MRT rides

last SG · 2009-06-28T21:53:53+00:00

play microsoft train simulator..got any link? you play before?

marcteng SG

do you find that sometimes the mrt train ride, the driver stop suddenly, then restart again after 1-3 seconds.

I encounter this mrt driver, stop, start, then stop and start again. quite irritating sia.

I would appreciate if the driver stop suddenly and park there for 1 min or so, pls announce it to the passengers on what is going on. some people might be in a hurry for work, appointments.

---Max--- SG

COMPLAIN TO LTA! I want see what will SMRT do... probably nth...

hmm i am thinking if LTA upgrade our current NSL and EWL to fully automated driveless system, is it possible as least more constant... least of any oh how bake

marcteng SG

COMPLAIN TO LTA! I want see what will SMRT do... probably nth...

hmm i am thinking if LTA upgrade our current NSL and EWL to fully automated driveless system, is it possible as least more constant... least of any oh how bake

if driverless, SMRT going to retrench people liao lor.

HKFS88 SG

Haha...it happens now & then....what can we do??

caleb_chiang SG

do you find that sometimes the mrt train ride, the driver stop suddenly, then restart again after 1-3 seconds.

I encounter this mrt driver, stop, start, then stop and start again. quite irritating sia.

I would appreciate if the driver stop suddenly and park there for 1 min or so, pls announce it to the passengers on what is going on. some people might be in a hurry for work, appointments.

Erm... they only stop if there is a train in front.... or you rather they slam into each other?

tofushop193 SG

i think theres train at the next station.this always happen in the morning where the train comes only in 2 min interval.quite iritating.like this isnt it the same.expect u are waiting in the tunnel rather than waiting at the station

marcteng SG

Haha...it happens now & then....what can we do??

can complain to MRT, tell their drivers dun brake suddenly, like suddenly there is a rabbit in jumping up in front of the track. the drivers like dunno how to drive a train.so bad driving skills.if u want to stop, stop gradually la. u know when u stop suddenly, alot of standing passengers are going to fall down.

zhlow SG

feel sorry abt ur bad experience on the train man. well, i suppose ur not so familiar with how the system works i believe. Unlike buses where drivers can gradually stop the veheicle when seeing another veheicle infront, a train is normally running on Auto mode in layman terms auto pilot during dry weather or normal condition. in other words, the job of the driver is only to open n close the doors and press a button for the computer to take over and start moving the train out of the station. Braking and acceleration are all carried out by the on board computer of the train.

the sudden braking u experinced is mainly due to the ATP (Automatic Train Protection) system that kicks in when the train ur in is too close to the train infront which is around 1.5 - 2 min interval time. When the ATP system kicks in, force of braking might be rather high is order to stop the train asap to prevent any collision from happening. i hope im correct, the lao jiaos here correct me if im wrong.

so dun blame the driver la, blame the system haha. maybe we might need to change the system for a smoother braking maybe coupled with a increase in fare for overhauling the system?　haha Im sure u wont want so just suck thumb n endure loh.

linwei20 SG

in the future, will all the trains be driverless?

zhlow SG

yes if our population continues to grow it will come to a point where NSL n EWL will require to overhaul their signalling system to improve the frequency of the train arrival. As such maybe they will consider incoperating the driverless system in. well just my 2cents tots...

marcteng SG

how u know one? u worked at MRT before or is an engineer?

zhlow SG

no lar im not an enginner or worked at mrt before. just that i have special interest in auto-mobile n transport stuff so have a little bit of knowledge on these things. aniwae hope my explanation allows u to understand the system better. cheers.

E5 SG

I think it’s more of he did research on it before or something.

zhlow: IMHO, I don’t think SMRT will upgrade the system to driverless as there’s external constraint as well, such as raining. During raining, the braking distance of the train is greatly increased and because of this, there’s a high chance that the train will overrun or underrun the station, which causes the system to jam up or whatsoever. Also, I personally feel that it’s better to keep it semi-auto as it sort of provide a source for incomes for the driver. Look at japan, though they are running on full manual on most of it’s line, they are able to achieve 30 to 60 seconds frequency. So in conclusion;
-Upgrade system to handle tighter frequency: Yes
-Convert to full driverless system: No

zhlow SG

yea do agree with E5's view. i over-looked the point on raining conditions that may cause over/under-run. But i think it still can be done. just look at both of our LRT systems which operates above ground . Mayb the sensors n systems may differ for MRT n LRT but im sure smth lyk tht could be work out in the near future. Nevertheless, i still feel more secure to travel on a train with a driver on board..still remember years back when a car went onto the tracks over at lentor ave when a train was approaching? wonder wad would happen if it was a driverless train. *shivers*

E5 SG

LRT is different because there’s wheels to drain out the layer of water between the wheel and track. But MRT does not have this property which in turns, create a layer of water between the track and train wheel and this causes the wheel to spin freely as it lost contact with the track, which is the cause of why sometimes you will encounter ‘jerks’ whenever the train accelerate and decelerate during a rain.

zhlow SG

and if im nt wrong theres the traction control system on the train when there is a possiblity of a wheel spin or lost of traction isit? always hear the peumatic sound when the train suddenly comes to a halt when it enters heavy downpour or when it is stoping during wet weather condition. E5 dun mind if u could shed some light on that?

E5 SG

IMHO, EWL and NSL train only come to a sudden halt for 3 reasons;
-ATP is in effect, another train is in front.
-TO exceed the current speed limit allowed on a specific section of the track, causing ATS to come into effect, meaning E-brake kicks in and put train into complete halt. It always happened when train is in CM if the TO is not cautious/newbie.
-TO apply E-brake in CM to avoid overrun

There’s a few place in NSL and EWL which has tendancy for ATS to activate (I rarely took EWL so won’t be able to provide you the location for it), they are namely;
-Between Yio Chu Kang and Khatib NB, downslope from above ground to ground level.
-Between Sembawang and Yishun SB downslope
-Between Ang Mo Kio and Bishan SB downslope and Bishan crossover NB.
-Downslope immediately exiting Marsiling Station NB
-Slope between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Gombak NB and SB.

The pneumatic sound you heard is most likely the sound of compressed air gushing out when E-brake is engaged.

zhlow SG

wow very comprehensive explanation. bro r u an engineer or smth?

E5 SG

No. Same as you, did some research here and there as I have a special interest for train.

linwei20 SG

zhlow, so TO's job is just maintain the train when it come to ATP mode? Control of the doors too? Is it difficult to control the train? Is like, when you pull down the brake, will the train slow down like those normal vehicle or it takes time to slow down? I play before those train stimulator game, when i want to slow down or stop the train, it take quite sometime to fully stop, is it same as those normal MRT?