2 young lives lost

[skyleon]

Apology a ‘turning point’ for SMRT, workers’ morale a concern, experts say


By Kenneth Cheng

AND

Louisa Tang

Published: 7:10 AM, October 17, 2017

Updated: 8:18 AM, October 17, 2017



SINGAPORE — Transport analysts have expressed hopes that the apologies by leaders of SMRT and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan for the recent services disruption on the North-South Line will mark a “turning point” in the company’s train operations.

They also highlighted that the morale of SMRT employees would be a major issue that the rail operator has to handle.

At a media briefing on Monday (Oct 16), the SMRT and Land Transport Authority (LTA) released their findings on why and how MRT tunnels along a part of the line were flooded after a downpour on Oct 7, causing a shutdown of train services at six stations that affected about 250,000 commuters.

Mr Khaw blamed the SMRT team in charge of maintaining the anti-flooding system for the incident, but urged fairness for rail workers who have been “working their guts out” to raise MRT reliability. SMRT’s top management said that the bonuses of the team at fault would be affected.

Experts interviewed by TODAY had mixed views about imposing penalties on the company under the licensing framework, with some pointing to systemic issues that have not been ironed out by SMRT president and group chief executive officer Desmond Kuek in the few years that he has been at the helm.

Mr Khaw said at the press briefing that his preference was not to return to a system of penalties and fines because it created a “very adversarial” relationship between the regulator and operator, but added that the decision rested with the LTA.

Under the Rapid Transit Systems Act, operators can be fined up to S$1 million or one-tenth of their yearly fare revenue for the affected line, whichever is higher.

Dr Walter Theseira, a transport economist from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), said that the main problem with the framework is that when an operator is penalised, money meant for train operations is taken away.

Although the framework allows for the operator’s licence to be suspended or revoked, he noted that it is not easy to find a new operator with similar expertise to run a rail line.

“It’s a complex problem, and part of what Minister Khaw is alluding to, is that he ultimately wants to look at whether these penalties are productive, in the sense that (the public) gets what they want — better behaviour or more attention to maintenance,” Dr Theseira said.


continue reading here : http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...rn-experts-say


Talk so much for what ? Can you at least please provide alternation solutions what they can do to improve the situation on the ground ? The answer is so obvious . The people in charge do not know how to solve the many disruptions period . They got to be sacked . The workers are not to be totally blamed .

[tikoface]

SMRT really provide such good service. The best in the world.

[skyleon]

Here’s how SMRT’s failsafe measures failed during the North-South line flood

Looks like Engineering 101 is harder than it seems.

By Sulaiman Daud | 38 mins



According to Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan, the flooding of the North-South Line on Oct. 7 was “preventable” and “not excusable” because the engineering behind it was simple enough for a basic 101 class.


“The flooding problem is not excusable because it’s so simple. We learn it as engineering students, Engineering 101. I know how to design a pit. How to calculate capacity. Those are simple stuff, the students can do. You should not have failed there.”

Unfortunately, it appeared that SMRT would get a failing mark in that class, despite the numerous failsafe measures that were in place. Here’s a breakdown of what went wrong.

What went wrong

Bishan MRT station, like all stations, is equipped with a small Tunnel Sump Pit that is meant to drain away water from condensation and cleaning works.


But unlike other stations, it is also equipped with a tank that can contain over 5,000m³ of water. The tank is linked to three pumps, each capable of draining water out of the tank at a rate of 85 litres (0.085m³) per second.

To prevent the pumps from running when the tank is empty and wearing them out, a stop switch is located at the bottom of the tank. The pumps can only activate when the stop switch is submerged in water.

1. Stop switch failed

First of all, the pumps were checked and found to be working fine. But due to the build-up of sludge and silt at the bottom of the pit, the stop switch was not working. This meant that the pumps did not activate even when water entered the pit.


Photo from LTA.

2. Each float switch failed

Above the stop switch, three float switches are placed at ascending heights as you go up the tank. The pumps are supposed to activate when each float switch is submerged in water.

But for some reason or another, the float switches did not activate the pumps even when the switches were submerged. And so the water level in the tank rose steadily.


Screenshot from SMRT.

3. The high level water alert switch failed

Near the top of the tank lies the high level water alert switch. It is designed to run separately and independently from the rest of the tank’s systems. This is so that even if all the other switches failed, the alert switch would serve as a final stopgap.

If the water level somehow got high enough to reach the alert switch, a signal would be sent to SMRT’s Operations Control Centre, so that staff would be alerted of the impending flood.

However, the high level water alert switch with its independent system also failed, for unknown reasons.


continue reading here : https://mothership.sg/2017/10/heres-...th-line-flood/


Well written article . Looks like somebody did not do their job well .

