By Sara Grosse | Posted: 21
April 2012 1529 hrs
SINGAPORE: A joint team of experts from the Land
Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT will systematically look at
transportation issues and make sure the problems are properly
rectified.
The team will also look at potential vulnerable areas to anticipate
problems in the future.
Speaking at the sidelines of an event at National Junior College,
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew addressed the recent MRT
disruptions over the past week.
Train service disruptions on the Circle Line on Wednesday happened
after delays on other lines earlier in the week.
Mr Lui said: "I was gravely concerned over the spate of
disruptions. It has inconvenienced many, many commuters
greatly.
"It has angered many commuters and rightly so because they expect
and deserve a much more reliable service than what has been
delivered over the course of the past week."
In a meeting with SMRT's management, Mr Lui was told that a team of
experts - made up of manufacturers and train providers - has been
set up to not only look at the train disruptions but potential
problems.
"They will be able to tell us more about what are some of the
series of faults and problems that the trains will face as they
age.
"And then with that information that we get from them, together
with the builders of the train systems, we will be in a better
position to prepare ourselves for potential vulnerable areas,
potential faults that may not even be surfacing to the extent that
we would see in the future," he added.
In addition, SMRT is taking steps to do complete replacement of
component parts when necessary, as opposed to only replacing parts
when they break down.
My Lui also said SMRT needs to improve its emergency response
plan.
This means giving out information to commuters in a more timely
manner and ensuring that drivers of bus bridging services are
properly briefed.
Mr Lui acknowledged that breakdowns do occur but said it is
important to keep serious disruptions that affect thousands to a
bare minimum.
Only then, he stressed, can the confidence of the public be
regained.
- CNA/ck
