On 25 September, SMRT, Singapore’s train operator, experienced another major disruption, this time affecting the East-West Line (EWL). Regular train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista MRT stations will be unavailable on 26 September.
According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), The disruption was triggered by a power fault around 9:30 a.m., which forced the suspension of regular train operations between Boon Lay and Queenstown MRT stations for the remainder of the day.
The issue originated from a first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries train near Clementi station. This train encountered a mechanical fault in its axle box, leading to wheel derailment and damage to critical infrastructure, including the third rail and point machines.
While withdrawing the faulty train to the Ulu Pandan depot, a power trip occurred at 9:25 a.m., causing another train to stall between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations.
This marks SMRT’s third service disruption in a month, following a power fault on 17 September that affected Circle Line services and a subsequent fire at Kim Chuan Depot on 18 September, which caused brief disruptions to the same line.
In response to the latest disruption, Singaporeans took to social media to scrutinise SMRT’s repeated faults.
Many commuters described the service recovery as the “worst ever,” criticizing the lack of staff support to guide passengers to bridging buses or provide clear directions during the breakdown.
Criticism was also directed at SMRT’s leadership, particularly the CEO, for failing to take visible responsibility during these incidents, raising questions about the accountability and effectiveness of the company’s management—especially with fare increases on the horizon.
SMRT Chairman Seah Moon Ming in a 2023 interview: “We don’t want overmaintenance”
Discussion on Reddit recalled remarks made by SMRT Corporation Chairman Mr Seah Moon Ming in a June 2023 interview with The Straits Times.
He stated, “We never want to undermaintain because in the past, it was an issue. But neither do we want to do overmaintenance.”
At that time, the 67-year-old emphasised the need for high performance while also considering costs.
The ST even boasted about the reliability of SMRT’s train services has improved significantly since his appointment.
While acknowledging that SMRT can always improve, Mr Seah cautioned against excessive efforts to achieve ever-higher reliability scores, citing the risk of overspending public funds received through government grants.
Mr Seah mentioned that SMRT is leveraging technology such as data analytics to optimize its maintenance regimen and better predict when components need replacement. He noted that SMRT’s rail lines have consistently achieved a mean kilometres travelled between failures (MKBF) of over one million train-kilometers—a recognized international measure of rail reliability.
Separately, SMRT Group Chief Executive Mr Ngien Hoon Ping, who was appointed in August 2022, stated that the one million MKBF benchmark is sufficient from a regulatory standpoint. The former LTA chief noted that raising this bar yields diminishing returns and could be prohibitively expensive.
“If 99.9 per cent of the time the train is going to work, commuters will take the train. Once you reach one million MKBF, it is about there already, ” Mr Ngien said.
Reddit discussions highlight the stark contrast between SMRT Chairman and GCEO’s 2023 remarks and the recent disruptions
Observing comments on a Reddit thread discussion, evidently many make stark contrast with the SMRT Chairman and GCEO’s June 2023 remark with the latest disruption.
One Redditor criticized Mr. Seah’s statement that the company aims to avoid “overmaintenance,” describing it as a red flag and suggesting that he should have undergone communication training.
The comment emphasised that such thoughts should remain internal rather than being publicly aired.
Others contributed by speculating that a significant portion of SMRT’s maintenance budget has already been spent without yielding improved reliability, as evidenced by the recent breakdowns.
He proposed that fundamental changes to MRT infrastructure—such as extending station lengths and increasing train capacity—are necessary to effectively address the breakdown issues. They argued that these changes would reduce operational stress and enhance the overall lifespan of the trains.
A user expressed frustration regarding SMRT’s management and reliability issues compared to SBS Transit. The Redditor criticised SMRT as an organization, suggesting that it has failed to manage public resources effectively, pointing to the low reliability of the Circle Line as a key example.
” I think once and for all transfer all SMRT assets to SBS transit and wind down the company for good. The public had enough for this kind of issues once too many.”
Another user chimed in by referencing a previous remark from the ex-SMRT CEO about “deep-seated cultural issues” within the train operator.
The Redditor was referencing a remark made by then-SMRT GCEO Desmond Kuek in 2017, in which he acknowledged that the issues within the company had contributed to the major disruptions experienced since 2011.
While Redditor pointing out that the article is more than a year old and not a recent press release, other suggesting that that maintenance problems do not arise suddenly, indicating that there is often a delay between when corners are cut in maintenance and when issues manifest as significant problems.
“Costs Rise and Reliability Declines”
A comment expressed concern about the current imbalance in the public transport system, noting that while costs are increasing, the reliability of services is declining.
The comment warned that with Singapore’s continually expanding population, this situation could lead to more frequent breakdowns and subsequent fare hikes.
Another user questioned the maintenance and longevity of MRT trains by comparing them to cars, which are typically scrapped after 10 years to prevent issues that could disrupt traffic.
The user inquired about the expected lifespan of MRT trains, highlighting concerns about whether the trains are being adequately maintained and if they are reaching a point where they may become unreliable.
Just two weeks ago, the Public Transport Council (PTC) announced that bus and train fares will increase by 10 cents per journey for adult commuters starting on 28 December 2024.
One user proposed a suggestion that for every service interruption, a percentage should be deducted from the CEO’s salary to hold SMRT leaders accountable for the company’s performance.
However, another user dismissed this notion, arguing that rather than leading to accountability, such interruptions might instead prompt authorities to justify fare hikes as a means to cover increased maintenance costs.
