Transport — Topics

16 Aug 2016

Impact of Sending 26 MRT Trains Back to Manufacturer on Service Reliability

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan stated that out of 140 MRT trains for the North-South East-West Lines, 124 are deployed during peak hours, which is within the standard 10% buffer for repairs and standby; the recall of trains for bolster replacement does not affect system reliability.
The defects were due to impurities in aluminium bolsters from a supplier, and the manufacturer Kawasaki-Sifang has taken full responsibility, including replacing bolsters and car bodies, extending warranties, and ensuring future bolsters are made in Japan to prevent recurrence.
In response to concerns, the Ministry is monitoring new train batches (C151C and CT251) and LTA is ensuring stricter quality control, with the manufacturer's voluntary actions seen as exceeding typical accountability standards.

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16 Aug 2016

Problems with MRT Trains Delivered in 2013

The Minister confirmed that the consortium fully complied with warranty terms, covered all rectification costs, and resolved the issues before new tenders were called in 2014 and 2015.
The subsequent tenders were conducted openly and transparently, with Kawasaki-Sifang winning based on objective quality and price assessments.
The Minister assured that the new contracts included measures such as using bolsters from Japan to prevent recurrence of the hairline crack problem.

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16 Aug 2016

Independent Report on Hairline Cracks Found on 26 MRT Trains

The Transport Minister stated that TUV Rheinland's report found the MRT trains with hairline cracks are safe to operate, with the root cause being an inherent defect in certain batches of bolsters, and the Ministry will seek to publish the report if the consultant agrees.
Mr Png Eng Huat asked if the report recommended replacing the car-body or if that was the manufacturer's goodwill, to which the Minister replied that the report only addressed the bolster defect and safety, and the car-body replacement decision was made by the manufacturer.
The Minister explained that replacing the bolster would require cutting it from the car-body and re-welding, which the manufacturer deemed more troublesome and less efficient than producing a new car-body and bolster together.

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16 Aug 2016

Assessment of Safety Risks of Defects Found on 26 MRT Trains

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh questioned whether the "non-safety-critical" defects on the 26 MRT trains posed zero risk, why entire car-bodies were being replaced for cracks only on bolsters, and the focus of monthly safety assessments.
Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan confirmed the hairline cracks do not compromise safety, as the trains maintain a safety margin of three, and independent assessors have confirmed the trains are safe to operate.
The cause was traced to a specific batch of aluminium material used only for the bolsters, and the manufacturer decided to replace the entire car-body as the bolsters are welded to it, requiring shipment to China for repairs.
Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked about the difference between Japanese and Chinese-made bolsters and if there was a confidence issue with Chinese manufacturing.
The Minister responded that the manufacturer decided to use Japanese bolsters as a replacement, and this was their choice with no further implication, avoiding any diplomatic issue.

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16 Aug 2016

Board Members' Awareness of Defects on 26 MRT Trains

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap questioned if board members of SMRT, LTA, the Public Transport Council, and Temasek Holdings management were aware of defects in MRT trains supplied in 2013 and the subsequent recall.
The Minister for Transport confirmed the issues were discussed among the Ministry of Transport, LTA, and SMRT, with the Public Transport Council not involved.
The SMRT Board was aware of the faults, but communication between SMRT and its shareholders, including Temasek, was not disclosed.

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16 Aug 2016

Release of Information and Follow-on Actions after Defects were Found on 26 MRT Trains

LTA did not publicize the hairline cracks found on 26 MRT trains in July 2013 because they posed no safety risk, the manufacturer took full responsibility and covered all rectification costs, and a schedule was agreed to avoid affecting train service capacity.
The manufacturer, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, is responsible for the defects and is replacing the affected bolsters and car bodies in Japan, restarting the warranty period for these parts, while the rectification process is planned to extend beyond 2020 without impacting planned capacity expansion.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan acknowledged that more timely public information should have been provided, learning from past crises, and praised the manufacturer’s professional response in addressing the defects and other issues like a battery explosion and glass shattering during testing.

