Longer MRT closures to come as LTA accelerates rail upgrades after recent disruptions

SINGAPORE: Train service closures could last longer in the coming years as the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and operators expedite upgrades to critical rail infrastructure across the MRT and LRT networks.

This comes as the Ministry of Transport accepted a wide-ranging set of recommendations from the Rail Reliability Taskforce, formed in September last year after a spate of disruptions.

Renewal of power, signalling and train systems will be prioritised, as major failures in these areas have direct and significant impact on commuters, LTA, SMRT and SBS Transit said in a press release on Friday (Feb 13).

For instance, renewal of the North East Line (NEL) power supply system will be brought forward to begin this year. Other upgrades include enhancing the power intake at the NEL depot in Sengkang and increasing traction power capacity on the NEL and Sengkang-Punggol LRT through additional substations.

In the longer term, LTA plans to explore building a dedicated higher-capacity backup power intake for the NEL.

SIGNALLING AND TRAIN IMPROVEMENTS

For signalling, LTA and operators will study additional operating procedures and bypass systems to enable faster recovery during faults without compromising safety. These could allow trains to continue moving at slower speeds rather than come to a complete halt.

To address train-related faults, LTA will revise the placement of key mechanical components such as coupling levers and brake isolation valves for easier access during breakdowns. It will also improve trains' electrical circuitry for better fault resilience.

The task force had suggested full-day closures to speed up renewal works. 

Responding to queries from CNA on whether this will be implemented, a spokesperson from LTA said some works are more complex and intensive, and can only be carried out safely and efficiently over longer periods than standard engineering hours permit.

"This will require service adjustments. Whether full-day service closures are required depends on the type of works being carried out and their complexity."

Any changes to service hours would be carefully studied and communicated in advance, the transport authority added. 

However, more engineering hours will be set aside, including longer service closures where needed.

"This is necessary as renewing multiple systems simultaneously whilst maintaining day-to-day rail operations poses inherent coordination and operational challenges," LTA and the operators said, adding that service adjustments will be carefully planned and alternative transport options provided to commuters.

Plans are also underway to accelerate the deployment of bridging buses during service interruptions to minimise commuter delays.

OTHER IMPROVEMENTS

LTA and the operators will also improve spare parts management, including stockpiling additional spares to enable timely replacements when faults occur and procuring extended service support from manufacturers for critical systems.

In the longer term, more standardised and modular rail system designs will be adopted to enable faster upgrades or replacements and simpler maintenance planning.

Data-driven condition monitoring will be standardised across the network to allow earlier fault detection. Robotics and automation will be further deployed in maintenance, and LTA will co-fund upskilling initiatives for staff.

The Singapore Rail Academy will expand its role to standardise training for operations and maintenance staff, with clearer certification frameworks linked to career progression. LTA aims for 20 per cent of the workforce to be chartered or certified, forming a core pool of master practitioners to mentor others.

LTA will also study the setting up of a separate fund to provide grants for innovative projects, as part of efforts to position the rail sector as one offering high-value, future-ready jobs in a digitalised environment.

The National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) said on Saturday that these efforts will strengthen career progression opportunities and uplift the capabilities of rank-and-file rail workers. 

"NTWU remains firmly committed to working closely with our tripartite partners to upskill and empower our rail professionals," it said in a Facebook post. 

"Together, we will continue to build a resilient, world-class rail system, one that delivers safe, reliable journeys while providing meaningful and sustainable careers for our workers."

The task force, which submitted its recommendations on Dec 30 last year, comprises international leaders who have held key engineering and management roles in the rail sector.

In developing these recommendations, it conducted detailed technical workshops, site visits, ground observations and interviews with operational and technical staff over a three-month period, the transport ministry said.

"This report is the result of four months of very intense work between September and December last year. We had scrutinised every MRT and LRT line for immediate issues that we could resolve together," said LTA chief executive Ng Lang.

"The task force work is taking place at a very opportune time when we are juggling between ageing, existing systems and a rail network that is expanding rapidly.

“We hope that the recommendations of the task force can contribute towards shaping the work that needs to be done going forward to help us sustain the reliability of our rail network,” Mr Ng said.