SMRT bus caught fire along BKE

eX.A.K.R. SG

That was done ages ago. Not recently.

When was it, specifically?

I can still remember it was just a few months back when I found a route 859 Scania going missing for a while, only to come back refurbished.

I could have tolerated it if it was like a few years ago. Not a few months ago.

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Not surprising, all empty talk.

If this is TIBS, it won't suffer such a sorry state.

No point saving the bus, might as well make full use of the Citaros that came in.

There are other buses that caught fire in other countries, all due to manufacturer defects, nothing to do with maintenance. Its almost impossible for an engine to catch fire due to poor maintenance, it will seize and fail to start instead. However a manufacturing defect like that of turbo oil line rupturing due to poor welding joints in TIB1105H and some Mercedes buses overseas, a faulty fuel pump can lead to an engine fire.

A short circuit however, can be due to poor maintenance such as poor wire condition, corroded electrical joints and poor workmanship of replacement of wiring. We may never know. We should not finger point at SMRT over this issue unless we have prove that the bus caught fire due to poor maintenance. You cant prove that the bus is 'poorly maintained' as overall due to leaky aircons, broken seats etc, because this incident started away from public's view.

carbikebus SG

Sometimes there are irresponsible drivers who got bad attitude.Nvr perform first/last parade of duties eg nvr check coolant/radiator.Nvr check for leakage..Tyres botak still wanna drive.AC not cold also wanna drive..SMRT should follow SBST way of work/Ensure that 1st and last parade of duties should be signed at the waybill.

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Just wondering, tyre 'botak'(still left abit of running life), can SL request to swap for another bus? Or will the company ask them drive for one day then upon return request for tyre change?

Anyway not checking coolant/engine oil level is a serious bad habit which can lead to vehicle engine seizures, vehicle overheating and even engine fire. I ever rode a motorbike that is in poor condition and i dont even dare run beyond 70km/h because the engine is freaking hot, almost burnt my leg when i accidentally touch it, which i touched the gearbox, not the engine and can smell the hot burnt engine oil. My friend encountered same situation and continue to run at high speed, before seizing the engine.

carbikebus SG

Even one tyre botak you have the right to change the bus.This is what i'm been practicing during my driving bus days.If the mechanics insist it can go on service then ask them to sign behind your waybill card.Just a reference if mishap happens.I always ngiao one,See bus body bend also i go report.AC not cold also change bus.I've ever drive a heated Lance cause the bloody mechanic ask me to drive it while on 980,Reach Lor 1 top up water again until i finally declared cant go on service after seeking BOCC advice,Block gaskets leaking and radiator hose a bit cracked.Did manage to save that bus though..Bus get new hoses and parts wear replaced.Wonder what is the perm SL doing??

carbikebus SG

cJust wondering, tyre 'botak'(still left abit of running life), can SL request to swap for another bus? Or will the company ask them drive for one day then upon return request for tyre change?

Wah you got bike license too eh bro?Me pass 2B in 1994,Then Class 3 in 2000,Bus VL in 2002,Class 4 in 2007 before settle for 2A in 2010.

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Wah you got bike license too eh bro?Me pass 2B in 1994,Then Class 3 in 2000,Bus VL in 2002,Class 4 in 2007 before settle for 2A in 2010.

See your PM bro :)

eX.A.K.R. SG

What the... holy frak, the mechanics at the bus depots were pressing buses with such severe problems into service? What the frak are they thinking?

Also, there are drivers who don't do their first parade? No wonder the odd SMRT bus I ride has funny problems sometimes. How are they managing to get away with skipping such a crucial safety procedure?

carbikebus SG

Its true bro.My experience with SBST Hougang Depot and Bedok North while Ang Mo Kio for SMRT.Most notorious one is Bedok North,SMRT AMDEP mechanics from Malaysia also one kind of attitude(No bias here),Ask them change tyre also like i own them big money,Show stupid faces.Tell them need to top up engine oil also got sarcastic remark saying that i should be mechanic instead of bus driver,WTF?BNDEP also one kind..AC not cold also say can be use till night..

carbikebus SG

That is why you will the understand the problem once you're the driver itself.Practical is better than Theory.I really dun give a hoot to those lazy bum mechanics.When problem start they start pin point at you if you dont defend yourself.I ever threathen the starter not to drive if the buses dun change the tyre with sidewall already cracked.

eX.A.K.R. SG

Its true bro.My experience with SBST Hougang Depot and Bedok North while Ang Mo Kio for SMRT.Most notorious one is Bedok North,SMRT AMDEP mechanics from Malaysia also one kind of attitude(No bias here),Ask them change tyre also like i own them big money,Show stupid faces.Tell them need to top up engine oil also got sarcastic remark saying that i should be mechanic instead of bus driver,WTF?BNDEP also one kind..AC not cold also say can be use till night..

Aha! No wonder a few years back, I encountered a situaution on SBS 2888T (it was already part of Bedok North Depot, but was still on passenger service) where the air-conditioner didn't seem to work properly and eventually broke down.

Damn... these mechanics really don't seem to be serious and committed to their jobs at all. When someone feeds back to them that something's wrong with a bus, it's their responsibility to check out the problem and fix it; what the frak is wrong with them? Maybe that's why some bus drivers skip the first parade - they had rather not look at the faces of those mechanics...

I wonder, does the upper management knows about this, and if so, what are they doing about it?

service_238 SG

I wonder, does the upper management knows about this, and if so, what are they doing about it?

even if upper management knows about this they cant do much about it.

lets say i fire all the mechanics in the depot, where to find replacement? how long i need to find them? how long do i need to train them if they dont have the required skill set? dont forget the buses need to run everyday to cater to the public. even if its on weekends the mechanics are also having their off days.

There's of course the option of firing one or two but what if he has a family of 6 to feed?

There are things which as long as things still work, and are not out of hand, carry on. (doesnt some organisation teach all of us that?)

Scania N113CRB luver SG

even if upper management knows about this they cant do much about it.

There's of course the option of firing one or two but what if he has a family of 6 to feed?

There are things which as long as things still work, and are not out of hand, carry on. (doesnt some organisation teach all of us that?)

In short, close one eye la, close one eye. Can run can liao.

carbikebus SG

Yeah man but again these examples are just minor thing like topping up engine oil and tyre change(Not all of them for god sake).But human is afterall human.After that experience i start bribing a few mechanics and voila almost all the buses i drove was in good condition.Sometimes you have to do wrong thing to correct thing.

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