SINGAPORE: Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow acknowledged mounting public frustration after a series of train disruptions this month, but cautioned that “zero disruptions” is an unrealistic expectation.
“Train delays happen in every system, in every city. Our phones, our computers have to be restarted every now and then. Cars will break down too. So will our trains,” he said.
In just five days, four separate disruptions struck major lines.
These included incidents on SMRT-operated North-South, East-West and Thomson-East Coast lines, as well as the SBS Transit-operated Punggol LRT.
Authorities pledge to minimise incidents
Speaking in Parliament on 22 September 2025, Siow stressed that the government’s goal remains to “absolutely minimise” disruptions, given the inconvenience to commuters.
“What is equally important is when a disruption inevitably happens, we can support commuters, and guide them to continuing their journeys safely, with their understanding and cooperation,” he said.
SMRT had earlier assured the public that the incidents were isolated and not systemic.
Decline in rail reliability
Figures released by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on 5 September showed that overall MRT reliability from July 2024 to June 2025 had fallen to its lowest level in five years.
Siow said every single rail incident is taken seriously.
“I am personally alerted whenever there is a train incident, even when it is late into the night or during engineering hours,” he told Parliament.
He also directed LTA to share more disruption data publicly, adding: “We will be transparent, because we have a good system, and we have nothing to hide.”
International comparisons
Pasir Ris–Changi MP Sharael Taha asked how Singapore’s rail reliability compares internationally.
Siow responded that Singapore’s mean kilometres between failure (MKBF) stood at 1.7 million train-km in the 12 months to August 2025.
This was above the 1 million benchmark set in 2017, though below the 2022–2023 peak of over 2 million.
The figure is higher than Hong Kong’s MTR but lower than Taipei’s metro. For service delays exceeding 30 minutes, Singapore performs similarly to Tokyo and other Japanese networks.
“I have asked LTA to publish these comparisons regularly, because Singaporeans often compare our MRT to these systems,” Siow said.
Limits of reliability targets
Sharael also asked if the government would consider raising the MKBF target above 1 million, or introducing yearly improvement goals.
Siow replied that beyond 1 million train-km, small variations make little sense when incidents are rare. For instance, the Downtown Line’s MKBF was 8 million in 2023 and 2024, but one added delay halved it to 4 million.
He explained that MKBF does not measure the severity of incidents.
“A complete service stoppage is treated the same as more frequent minor incidents, even when trains are moving and passengers are able to carry on with their journeys,” he noted.
Instead, LTA considers consumer impact and imposes penalties on operators for serious disruptions.
Questions on penalties and deterrence
Sengkang MP Louis Chua from the Workers’ Party raised concerns about operator penalties.
He asked whether operators had ever failed to notify commuters of delays exceeding ten minutes, and whether penalties were imposed.
Siow confirmed LTA had levied an average of four penalties per year over the past five years for such failures.
Chua further referenced the East-West Line breakdown in 2024, when the fine was reduced from S$3 million to about S$2 million following appeal.
He questioned whether such reductions weakened deterrence, noting that under the Rapid Transit Systems Act penalties can reach the higher of S$1 million or 10% of fare revenues.
Siow explained that fines are based on culpability. Not all disruptions are the operator’s fault, such as those caused by passenger actions or external factors.
He said the S$3 million fine was already well above the statutory benchmark.
After appeal, the amount was lowered after considering decisions beyond the operator’s remit. “The final penalty was still significant and fair, and retained deterrent value,” he said.
Rail reliability funding and responsibilities
Chua also asked about LTA’s announcement of an additional S$1 billion investment to raise reliability and maintenance standards after 15 incidents.
Siow clarified that asset upgrades fall under joint responsibility. LTA owns and renews infrastructure, while operators handle daily operations and prioritisation.
The new funding would not reduce penalties for operator lapses, he stressed. “Penalties remain in place for serious operator failures,” he said.
Earlier this month, Siow unveiled a Rail Reliability Taskforce to examine whether systemic issues underpin disruptions.
The taskforce will assess whether critical renewals—such as power supply and signalling—should be brought forward. It will also conduct joint audits on the maintenance and operations of essential systems.
In addition, the taskforce will review service recovery processes to ensure smoother commuter journeys when breakdowns occur.
Improving commuter communications
Siow said train operators currently meet the basic requirement of informing passengers of service delays longer than ten minutes. However, more could be done to help commuters navigate disruptions.
For example, information should be more precise, including recommended alternative travel routes and estimated additional travel time. Directional signs can also be improved, he added.
He suggested creating a centralised platform or single app to consolidate disruption updates, so commuters know exactly where to find timely information.
Balancing public concerns and network growth
Marine Parade–Braddell Heights MP Tin Pei Ling asked how authorities could assure commuters of reliability given recent incidents.
Siow responded that the number of disruptions so far in 2025 was similar to the same period in 2024, but their impact was greater.
“My hypothesis, which I think is probably likely, is that the impact of the individual disruptions were far greater than the ones that happened last year,” he said.
He also pointed out that Singapore’s rail network is set to double in size over the next decade.
“If the number of train disruptions is not doubled, our rail reliability would have improved,” he explained.
“That is not to say we will not put in effort to minimise the number of train disruptions. We will, and we will put in our effort … But this is mathematics, this is reality,” he added.
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