[skyleon]

Paging for sadfa . Where are you ?

[skyleon]

SMRT Corp is a weird entity

SMRT is accountable to the public but it doesn't have to act like it is.

By Belmont Lay | 18 mins



Very few people are going to say this publicly, so here goes: SMRT Corp is a weird entity.

But because it is a company derived from the Singapore way of doing things, it might appear normal.

However, it is not.

Here’s why.


One year after delisting

SMRT was delisted from the Singapore stock exchange on Oct. 31, 2016. That was almost one year ago.

It was listed for 16 years.

Once delisted, SMRT was freed from the short-term pressures of meeting shareholders’ expectations.

The delisting was also to enable SMRT to focus on serving the public, without the distractions of being a listed company.

So, the next question to ask is: Did delisting nationalise SMRT or privatise it?

The answer is: Depending on how you see it.

Privatised or nationalised?

The main shareholder of SMRT now is state investment firm Temasek Holdings, which bought out the corporation.

SMRT also sold its operating assets to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to become an asset-light company in the so-called New Rail Financing Framework.

LTA is, therefore, the manager of all of Singapore’s rail projects.

This means that SMRT as the transport operator cannot answer questions about infrastructure because it is not involved in the construction stage.

It is, however, responsible for maintaining the operating assets and is audited by the regulator, which is LTA.

Part of the state?

Still with me? Good.

With delisting, the lines are much clearer. Sort of.

Whatever future profits SMRT makes will go to Temasek.

Since Temasek is a state vehicle, in effect, profits are returned to the people of Singapore.

Temasek pays dividends to the Finance Ministry, and the money is used to fund public projects.

Everybody in Singapore became a de facto shareholder of SMRT as a result.

Moreover, under the new rail financing framework and government bus contracting system, taxpayers who are wealthier subsidise services used by the masses.

Previously, SMRT had been paying half of its net earnings as dividends to shareholders. This has led to accusations that it had been enriching its shareholders at the expense of commuters.

But, moving forward, SMRT’s margins are going to be smaller.

With delisting, its margin, a.k.a. earnings before interest and taxes, is capped at 5 percent in the new framework — lower than its historical margins.


continue reading here : https://mothership.sg/2017/10/smrt-n...ed-privatised/

[skyleon]

Netizens savagely rip apart Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan and SMRT CEO’s apologies

October 17, 2017

In the country’s first train disruption due to flooding, six stations were shut down – affecting a quarter of a million commuters.

The Minister, Quek and Seah apologised to the public in a press conference yesterday evening.

Khaw blamed the flooding on poor maintenance, explaining that the “anti-flooding system there was poorly maintained” and caused rainwater to accumulate.

The Minister, however, asserted that the flood system is sound:


“The Bishan flooding system was designed for one in a hundred years. So our study, which is still ongoing, is ‘Are you sure that is adequate?’ But for the incident that happened on October 7, it is much more than adequate, nothing to do with these extremes of weathers – it is just poor maintenance.”

Khaw also revealed that LTA and SMRT were due to replace the pumps on the system on 29 Sept but delayed making the changes for more than a week, when the flooding hit on 7 Oct.

“So we are late by a few days. Had they proceeded to replace (the pumps) this thing might not even have happened. But I suppose that is life.”

Adding that the “sad and unnecessary” incident has “pushed back the recovery of public confidence” in the MRT system, he apologised:

“We are all sorry it did… Whatever follow-up action which needs to be done, has already started. Nothing has been covered up.”

Desmond Quek, on the other hand, appeared to blame “deep-seated cultural issues” within SMRT for the service disruptions and noted:

“There has been criticism about SMRT’s work culture. Indeed, many of our major disruptions in the past have been attributed, in some part or all, to human error or failure. We regret that this is so.

“Much progress has been made with the inculcation of a positive work culture in the workforce. But there remain some deep-seated cultural issues within the company that has needed more time than anticipated to root out.”

The CEO who has helmed SMRT for the past five years, and took a $500,000 pay cut last year as SMRT service disruptions grew, added:

“We are determined to get there and encouraged by the progress already made. But for the times that we have not been able to catch the falling balls in time, we are sorry for the inconvenience it has caused you and resolve to learn the lessons and do better. Over the past five years, we have made tremendous progress but also some mistakes.

“Regardless whether our issues are viewed by others as inherited, structural or cultural – we make no excuses. I take full responsibility for all that has happened under my watch as the overall Group Chief Executive.”

Seah Moon Ming bowed and apologised to commuters as well:

“SMRT has failed to prevent this incident from happening. SMRT takes full responsibility for this incident.”

