Assignment #2 (Trains for NSEW Lines Safe For Service - Summary + Thesis + Reader Response) - Third Draft

In the news release, “Trains on the North-South and East West Lines Safe for Service”, Land Transport Authority (LTA) (2016) addressed the problems that it faced in regards to the North-South and East-West lines trains. It has also included the actions taken to resolve the problems and how trains were subjected to tests to assure the public on their safeness and reliability. The webpage also mentioned the problems that were found on trains. These included “battery housing” flew open due to pressure. However, it was rectified immediately by the manufacturer. Other than that, cracks on five of the trains’ draughtscreens due to installation errors and hairline cracks on “car-body shell” were also found. Nonetheless, operation of train services was not affected as these trains were tested to be safe for use. As it was impossible to repair the hairline cracks, affected trains that were under warranty were returned back for replacement of components. With a view to complete the rectification programme, LTA expressed that they would sent back trains in pairs at a time for servicing. Nevertheless, this is dependent on the arrival of new trains along with the current ones which are still undergoing re-signalling so as to ensure there are sufficient trains for running. In order to ensure the safety and efficiency of the services, LTA has concluded that they would work closely with the contractors and SMRT. Based on the points elaborated, although LTA makes every effort to ensure the safety and efficiency of the trains, they could have followed a more standardized procedure in informing the public.

First of all, LTA should have reported this matter in a timelier manner to the public in regards to the hairline cracks. Based on LTA’s webpage, the news was released on Jul 2016. However, the train defects were found in 2013 but were not reported immediately. Spykerman (2016) stated that a spokesman from the Ministry of Transport quoted that the hairline cracks were not made public because it did not pose any safety risks to commuters. In my opinion, since the cracks did not pose any safety risks to commuters, there is no reason to why LTA hid this information from the public. It might have been worried about causing unnecessary commotion over such small matters. However, the public may think otherwise in such a way that LTA was trying to cover up their mistakes. Based on the article “Rise in major breakdowns but MRT gets more reliable: LTA” (2016), train breakdowns are increasing in Singapore. With this being said, commuters were already losing faith in the train transport system. With the actions of LTA not reporting the hairline cracks on time, commuters would definitely feel deceived, especially when the public got to know the news through a Hong Kong news agency and not from LTA itself. This is supported in the news release “Hairline cracks found on 11 Sengkang-Punggol LRT Trains.” (2016).

Secondly, a more detailed report should have been published to explain about the replacing of the train body. It was mentioned that the hairline cracks did not pose any safety problems. However, it does not fully justify why the trains are needed to be replaced. Based on the article ‘China manufacturer for MTR secretly recalls 35 SMRT subway train after cracks found.” (2016), a retired Singaporean subway staff stated: “I’ve never encountered a situation like this in all my decades of working in railway construction. Replacing the whole frame [of the train] - you can tell how serious [the problem] is.”, through this statement, it is clear that the situation had happened was considered grave. LTA should have published a more detailed report stating the reasons the trains were being sent back to China for replacements of car body. Otherwise, the commuters would feel the reporting is incomplete as LTA seems to be contradicting themselves. This is because they stated that the hairline cracks did not pose any safety problems yet it needs to be replaced.

Lastly, LTA should ensure in the future that the information regarding quality checks is conveyed clearly to the public. In the article “LTA says train defects “not safety-critical” but ex-HK CEO says QC of entire manufacturing process under suspicion.” The Independent (2016), stated that former Hong Kong’s Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation acting CEO agreed that the quality control standard for Singapore trains was mediocre thus resulting in cracks and battery problems. With this being said, if LTA did not convey a clear message to the public regarding the quality checks, the public may easily be influenced by other reporting sources. With LTA being clear and concise in reporting about quality checks, commuters will have an ease of mind knowing about the conditions.

Although LTA did execute various actions to correct the problems, it was insufficient and they should improve on their current standard and the way they convey the messages to the public.

References

China manufacturer for MTR secretly recalls 35 SMRT subway train after cracks found. (2016). FactWire. Retrieved, September 24, 2016 from https://www.factwire.news/en/MTR-securetly-recall.html

Hairline cracks found on 11 Sengkang-Punggol LRT Trains. (2016). Todayonline. Retreived, October 17, 2016 from http://www.todayonline.com/chinaindia/china/factwire-defends-reporting-takes-issue-khaws-comments-smrt-train-defects

LTA says train defects “not safety-critical” but ex-HK CEO says QC of entire manufacturing process under suspicion. (2016). TheIndependent. Retrieved, September 24, 2016 from http://theindependent.sg/lta-says-train-defects-not-safety-critical-but-ex-hk-ceo-says-qc-of-entire-manufacturing-process-under-suspicion/

Singapore Land Transport Authority. (2016). Trains on the North-South and East West Lines Safe for Service.  Retrieved, September 20, 2016, from https://www.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=0f8b1220-0289-4bef-99c9-b2455f17a66c#_ftn1

Spykerman, K. (2016). Lessons to be learnt from defective SMRT trains incident: Khaw. Channelnewsasia.
Retrieved from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/lessons-to-be-learnt-from/3048928.html

Tan, C. (2016) Rise in major breakdowns but MRT gets more reliable: LTA. The Straits Times. Retrieved, September 25, 2016 from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/rise-in-major-breakdowns-but-mrt-gets-more-reliable-lta