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15 Aug 2016

Conversion Criteria for Heavy Vehicle Parking Lots and Normal Parking Lots

The Minister explained that conversion of heavy vehicle parking lots to normal parking lots, or vice versa, is assessed based on the needs of each location, with an example of six heavy vehicle spaces converted in Changi Village in 2014 to address a shortage of regular car park spaces.
It was noted that there is adequate provision of heavy vehicle parking spaces in the Changi area, including available private spaces, with information on availability accessible via LTA's One-Motoring website.
The government's approach focuses on location-specific assessments rather than a fixed set of conversion criteria, ensuring parking supply matches demand.

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15 Aug 2016

Measures to Deal with Roadblock Evasions

Desmond Choo inquired about measures to protect police officers and road users during roadblock evasions and whether legislation needs reviewing.
K Shanmugam explained that police use reflective vests, advance signage, and coordinated vehicle deployment to ensure safety during roadblocks.
He noted that police pursuits prioritize public safety with sirens and blinkers, and may be terminated if dangerous.
The Police Force Act was amended to impose heavier penalties, including fines up to $5,000 and jail up to one year, to deter roadblock evasions.

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15 Aug 2016

Reason Train Car at Bukit Panjang LRT Failed to Stop at Three Stations on 28 July 2016

Liang Eng Hwa questioned the LTA about why a Bukit Panjang LRT train failed to stop at three stations on 28 July 2016 and whether the jerking actions reported by commuters pose safety issues.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that investigations are ongoing but preliminary findings indicate a faulty Train Stop Antenna system, which controls train starts and stops, caused the failure to detect stations from Jelapang to Bukit Panjang.
He emphasized that passenger safety was not compromised due to the functioning Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, which maintained safe speeds and distances, halting the train before Phoenix station as a precaution.
The LTA and SMRT are collaborating with Bombardier to explore adding redundancy to the Train Stop Antenna system, similar to the ATP system's built-in backup.

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15 Aug 2016

Service Standards for Responding to Calls Via Emergency Call Buttons on MRT Trains

Low Thia Khiang asked about service standards for responding to emergency call buttons on MRT trains, alternative actions for commuters to stop a moving train when station control is unreachable, and plans to enhance emergency procedures.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that commuters can use intercom units to contact train captains, station staff, or the Operations Control Centre, and in LRT trains, they can also call the OCC via mobile phones; emergency stop buttons and intercom units are available to halt trains safely.
Train operators must ensure these mechanisms work properly and that staff respond timely, with the Land Transport Authority and operators regularly reviewing safety facilities and procedures, including an ongoing investigation into a Bukit Panjang LRT incident.

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15 Aug 2016

Minimum Width of Footpaths for Safe Use by Pedestrians and Cyclists

Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Ministry for Transport to review minimum footpath widths to safely accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists and to clarify rules and enforcement for bicycles and personal mobility devices.
The Ministry noted that footpaths are typically 1.5 to 1.8 metres wide, with new ones at least 1.8 metres, and will widen existing paths where possible while expanding dedicated cycling paths in HDB towns.
The Government has accepted all recommendations from the Active Mobility Advisory Panel and will enact legislation by year-end, while increasing enforcement and education efforts in the meantime.

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15 Aug 2016

Effect of Islandwide Electric Car Sharing Programme on COE Quotas

Miss Cheng Li Hui inquired whether vehicles in the islandwide electric car sharing programme would impact the COE quota.
Khaw Boon Wan clarified that the scheme is a trial for fleet-based EV operations and that its COEs are not deducted from the national quota.

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15 Aug 2016

Making Bus Stops Friendly to Wheelchair Accessible Buses

In 2013, 169 bus stops were inaccessible to Wheelchair Accessible Buses, and as of the debate, 137 remain inaccessible, representing less than 3% of Singapore’s 4,700 bus stops.
The Land Transport Authority prioritizes conversions based on factors like site conditions and whether consecutive bus stops on the same road are inaccessible, with challenging cases sometimes requiring new footpaths or major infrastructure work.
The target is to upgrade all remaining inaccessible bus stops by 2020, with no specific deadline mentioned beyond this timeframe.

