List of Singapore MRT disruptions

Singapore MRT quandary

A window broken by a commuter due to a lack of ventilation during the 15 December 2011 MRT breakdown.
Duration Ongoing, spasmodic
Date 15 December 2011 – present
(4 years, 11 months, 4 weeks and 1 day)
Location Singapore
Type
Participants Singaporeans
SMRT Trains

For many years, Singapore's public transport system, especially its Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), has been recognized internationally for its efficiency and efficacy. However, since December 2011, frequent and severe disruptions to the MRT services have become a prominent national and international issue, the Singapore MRT quandary. The quandary has been marked by numerous incidents, issues and problems pertaining to the maintenance, quality and reliability of Singapore's MRT system.[1]

The quandary began on 15 December 2011, when the North-South Line experienced its first major breakdown.[2] The incident quickly became national headlines. Two days later, on 17 December 2011, the North-South Line experienced a second major breakdown. These two MRT disruption incidents affected a sizable part of the population and prompted the Singapore government to respond. Investigations of the two breakdowns by a government-formed Committee of Inquiry revealed shortcomings in SMRT's maintenance regime. On 7 July 2015, a power fault regarding the third rail insulation of the MRT resulted in the disruption of the entire East-West Line and North-South Line. An investigation by the LTA found lapses in maintenance by SMRT.[3]

2011 MRT disruptions

North South Line (NSL)

The Ang Mo Kio MRT station, located on the North South Line, one of the affected places during the 2011 MRT disruptions in Singapore

The two train services that disrupted on the North South Line that took place on 15 and 17 December 2011 were the worst breakdowns in SMRT's history (surpassed by the 2015 disruption that happened later).[4][5][6] All MRT stations on the North South Line and East West Line were further closed due to checks on all trains and tracks to be carried out. Train services started at 10 am instead. Free parallel bus services were also available from 5.30 am to 10 am. However, as the checks were not completed, train services were delayed up to two hours. Train service on the East West Line resumed at 11 am while North South Line resumed fully at 12.08 pm.[7][8]

Committee of Inquiry (COI) into December 2011 breakdowns

In December 2011, the government commissioned a Committee of Inquiry into the state of breakdowns and disruptions of the train services.[9] The committee is headed by Tan Siong Thye, Chief District Judge of the Subordinate Courts and the two other committee members are Professor Lim Mong King from the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at Nanyang Technological University and Soh Wai Wah, Director of Prisons. On July 3, 2012, the Committee of Inquiry submitted its report to Transport Minister, Lui Tuck Yew.[10] A response is expected to be given by the Transport Minister to the COI report at a parliament sitting which held on July 9, 2012.[11] On July 4, 2012, the 358-page COI report made available to the public, cited shortcomings in SMRT's maintenance regime and checks done.[12]

List of 2015 disruptions

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

July 7 Disruption

On 7 July 2015, trains along the East-West Line and North-South Line experienced intermittent power surges. This eventually led to the entire suspension of both lines, affecting 413,000 passengers.[3] It was the worst MRT disruption in the history of the MRT.[24]

An investigation by LTA found that SMRT had failed to detect leakages to the underground tunnel between Tanjong Pagar and Raffles Place.[3] This led to mineral deposits on the third rail insulation, causing the power system to trip which led to the disruption of both lines.[3]

Impacts

Dissatisfaction with public transportation

While Singaporeans began to notice some issues with the MRT system in terms of overcrowding, the December 2011 disruptions brought the state of public transportation as a whole to national and international prominence.[25] LTA also noted a marked increase in dissatisfaction with public transport with the release of the 2012 Public Transport Customer Satisfaction Survey, and promised government action to deal with issues relating to MRT and LRT disruptions.[26]

Changes to government policy

The government increased the penalty of train disruptions,[25] and made free travel available for any bus services passing MRT stations affected during any train disruptions.[27] To increase satisfaction with the public transport, the government introduced the Bus Service Enhancement Programme and free morning off-peak travel to the city as interim measures to cope with the demands of the public transport system.[25]

Financial penalties

For the December 2011 disruptions, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) imposed a maximum financial penalty of S$2 million on SMRT (approximately US$1.526 million) for the two train disruptions along the North South Line (NSL) on December 15 and 17, 2011.[28] For the July 2015 disruption, LTA imposed a higher penalty of S$5.4 million on SMRT.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Train breakdown reasons: SMRT must be clearer and more transparent". AsiaOne. April 28, 2016.
  2. ↑ Low, Ignatius (December 16, 2011). "Singapore's MRT Breakdown Chaos Leaves Thousands Stranded". The Straits Times. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "SMRT to be fined a record S$5.4m for July 7 MRT breakdown". Channel NewsAsia. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "MRT breaks down again". Channel NewsAsia. 2011-12-17.
  5. ↑ "North-South Line service resumes after 7-hour disruption". Channel NewsAsia. 2011-12-17.
  6. ↑ "Service disruption on North-South Line on 17 Dec 2011" (PDF).
  7. ↑ "NS−EW MRT lines to start 10Am on Sunday". Channel NewsAsia. 2011-12-17.
  8. ↑ "Train services on NS−EW lines fully resume". Channel NewsAsia. 2011-12-18.
  9. ↑ "MRT breakdowns: Committee of Inquiry appointed". Channel NewsAsia. December 29, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Committee of Inquiry submits train breakdowns report to Lui Tuck Yew". Channel NewAsia. July 3, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Transport Minister to give response to COI report soon". Channel NewAsia. July 3, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Major train disruptions could have been prevented, says Committee of Inquiry". Channel NewAsia. July 4, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  13. ↑ "SMRT Train Distruptions Update".
  14. ↑ "SBS Transit Train Distruptions Update".
  15. ↑ "Train service on North South Line delayed due to track fault: SMRT".
  16. ↑ "Train service on North South Line delayed due to track fault: SMRT".
  17. ↑ "Train service on North-South, East-West Lines disrupted".
  18. ↑ "Train service on North-East Line resumes after 20-minute delay due to signalling fault".
  19. ↑ "Train service delayed on North-South MRT line".
  20. ↑ "Train service delayed on North-East line due to signalling fault".
  21. ↑ "Faulty train causes delay on North-South line".
  22. ↑ "Train service resumes on North East Line after stations hit by blackout".
  23. ↑ "Two-hour NEL breakdown hits 41,000 commuters".
  24. ↑ "MRT Breakdown Is S'pore's Worst Ever, Services Not Fully Resumed Today". Vulcan Post. Yahoo! News. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  25. 1 2 3 Sim, Royston (3 May 2014). "On track to solve pub lic transport woes?" (PDF). Straits Times. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  26. ↑ "Public Transport Overall Satisfaction Dips in 2012; Measures to Address Areas of Dissatisfaction will be Taken". Land Transport Authority. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  27. ↑ "Free bus services during extended MRT disruption". Ministry of Transport Singapore. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  28. ↑ "SMRT to be Fined $2 million for December 2011 Train Service Disruptions along the North South Line". Land Transport Authority. July 16, 2012.

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