up it’s internal investigation of the Oct 7 tunnel flooding incident, putting all blame on 13 employees. With the 13 scapegoats, former army general Desmond Kuek is notably excused despite his lapse overlooking the maintenance department as CEO.
According to SMRT, one senior executive, two managers and five technicians were responsible for the falsification of pump maintenance records and they have been fired. Although they were found SMRT however is not pursuing legal actions against them:
“As they are no longer with the company, SMRT reserves its right to pursue legal action against them as may be appropriate.”
Another vice-president and senior manager has also resigned, while three other management executives have been “disciplined”. SMRT did not mention what disciplinary actions were taken or if any of the 13 employees were protected from the “amnesty period” offered earlier by SMRT.
A government survey recently found that 55% of the public wants the inexperienced former army general to resign. Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan however defended Desmond Kuek and his salaries, claiming that rail reliability is a “multi-year war” and that the chinese art of war accept such failures.
continue reading here :
Calls for Desmond Quek to step down intensify as SMRT sacks 8 staff over tunnel flooding incident
November 28, 2017
News that SMRT has dismissed eight staff members over their role in the Bishan tunnel flooding incident has not flown completely well with Singaporeans online.
The transport operator revealed in a media statement yesterday that 13 employees were found to be responsible for the tunnel flooding incident that occurred on 7 Oct, causing a 20-hour service disruption that inconvenienced a quarter of a million commuters.
A subsequent internal investigation shockingly revealed that a group of SMRT maintenance staff falsified paperwork that maintenance was done on a pump system at Bishan Depot when no work was carried out for almost an entire year.
continue reading here :
http://www.theindependent.sg/calls-f...ding-incident/
Looks like the SMRT CEO is bigger than the PAP government .
Bishan MRT tunnel flooding: Legal action SMRT can take against ex-staff depends on contract terms
On Nov 27, SMRT said that it had found 13 staff responsible for failing to maintain an anti-flooding system, which led to the tunnel between Bishan and Braddell stations becoming flooded on Oct 7.
PUBLISHED 42 MIN AGO
Adrian Lim Transport Correspondent
SINGAPORE - The legal actions which SMRT could take against two ex-employees linked to last month’s MRT tunnel flooding depend on the terms of their contract. The rail operator could also sue for damages caused by negligence, although this will be a challenging course of action, said legal experts.
On Monday (Nov 27), SMRT said that it had found 13 staff responsible for failing to maintain an anti-flooding system, which led to the tunnel between Bishan and Braddell stations becoming flooded on Oct 7, causing a major service disruption. Some of the staff were found to have falsified maintenance records.
Eight were sacked, one was demoted, and disciplinary action, which SMRT did not specify, were taken against another two, it was revealed on Monday.
Vice-president Tay Tien Seng and senior manager Ivan Kok, who quit shortly after the flooding incident, were found to have not exercised sufficient supervision during the seven-month period when records were falsified. On Monday, SMRT said it “reserves its right to pursue legal action against them as may be appropriate”.
Asked on the kinds of legal options open to SMRT, Lawyer Wayne Ong told The Straits Times on Tuesday (Nov 28):“If there were duties that the employees should have carried out - as described in their contract - and the employees did not do so, then it could be a breach of the contract.”
Mr Ong said it did not matter that the employees had quit as they were contractually bound when the breaches occurred.
continue reading here :
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...ent-depends-on
So can we commuters take legal action against SMRT for not fulfilling their contract with us ? Can any lawyers please advise ?
Monitor lizard hiding under train removed from SMRT’s Bishan Depot
PUBLISHED 6 HOURS AGO
Fabian Koh
SINGAPORE - A monitor lizard turned up at SMRT’s train depot in Bishan on Tuesday (Nov 28), and was dragged out by depot staff.
A video sent to Stomp showed staff shining a torchlight and prodding something in the undercarriage of a parked train with poles, sticks and dustpans.
After a while, a monitor lizard fell to the ground. Staff could be heard calling for it to be chased out of the premises.
They tried to guide it out by pushing it with their tools as it crawled along. This caused the lizard to open its mouth aggressively, and it even whipped its tail a few times.
In the end, a staff member grabbed it by its tail and dragged it out of the premises, sprinting as fast as he could before the creature could turn around and bite him.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, Mr Patrick Nathan, SMRT’s vice-president for corporate communications, said: “A monitor lizard was found in one of our depots yesterday (Nov 28) and was removed.”
continue reading here :
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...s-bishan-depot
Even a monitor lizard is having fun with SMRT .
Man gets maximum $1,000 fine for leaving white flour at Woodleigh MRT station
Tay Yong Kwang, 69, was fined $1,000 for leaving flour around Woodleigh MRT station causing the station to be shut down.
PUBLISHED 7 HOURS AGO
Elena Chong Court Correspondent
SINGAPORE - A 69-year-old man who used flour to mark a trail for a running route which included Woodleigh MRT station and caused a security scare was given the maximum fine of $1,000 on Wednesday (Nov 29) for public nuisance.
Tay Yong Kwang admitted to causing annoyance to the public by leaving white flour at multiple locations in and around the station in Upper Serangoon Road between noon and 1pm on April 18, 2017.
More than 100 security personnel were deployed to deal with the security scare. The station was closed for more than three hours, affecting more than 1,000 commuters, said Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Tang Shangjun.
He pushed for the maximum fine, saying this was one of the worst cases of public nuisance thus far.
“He left white powder around the public transport facility. It is reasonable to conclude that members of the public, station staff and security personnel would be fearful that there is something more sinister to it than just being flour alone,’’ he said.
The DPP said there has been constant publicity in the local media on the need for the public to be on the lookout for suspicious substances or items, and how to identify them. White powder clearly falls in the category of suspicious substances, he added.
A strong message must be sent to the public that they should not leave items unattended, or items viewed as suspicious or hazardous around public transport networks or other public places where there is a high flow of human traffic, he said.
continue reading here :
Train fault at Raffles Place MRT station causes NSL delays during evening rush hour
30 Nov 2017 06:30PM (Updated: 30 Nov 2017 06:50PM)
SINGAPORE: A train fault at Raffles Place MRT station caused delays on the North-South Line during the evening rush hour on Thursday (Nov 30), commuters reported.
Commuter A Kannan told Channel NewsAsia he was boarding a train at Newton at around 6.10pm when he heard an announcement warning of delays due to a train fault at Raffles Place.
Commuters were told to expect an additional travel time of 10 minutes from Marina Bay to Khatib.
Long queues and crowds of people could be seen at various stations including Newton and Bishan.
Commuter Serene Soh, who was travelling to Sembawang from City Hall, told Channel NewsAsia at about 5.50pm that her train at City Hall station was “not moving”, adding that she had gotten on the train about 15 minutes earlier.
The train eventually started moving but stopped at “every station” for about five minutes, she later said.
As of 6.25pm, no official announcements could be seen on train operator SMRT’s social media accounts.
Earlier on Thursday, the Land Transport Authority said that rail operators are required to inform passengers of any delay exceeding 10 minutes.
Read more at
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...delays-9455616
Why does the breakdown always occur during rush hour ? Where are you Mr Khaw ? Still do not want to set up an independent committee of inquiry ? Still think your mrt reliability still world class ???