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15 Aug 2016

Reducing Light Pollution on Streets and Its Impact on Safety

Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Transport about LTA's plans to reduce street light pollution and how to balance lighting with safety, citing Singapore's top ranking in light pollution.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that street lighting follows international road safety standards, warning that reducing it would endanger motorists and pedestrians.
He noted that light pollution is naturally higher in densely populated cities, and Singapore’s unique status as a city-state explains its high ranking in the study.

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15 Aug 2016

Building of Additional MRT station between Chua Chu Kang and Bukit Gombak MRT Stations

Zaqy Mohamad inquired about the feasibility of building an additional MRT station between Chua Chu Kang and Bukit Gombak to serve upcoming BTO units and Tengah Town, and asked about technical and cost considerations.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that current ridership projections are insufficient to justify a new station, but the Ministry will continue monitoring the area for future reconsideration.
He added that new bus services have been introduced to meet current resident needs and that bus capacity will be increased as necessary.

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15 Aug 2016

Easing Congestion and Traffic Bottlenecks on KPE

K Thanaletchimi raised concerns about heavy morning congestion and bottlenecks at the KPE exit to Airport Road, asking for measures to ease traffic.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that traffic light timings will be adjusted at junctions along Airport Road to improve flow at the exit.
The government has also increased capacity on the MRT North-East Line and introduced more bus services in the northeast area.
Motorists are encouraged to switch to public transport to help reduce congestion.
These combined measures aim to address the traffic bottleneck and improve overall traffic conditions at KPE.

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15 Aug 2016

Pay-as-you-bid System for COEs

Zainal Sapari requested average COE prices from the last three bidding exercises and the rationale for not adopting a pay-as-you-bid system.
Khaw Boon Wan provided average winning COE prices for various vehicle categories and noted that the highest bids, after removing outliers, were higher but most successful bids clustered within 10% of the final strike price.
The Minister explained that a pay-as-you-bid system was reviewed in 2013 and economists advised it may not lower COE prices, could encourage strategic gaming, and give market insiders an advantage.
The current system is considered simpler and fairer, as it encourages bidders to submit a single bid reflecting their true willingness to pay.

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15 Aug 2016

Enhancing Last-mile Connectivity with Shelters to Link Commercial Buildings to MRT Stations and Bus Stops

Darryl David asked the Minister for Transport about additional measures to improve last-mile connectivity through shelters linking commercial buildings to bus stops and MRT stations.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that 66 kilometres of sheltered walkways currently connect public transport nodes to key amenities, with 140 more kilometres being added under the Walk2Ride programme.
Starting 1 July 2016, private developers must submit a Walking and Cycling Plan when seeking planning permission, ensuring sheltered connections to bus stops and MRT stations are incorporated in building designs or redevelopments.

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15 Aug 2016

Increasing Public Education and Penalties to Encourage Heavy Vehicle Drivers to Use Correct Lanes

Mr. Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Home Affairs about measures to educate heavy vehicle drivers on lane usage based on speed limits and proposed stiffer penalties, greater enforcement, speed limiter lights, and more rigorous training for such drivers.
Minister K Shanmugam responded that the Traffic Police uses education, engagement, and enforcement, including teaching lane usage in driving schools, requiring rigorous licensing for heavy vehicles, and conducting outreach campaigns with stakeholders.
The Traffic Police enforces speed limits with fixed and mobile cameras, and heavy vehicle drivers face stiffer penalties, including fines and demerit points, for speeding violations.
Heavy vehicles over certain weight limits must have speed limiters installed, require annual inspections, and face penalties for tampering, with TP and LTA reviewing further measures to curb violations.

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15 Aug 2016

Lowering Threshold for Permissible Noise from Vehicles at Expressways near Residential Areas

Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Transport whether the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is ready to install noise barriers along expressways like BKE and KJE near Bukit Panjang housing and if the permissible noise threshold for vehicles near residences can be lowered.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that LTA's trial for noise barriers on roads will finish by year-end and, if effective, installation will be prioritised based on noise levels and proximity to housing.
He added that LTA follows National Environment Agency's noise standards, which are aligned with international norms.

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