O ............ O
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Please click link to see full article which include email
communication and figures. Insufficient space here to
include in this thread.
http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2015/07/ex-smrt-engineer-speaks-out-about-the-frequent-breakdowns/
Ex-SMRT engineer speaks out about the frequent
breakdowns
Singapore’s Mass Raid Transit (MRT) network experienced
its largest disruption on 7 July 2015, with the total breakdown of
the East West and North South Lines, lasting over three and a half
hours. An estimated 250,000 commuters were inconvenienced by
the breakdown, which happened during the evening rush hour.
Since its inception in 1987, the Singapore MRT system,
a project spearheaded by former President Ong Teng Cheong, has
served commuters well, providing an affordable and efficient mode
of transportation for everyone.
However, in recent years, breakdowns from the MRT
system have been growing in frequency, even for the lines that have
only been in service for a few years. Many of the breakdowns would
not have been reported if not for social media.
A press statement released by the SMRT on the recent
breakdown said that the company would be seeking assistance from
retired engineers to address the situation.
“SMRT is working with external experts to review the design
robustness of the power network, and to find ways to further
segment it in order to avoid a similar network-wide power failure.
We have also brought in a number of retired SMRT staff with
experience in network power issues to assist in the investigations.
At the same time, we have advanced the procurement of additional
condition monitoring systems that were being developed jointly with
R&D agencies.”
So is there need to bring in retired engineers who may
not be familiar with newer technology? And why are existing
engineers unable to fix the system, given that over time, engineers
employed by the company would have been more experienced and better
trained in the train network?
And why are breakdowns more frequent these days despite
promises by the government to fix them since the last General
Election in 2011?
Are they not putting in enough effort in doing so or
are they unable to do so without addressing a far more serious
problem about the transport company.
A resignation letter dated 10 September 2004, written
by a former assistant engineer (AE) more than ten years ago may
shed some light on the deep rooted problem of the transport
company.
This was what the letter said:
“I would like to thank you all for giving me the opportunity to
work here at SMRT for so many years, I have truly enjoyed my time
here, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to stay on.
I have always tried to do my best, even in the last year or so, and
I wish that I could stay on until my retirement day. I had never
wanted to leave the company, but unfortunately, in life, sometimes
one is forced to make difficult decisions that have less to do with
what one actually desires, and more to do with what one feels is
necessary. In view of everything that I have heard, everything I
have seen and everything that I have personally experienced in EPL
(Escalators, Platform screen doors & Lifts) in the last
three years or so, I cannot, with good conscience, continue to work
here any more. I greatly fear if the current working practices
continue, a serious incident may happen in future, and I have no
desire to be a party for the occurrence.
I have compiled here a few examples of the problems plaguing EPL,
problems that I believe have led to two other long-serving
Assistant Engineers, XXX and XXX to resign before me. I have tried
hard to change the system from within by raising issues to the EPL
management that I think are important and should be looked into
urgently, and I have tried to offer concrete suggestions on how to
deal with some of these problems, but it appears to me that many of
these problems were not, and are not, being dealt with seriously,
if at all.
The apparent lack of interest in resolving problems by the EPL
management have led to a serious fall in staff morale, with the
inevitable drop in staff discipline as well, for verbal and even
written letters of warning have been issued widely to many of the
men. There also appears to be no consistency to the enforcement of
disciplinary standard, for warning letters have been issued to some
men for certain incidents, while no disciplinary action has been
taken against some other staff for incidents of a similar nature.
Orders are often issued verbally, with no follow-up memo, so that
it becomes difficult for a staff member to check and clarify on any
order he does not quite understand.
Often, when something goes wrong, the men have no way to defend
themselves as there is no documentary evidence to back up their
assertions.
We have even been ordered to alter reports to suit the EPL
management’s view.
As the conditions that the EPL rank and file staff have to work
under, it is no surprise that there have been so many resignations
as the conditions I have outlined in the preceding few lines make
it difficult for us to continue working here.
I have compiled this dossier here in the hope that the relevant
authority will read it and hopefully come to understand the
problems that have led to three long-servicing AEs to resign in the
very short space of six months.
I hope the relevant authority will take this report seriously and
look into the issues I have raised, for there are several; other
EPL staff who have privately confided that they are seriously
considering resigning should matters come to a head.
Please note that what I have expressed here are based upon my own
experiences and observations, and that the opinions raised are
entirely my own opinions, and that nothing I have written here is
intended to cause any reflection on the organization or on any
person.”
In the dossier which this former SMRT engineer has
compiled, it can be seen from email conversations how AEs were
being asked, for example, to “downscale” the status of incidents
from “incident” to “routine maintenance” in records; and also
the sharp increase of escalator breakdowns in the year 2003 in
comparison to 2001 and 2002.
The AE shared how his colleagues had thoughts of
leaving the company given the lack of regards to maintenance by the
company and how double standards were practiced on matters such as
disciplining staff.
After the investigations into the 2011 December
breakdowns, members of the public were appalled when they found out
that SMRT had been skiving on maintenance despite a heavier load on
the system due to an increased population.
In the next report, TOC will cover one of the
engineering issues faced by SMRT raised by this former
engineer.