Fock Siew Wah, founding chairman of LTA and SMRT, dies aged 84

Fock Siew Wah, founding chairman of LTA and SMRT, dies aged 84

SINGAPORE: Former PSA International chairman Fock Siew Wah, who was also the founding chairman of SMRT and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), has died at the age of 84. Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in a Facebook post on Monday (Jan 6), said that he was deeply saddened to hear of Mr Fock’s passing.  “I have known … Read more

Regular train service between Tanah Merah and Tampines MRT stations to resume on Tuesday

Regular train service between Tanah Merah and Tampines MRT stations to resume on Tuesday

SINGAPORE: Regular train service between Tanah Merah and Tampines MRT stations along the East-West Line (EWL) will resume on Tuesday (Dec 10), a day ahead of schedule after the completion of track works. The stretch of stations has been closed since Saturday to facilitate the connection of tracks between the EWL and the new East Coast … Read more

Train services between Tanah Merah and Tampines on track to resume on Dec 11; works 40% complete

Train services between Tanah Merah and Tampines on track to resume on Dec 11; works 40% complete

“If the weather holds up, we are on target to switch on the power supply system and to test the new turnout tracks with trains,” Mr Chia said. Testing will take place across Monday, with Tuesday as a buffer to ensure trains run smoothly. Thereafter, the work site will have to be handed back to … Read more

SMRT establishes tripartite workgroup to review rail reliability, safety

SMRT establishes tripartite workgroup to review rail reliability, safety

As part of the review, the workgroup will conduct a peer benchmarking exercise with the Guangzhou Metro Corporation and the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. “This will allow us to exchange insights, and benchmark against the two leading metro operators with world-class safety and reliability records,” SMRT said. “SMRT remains committed to making continual improvements … for the … Read more

East-West Line MRT services to fully resume on Oct 1

East-West Line MRT services to fully resume on Oct 1

SINGAPORE: Train services on the East-West Line will fully resume from the start of passenger hours on Tuesday (Oct 1), nearly a week after a faulty train caused a power trip and damage to the track and other equipment. This comes after the successful replacement of rail segments that had developed new cracks, the Land Transport … Read more

East-West Line disruption: No train services from Jurong East to Buona Vista on Sep 30, new cracks found along tracks

East-West Line disruption: No train services from Jurong East to Buona Vista on Sep 30, new cracks found along tracks

LTA and SMRT said rigorous checks and tests will be carried out and they will ensure strict safety requirements are met before resuming full passenger service.  “We seek commuters’ kind understanding and patience while our workers do their best to safely resume service as soon as we can,” said LTA and SMRT.  President of SMRT Trains Lam … Read more

MRT disruption: Restoration of power rails ‘fully completed’, safety tests set for Sunday

MRT disruption: Restoration of power rails ‘fully completed’, safety tests set for Sunday

SINGAPORE: Recovery works on the East-West Line are progressing, following the days-long disruption that has hit Singapore’s second-oldest train line. In a Facebook update, rail operator SMRT said “as of Saturday (Sep 28), we have successfully recovered and completed functionality tests on three track point machines and associated trackside equipment”. “Power rails have also been … Read more

MRT disruption: Jurong East-Buona Vista stretch to remain closed for third day running; full service targeted for Monday

MRT disruption: Jurong East-Buona Vista stretch to remain closed for third day running; full service targeted for Monday

On Thursday, the authorities said that engineers had found “extensive damage” to the track and trackside equipment, caused by a faulty train as it was returning to Ulu Pandan depot. A defective component known as an axle box had dropped onto the train tracks, causing one bogie – or an undercarriage with wheels – to … Read more

MRT disruption to continue into Thursday, no services between Jurong East and Buona Vista

MRT disruption to continue into Thursday, no services between Jurong East and Buona Vista

Likewise, the queue for bridging bus services at Jurong East stretched to about 300m along the sheltered walkway from the bus stop outside Block 201 Jurong East Street 21 to opposite Westgate mall. The waiting time for buses was at least 15 to 20 minutes but passengers were observed to be waiting in an orderly … Read more

Deep Dive Podcast: Bus and train fare hikes – How are they calculated?

Deep Dive Podcast: Bus and train fare hikes – How are they calculated?

Here’s an excerpt from the conversation:  Crispina Robert: When (our intern) Yan Yun spoke to people, one of the things they said is that 10 cents seems like a small amount, but one point they brought up was that, unlike food – where they can choose to eat something cheaper – train and buses, they have … Read more