Circle Line issue ‘shows the value of multi-agency approach to solving problems’
The mulit-agency approach to solving the signal problem on the Circle Line ought to be used to solve other problems in the future, said Dr Ng Eng Hen. Photo: Koh Mui Fong
SINGAPORE — The multi-agency approach that helped nail down the source of the interfering signals on the Circle Line, which defence experts were credited for, will be needed to tackle problems in future, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Sunday (Nov 13).
This could involve gathering capabilities from within Singapore or, where needed, looking overseas for solutions, Dr Ng told journalists after observing a Republic of Singapore Air Force exercise.
On Friday, after months of investigations, the authorities disclosed that a faulty signalling hardware on an SMRT train was behind a mysterious signal interference that repeatedly tripped up train services on the Circle Line since late August.
Experts from the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and DSO National Laboratories were among those roped in to probe the interferences and helped to crack the mystery.
The DSTA and DSO, said Dr Ng, housed many signalling experts, while the Government Technology Agency of Singapore had “very bright young minds” in data analytics.
Bringing all of them together were the Land Transport Authority and the Ministry of Transport, which showed “great leadership”, he added.
That the authorities have found the nub of the interferences also showed “what we can do if we are not confined by departments or organisational lines”.
“It gives us great confidence that we can solve the problem quickly.”
