2 young lives lost

[skyleon]

Limited service on Sengkang-Punggol LRT on Sundays next year to facilitate improvement works


15 Dec 2017 07:03PM


SINGAPORE: In the first two months of 2018, there will be limited services on parts of the Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT) on Sundays, to facilitate renewal and improvement works, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced in a news release on Friday (Dec 15).

From Jan 14 to Feb 25, only one platform will open for service at 5.30am on Sundays. The other platform will open from 7am.

"SBS Transit will increase the frequency of train services on the unaffected platform to cope with the expected increase in passengers. However, some commuters may experience longer travel times as a result of the limited services," LTA said.

The works will include maintenance and replacement of the power rail, signalling switch machines and cables on the SPLRT.

"LTA has also begun precautionary works to strengthen the crossheads supporting the SPLRT viaducts, and rectify cracks found during regular inspections," the authority said.

"These cracks do not pose any safety risks, as the load-bearing capacity of the crossheads has not been compromised," it added.

As for the Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT), renewal works have been ongoing.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...ear-to-9502364


Why not just close for 1 month ? Provide free shuttle service . Even a LRT can't even maintain properly . How to run the HSR to Kuala Lumpur ? Such world class transport system Singapore has.

[sionglim]

Shut down east side stations on two sundays
Punishing commuters for being loud mouth kao peh kao boo?

[skyleon]

Sunday closures, shorter weekend service hours on another part of East-West Line in January


15 Dec 2017 07:38PM (Updated: 15 Dec 2017 10:39PM)


SINGAPORE: Train service on the eastern sector of the East-West Line (EWL) will be affected on all weekends in January as maintenance and renewal works on the rail line continue, SMRT said on Friday (Dec 15).

This includes two more full-day closures of 10 stations on Jan 21 and Jan 28, both Sundays. The affected stations are the stretch between Paya Lebar and Pasir Ris MRT stations, as well as Expo and Changi Airport stations.

There will be early closures on Fridays and Saturdays at 11pm and late openings at 8am on Saturdays and Sundays.

Two shuttle bus services - one between Aljunied and Pasir Ris, and another between Expo and Changi Airport - will be available. They will serve the bus stops closest to the affected MRT stations.


TRAINS AT LONGER INTERVALS ON NSL

Trains will also come at longer intervals on the North-South Line late at night and early in the morning on weekends, the public transport operator said.

This is because MRT train services between Orchard and Marina South Pier stations will be operating on a single track on late Friday and Saturday nights, and early Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Train services will therefore operate at longer intervals of between 10 to 15 minutes before 7am and after 11pm on certain days:

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...art-of-9502414


LTA please ensure that engineering works are carried out correctly and properly . Please also make sure safety measures are in place for the workers and engineers .

[skyleon]

LTA: Structural cracks found at Sengkang-LRT stations is safe

December 15, 2017


The Land Transport Authority (LTA) made an announcement yesterday (Dec 15) revealing that they found structural cracks at the “crosshead” structures supporting the Sengkang-Punggol LRT train line during a “regular inspection”. The LTA covered up the seriousness of the cracks and refused to disclose further details.

However, the government was quick to play down the possibilities of a railway track collapse, claiming the structural cracks is “safe” and that they will need 2 years to repair the structures:

“While cracks were found on the crossheads during regular inspections, these were assessed to not be of any safety risk to commuters and did not compromise the load-bearing capacity of the crossheads. Rectification of the cracks will be carried out as a precautionary measure and these works will be completed by 2020.”

There is no explanation how the cracks were formed, but it is likely due to overpopulation on the trains causing overloaded stress on the beam structure.

In the same announcement yesterday, LTA also told Singapore commuters to expect more train delays island-wide in the next two months, Jan and Feb 2018. The delays will affect both train duopoly companies, SMRT and SBS Transit.

In the northeastern region, only one platform at Sengkang-Punggol LRT railway will be functional from 5.30am to 7am for six Sundays between Jan 1 and Feb 11. LTA said that SBS Transit will increase the train frequency on the single platform to cope with increase in passenger load.


continue reading here : http://statestimesreview.com/2017/12...tions-is-safe/


So how can we trust the LTA ; Mr Khaw & the PAP ???

