SINGAPORE: Certain stretches of the MRT system along
the North-South Line will have their rail support or timber
sleepers replaced.
Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo said
this is based on inputs from both SMRT and LTA.
Implementation details are currently being worked
out.
Mrs Teo also said a single dislodged rail clip does not affect the
safety of the rail operations significantly.
She was responding to a question by MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC Alex
Yam on whether the integrity of the tracks have been compromised in
light of the recent incidents of rail clips dislodged from MRT
tracks.
She added that rail tracks are inspected every night, including
rail clips.
Any clip that is broken off is replaced upon detection.
Temporary safety nets have also been installed between Dover and
Jurong East stations to minimise the dislodgement of rail
clips.
Mrs Teo said: "LTA has asked the operator to send the broken rail
components from the dislogdgements to a laboratory to analyse how
damage may have occurred as an additional check. The operator is
required to give LTA a full report on the incidence in due
course."
Mr Yam had asked: "Other than clips, there have been feedback from
areas where tracks are curved that some of the lining of the
undercarriage of the tracks have also occasionally dislodged. Are
these also under SMRT and operators or is this under LTA?"
Mrs Teo said: "SMRT is required to conduct daily checks along the
tracks and the LTA independently also conducts checks of the via
ducts and the tunnels every two months. If LTA discovers (that)
there are other dislodgements or defects they will inform SMRT or
the operator to replace it immediately."
- CNA/ck