Submitted by farhan on Wed, 08/07/2015 - 1:47am
Photo: A SMRT passenger who was
unable to take it in any longer.
by Wan Dan Liao, Straight
Times
Singapore - More than 250,000
commuters were stranded in SMRT train stations yesterday evening (7
Jul) when a power outage caused the shutdown of the entire
North-South-East-West line.
It is the first time that services
the entire North-South-East-West line broken down at the same time.
This is possibly the worst MRT breakdown Singapore has
experienced.
Initial investigations suspected a
faulty train could have triggered the power surge which led to the
massive breakdown.
SMRT insiders have informed ST
that the public listed company have convened a board meeting late
last night and approved plans to purchase 154 diesel-powered trains
to replace the current fleet of aging trains and resolve electrical
power lines issue that has plagued SMRT for years.
According to tender documents ST
has received, the diesel-powered trains will be six carriages long
with five passenger cabins. The last carriage carries more than 900
liters of liquid diesel fuel that could last the train for close to
3 days.
ST got in touch with SMRT Corp's
Commuters Moving Group Director Mr Ma Sai di who acknowledged the
ambitious S$122.5 million plan.
"We have to do it," Mr Ma said
wearily. "Our primary concern is ensuring we keep moving people and
enhance their lives."
When asked if this would affect
future transport fares, Mr Ma declined to comment and directed the
query to Public Transport Council, the government-linked body that
regulates public transport fees.
- See more at:
http://www.allsingaporestuff.com/article/insider-smrt-getting-diesel-powered-trains-year-end#sthash.jP4co0HA.dpuf