Parliament: Safety comes first when installing
screen doors at MRT stations
The process of installing half height platform screen doors at
all MRT stations should not be rushed at the expense of safety.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, Teo Ser Luck made
this point in parliament today when asked if the Land Transport
Authority will speed up the installation process following
passenger fatalities which occurred earlier this year.
Installation of these safety devices has begun at three stations
- Jurong East, Pasir Ris and Yishun -- and is expected to completed
by the end of this year.
Work on the remaining 33 elevated stations on the North South
and East West lines will be carried out after that.
All elevated stations will have platform screen doors by
2012.
Mr Teo also pointed to the challenges in installing such
platform doors on operational MRT lines.
He said in order not disrupt commuter traffic flow, work is
usually carried out between 1.30 to 4 in the morning after the
train stations close.
"Workers have to access the tracks each night to cut away the
edge of the platform next to the train tracks. And then you remove
the electrical insulation membrane, then you drill into the
platforms to mount the foundation for the platform screen door to
install the door frames and put up the screen doors. They need to
carry out rigorous testings to ensure reliability and safety."
Mr Teo noted that public transport operators proactively remind
commuters through the broadcasting of video and voice messages at
train stations.
Station operational staff also keep a lookout for passengers who
may feel unwell.
But ultimately, Mr Teo said, commuters have to take the
responsibility for their own safety.
"Commuters should also observe safety instructions and stand
behind the yellow line. They should seek assistance from the MRT
station officers if they feel unwell. This is a shared
responsibility for safety and it is best ensured when everyone and
every stakeholder does its part."
--938Live
Thats good.. I wonder they never install PSD at BLE first
leii??
