SMRT use cable ties to further secure dislodged "claws" to the 3rd rail assembly - 18Dec2011

SINGAPORE: Commuters can expect trains along the North-South and East West Lines to run slower and with longer intervals as the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has ordered train operator SMRT to place a temporary speed restriction of 40 kilometres per hour at certain stretches.

This comes after overnight investigations found 21 "claws" dislodged along the rail system, which may have disrupted power to the trains.

The inspection was due to have been completed by Sunday morning, but it stretched on as engineers needed more time to correct the missing claws.

Spaced at 6.3 metres apart, the claws are usually covered and had to be manually inspected.

At a media conference on Sunday afternoon, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said this will add five minutes to an end-to-end journey, which normally takes 60 minutes.

Mr Lui said: "When we first did the planning to close the trains until 10am, the assessment was that there was sufficient time to do the visual checks.

"As a result of some of these discoveries, we felt there was a need to go deeper into it and also to do some of these gauge measurements, to do some of the rectifications and as they took me through all that they did, it's actually quite a laborious process."

Mr Lui said: "Out of the fleet of 120 over trains, 13 will have to be withdrawn from service. And, we will need to make sure that we replace collector shoes and do those repairs and rectifications.

"So obviously this will have some impact on the headway timings for trains during the peak hours. Whereas the shoulders of the peak and off-peak hours, we'll be running the trains as normal."

Fewer trains will also be in service, as some have been damaged. 13 trains had missing "collector shoes", which are required to draw power from the third rail.

This means that fewer trains will be in service during peak hours.

Mr Lui said: "During the peak period itself, instead of running at about two minutes, it will probably be slightly extended. Probably about a 10 per cent, maybe slightly more in terms of the headway."

The missing claws were mainly discovered at sections of tunnels in the city area. Of the 21 dislodged claws, nine were found between Raffles Place and Marina Bay stations.

These tracks have a lifespan of 50 years, and were found to be sound when last checked 10 years ago.

Mr Lui said there is no recommended time frame on how often these tracks have to be checked.

The LTA will continue its investigations to determine if there's any correlation between the floating slab tracks and dislodged claws, as well as if there are any other contributing factors.

The LTA wants SMRT to closely monitor the tracks, including the third rail.

It has also urged SMRT to install monitoring equipment to measure train vibration in these tunnel sections to ensure that the floating track structures are functioning well to absorb vibration.

Mr Lui did not say when trains will be back to their normal speeds.

The LTA has completed full inspection of the tracks and trains on the North-South and East-West Lines.

Aside from these measures, Mr Lui said the Committee of Inquiry, announced by the Prime Minister, will have to look into track maintenance and the cause of the dislodged claws.

Services resumed at 11am, with the southbound stretch from Ang Mo Kio to Marina Bay having started later at noon.

The LTA said services resumed later than planned to allow the team of engineers to complete inspection of the tracks and trains and rectify the problems.

It said, while train services have fully resumed, much more work must be done.

It said more time is needed to identify and analyse how the equipment damage occurred and caused disruptions.

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said: "It is worthwhile for us to go and drill into the floating slab tracks and to pull out samples from different locations to check on the conditions of the bearings and the dampener.

"This is no straightforward effort, and needs to be planned for, and the possibility is that we may well have to take more than the three to four hours that we normally have for track-side work, after the close of revenue service for one night and the start of revenue service the next morning."

A team of 150 staff from LTA and SMRT worked overnight, covering the tracks to examine the third rail which carries power supply to the trains.

Category:

News & Politics

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[boreslayer]

wow. cable ties on a metal piece. how damn smart. Back in NS, we secured unused lockers with cable ties. When we had to clean them internally, all we had to do was yank them and off the come.

[deathbymugging]

Lower speed and frequency, lower fare also la.

"These tracks have a lifespan of 50 years, and were found to be sound when last checked 10 years ago."

Ya la. everything 50 years. Freak flood once every 50 years. Mrt track last for 50 years. Last time they mentioned 50 years, end up 3 days later got another flood. Last checked 10 years ago, WTF. Bo maintenance one. I thought the fare hike was for 'improvement', maintenance also don't want to do, talk about what improvement? TUCK YEW!

[kabazt]

I am so smart, I am so smart! SMRT, I mean SMART

[luctoser]

After the next 10 years, they would be using rubber bands :/

[mow184]

I don't know whether to hit Like or Dislike. I mean, I don't like the fact that SMRT does this but I do like it that someone posted this video!

[vojmor]

Well, "SMRT" is "DEATH" in czech language, and since i heard of this veeeery legit seeming fix, i would tooootaly ride that... (little aura of sarcasm fully intended)

[manireallysux]

cable ties? i think 3 or 4 year old kids can bite them off with their milk teeth.

[gummyypeach]

10 years ago I was still in kindergarten. Limpeh now graduated from sec sch going to JC soon. 10 YEARS LEH! Y U NO HAVE SENSE OF TIME?!

[ansari7036152]

Next fare hike coming soon due to more purchases of cable ties from MUSTAFFA CENTRE!!!! aiyoh what the hack is happening to the WORLD CLASS TRANSPORT SYSTEM?????

[kaihoow88]

in the future, cable ties cannot make it, they will use SAF style.. DUCT TAPES.....