[skyleon]

LTA: Rail reliability improved 49%!


December 16, 2017


In their latest report on rail reliability, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) claimed that their measurement has shown a whopping 49% improvement. According to LTA, their statistic shown that the LRT network saw an increase to 70,000 car-km for the first three quarters of 2017 compared to 2016’s 49,000 car-km:

“Increase in LRT reliability
9. The Mean Kilometres Between Failure (MKBF) for the overall LRT network has increased to 70,000 car-km for the first three quarters of 2017, up from 49,000 car-km for the whole of 2016. Both the BPLRT and SPLRT clocked increases in MKBF, with the SPLRT achieving a larger increase of 34,000 car-km, from 72,000 car-km to 106,000 car-km. LTA will continue to work closely with the operators to further improve the LRT system and raise its reliability.”


You may view LTA’s press release here.

LTA did not reveal how did they come out with their measurements, but the MKBF calculation excludes emphasis on the number of downtime in hours. Only a minority do not trust the Singapore government’s statistics and claims that rail reliability has improved.



continue reading here : http://statestimesreview.com/2017/12...y-improved-49/

[sionglim]

West time shutdown, after taking shuttle 2, to jurong easr,
Need to walk 7min to find shuttle 1.
Stupid system.

[sionglim]

In japan their trains also got cracks woh....
Not detected by sensors nor technological device.
The crew on board smell burning ,n unusual noise.
They said could hv caused a derail if continue running.

[MosEsiley]

Lately heavy thundershowers and lightning . Did mrt tunnel get flooded ?

[GongJiaoWei]

Originally Posted by MosEsiley

Lately heavy thundershowers and lightning . Did mrt tunnel get flooded ?

No such thing as flooded, only ponded

[skyleon]

'Software logic issue' caused Joo Koon train collision, says LTA following investigations


18 Dec 2017 05:20PM (Updated: 18 Dec 2017 06:12PM)

SINGAPORE: A "software logic issue" with the new signalling system and a "confluence of failure conditions" caused the train collision at Joo Koon MRT station on Nov 15, 2017, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Monday (Dec 18), as it completed investigations into the incident.

In a media release, LTA said its findings are consistent with initial findings presented at a media briefing last month.

LTA added that it has corroborated its findings with the final investigation report submitted by signalling system supplier Thales.

Echoing what was said at the Nov 21 media briefing, LTA said the collision arose from an "abnormal condition" on a train-borne CBTC signalling equipment.

"When this occurs, the CBTC system will, by design, apply a Non-Communicating Obstruction (NCO) protective 'bubble' around the affected train to ensure its safety. This was the requisite start state for the incident," LTA said. However, the train crossed "the only track point" that has not yet been fully modified for compatibility with the CBTC system.

The protective "bubble" was then "unexpectedly disabled" by the CBTC system, "as the software logic cannot correctly process a track point that has yet to be fully modified for compatibility with the CBTC system when running in passive mode".

"This is not an issue when the CBTC is running in active mode on the North-South Line and the Tuas West Extension (TWE) as they are fully on the CBTC system," LTA said.

LTA also said the failure conditions arose as a result of complications from operating two signalling systems concurrently on a single line.

"As a precautionary measure, operations on the Tuas West Extension (from Joo Koon to Tuas Link MRT stations) have been separated from the rest of the East-West Line (EWL, which operates on the legacy signalling system) since Nov 20," LTA said, adding that Thales has completed circuit modification works for the previously incompatible track point.

Thales is also modifying the software logic of the CBTC system to prevent future inadvertent disabling of the protective "bubble", LTA said.

THALES TO SET UP SIMULATION FACILITY IN SINGAPORE

LTA added that Thales will be setting up a CBTC simulation facility in Singapore to "strengthen testing processes" for the new signalling system in the North-South as well as East-West Lines.

The first phase of the facility will be completed by the first half of 2018 to enable off-site testing of the East-West Lines' CBTC signalling system before it is fully rolled out.

"When completed, this facility will be the first of its kind outside Paris/Toronto where Thales is based," LTA said, adding that the second phase will be complete by end-2018.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...ys-lta-9507472



Getting more worried whether the software and hardware is safe or not ?

[skyleon]

East-West Line's new signalling system to undergo extra tests to enhance safety


PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO

Adrian Lim Transport Correspondent


SINGAPORE - To strengthen testing processes, the East-West Line's new signalling system will be put through its paces in a simulation facility before it is rolled out for passenger service.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said this on Monday (Dec 18), as it made public its investigation findings into last month's train collision, which, it added, was consistent with findings given earlier.

On Nov 15, compatibility issues with the old and new signalling systems on the East-West Line resulted in two trains colliding at Joo Koon MRT station, leaving 38 people injured.

The LTA said on Monday that the French firm supplying the new communications-based train control (CBTC) system, Thales, will set up a CBTC simulation facility in Singapore.

"This new facility will allow us to perform additional simulation tests which are tailored to the environmental and infrastructural conditions of the rail network in Singapore," said the LTA.

"The facility will also enhance our ability to test solutions for CBTC issues in a controlled setting without affecting train services," the authority added.


continue reading here : http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...enhance-safety

[sionglim]

smrt chief need to take shuttle n see how to improve

[sionglim]

Shuttle bus driver。。。
No prompt station name when reach, every commuters ask one question, siao liao
Very busy telling and driving

[skyleon]

'Software logic issue' behind Joo Koon collision: LTA's detailed report


Published18 December, 2017

Updated 18 December, 2017


The Land Transport Authority said it has completed its detailed investigations into the Joo Koon collision, and released an executive summary of its findings on Monday (Dec 18). This is the executive summary, in full.

On 15 November 2017, Train 3535/3536 was launched into service at about 5.38am from Ulu Pandan Depot (UPD) heading east on the East-West Line (EWL) towards Pasir Ris MRT station. It was operating on the legacy signalling system with the new Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system operating in the background in passive mode.

When launched for passenger service, Train 3535/3536’s train-borne CBTC signalling equipment developed an abnormal condition which prevented it from communicating with the trackside CBTC signalling system.

The safe operation of Train 3535/3536 was unaffected at this time as it was being controlled by the legacy signalling system. Nonetheless, in response to the abnormal condition, the CBTC system automatically applied a Non-Communicating Obstruction (NCO) protective “bubble” around the train to ensure its safety.

However, the NCO protective “bubble” was inadvertently disabled when Train 3535/3536 passed over an existing trackside device (a track point labelled W210B located west of Clementi station) which had yet to be modified for compatibility with the CBTC system.

From that moment onwards, each track circuit block that Train 3535/3536 entered automatically imposed a Temporary Speed Restriction (TSR) of 18 kilometres per hour (km/h).This is illustrated in Figure 1 below.

However, this did not affect the operation of Train 3535/3536 as it continued to travel eastbound towards Pasir Ris MRT station under the full control and protection of the legacy signalling system. After reaching Pasir Ris MRT station, Train 3535/3536 turned back westbound to Pioneer MRT station.



continue reading here : http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...etailed-report

[skyleon]

LTA 'reserves the right' to take action against parties involved in Nov 15 MRT collision


PUBLISHED 9 HOURS AGO

Adrian Lim Transport Correspondent



SINGAPORE - Action could still be taken against the parties who were involved in a collision of two MRT trains on Nov 15, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said yesterday, in response to queries from The Straits Times.

The LTA said it "reserves the right" to take appropriate action, without stating what that might be.

The French company building the new signalling system for the line has taken full responsibility for the collision, which left 38 people injured and caused train delays affecting nearly 13,000 commuters.

It was caused by compatibility issues between the existing signalling system and the new communications-based train control (CBTC) system which Thales is installing for the East-West Line.

An LTA spokesman said: "Thales has acknowledged its responsibility for this incident, and has apologised to the public. It has also committed to establishing a CBTC simulation facility in Singapore, including stationing engineers to support the set-up phase."

The facility, whose location was not stated by the LTA, will support additional testing of Thales' signalling system.

In its investigation report released yesterday, the LTA said several remedial actions had been taken following the collision.


continue reading here : http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...-in-nov-15-mrt


So can commuters take legal action against SMRT & LTA ?