Netizens, however, remain unfazed.


continue reading here : http://www.theindependent.sg/netizen...eos-apologies/

[skyleon]

LTA-SMRT press con: 7 quotes from Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan too epic not to share

We saved the best one for last.

By Jeanette Tan | 10 hours


We all know that Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan is a very colourful and quotable minister.

One of his best-known would undoubtedly be this, in the context of a parliamentary debate on the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council:


“In Japan, the CEO and board of directors will call a press conference and take a deep bow, and in the good old days, they may even commit hara-kiri.”

So we always look forward to hearing from him. And with the latest press conference he appeared at together with SMRT’s leadership on Monday afternoon, he certainly didn’t disappoint, pulling no punches and pretty much whacking SMRT quite decisively with respect to the MRT tunnel flooding incident.

Khaw, indeed, says things the way he sees them without mincing his words, in whichever ministerial portfolio he has taken, and in this arguably toughest one of all, it certainly looks like he’s largely speaking his mind, no-holds-barred.

Naturally, therefore, from his speech as well as the Q&A that followed, we gained a host of new gems, which we we thought would be worth sharing with you:

On how tremendously unforgivable the tunnel flooding incident was

The context: Khaw was making the crystal-clear point that the tunnel flooding incident is a simple thing that was completely preventable and should not have flooded the way it did, especially when its capacity is so much bigger than the amount of rain that entered it on the afternoon of Oct. 7.

1. “Bottom line is: MRT tunnels should not be flooded, full stop. But on Oct. 7, 5.30pm, that stretch of North South Line between Bishan and Braddell did and MRT service had to be suspended.”

2. “The flooding problem is not excusable. Because it’s so simple. We learn it as engineering students. Engineering 101. I know how to design a pit how to calculate capacities, those are simple stuff. The students can do. You should not have failed there.”

3. “I think it is too embarrassing to even talk about it. It is so simple that it should not have happened. What’s the Chinese expression, 阴沟里翻船 — the Chinese saying I thought described this quite aptly: that you expect to meet… not that you expect, but if you capsize in an ocean, great turbulence, hurricane, you capsize, okay, people can understand. In a small little drain, calm and so on even then you go and capsize I think that is… meaning it’s totally unexpected, it should not have happened, it must not have happened. It may not have happened. And yet it happened. It is as embarrassing as that.”


continue reading here : https://mothership.sg/2017/10/lta-sm...-not-to-share/


So you still want to vote for PAP ? By the way Happy Deepavali to all our Indian brothers and sistas . Hope today no mrt breakdown.

[skyleon]

At least he is sincere but Mr Khaw and Kuek did not bow .

The 2 fellows behind him should be SACKED .

[tikoface]

Why SMRT still give such horrible service ???

[skyleon]

Citizens take issues with Transport Minister’s statement on maintenance lapses of SMRT

Published on 2017-10-18 by Neyla Zannia


In a Channel NewsAsia report dated 16 October (Monday), it is reported that Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan made his first public address on the major North-South Line (NSL) tunnel flooding incident two weekends ago and stated that the SMRT maintenance team in charge of the anti-flood system at Bishan station had "failed us".

On 7 October (Saturday), train services on the North-South line were affected by flooding in the tunnel from Bishan to Braddell MRT stations. SMRT had to cut off trackside power supply as a safety precaution, causing service on six stops across the NSL to be disabled for about 20 hours. More than a quarter of a million commuters were affected in the country’s first disruption due to flooding and making it one of SMRT’s worst breakdowns in recent history.

Mr Khaw stated that the incident was "sad and unnecessary", however, preventable and should not have happened. He said, "We are all sorry it did. Whatever follow-up action which needs to be done, has already started. Nothing has been covered up. The incident has pushed back the recovery of public confidence in us."

According to the Minister, Singapore’s MRT tunnels were designed to handle local weather and cope with "very extreme storms far more severe than the last few weeks".

"The bottom line is they should not have been flooded. But on 7 October, the stretch at Bishan and Braddell stations did. There are standard anti-flooding systems with huge stormwater sump pits. Our findings show that the anti-flooding system there was poorly maintained," he said.

"In simple terms, the stormwater pit can hold more than 5,000 cubic metres of rainfall. During that period over the catchment area, rainfall could not have exceeded 700 - let’s stretch it, 1,000 cubic metres," he said.

The Minister stated that if it were well-maintained, the reservoir should be empty before rain starts to flow.

"But it overflowed. The pit had not been maintained properly," he said.


continue reading here : https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...apses-of-smrt/


So do you still want to vote for him ? Still want to vote for PAP ?

[skyleon]

Will SMRT management be held accountable by the authorities?


Protected October 18th, 2017 | Author: Contributions

I have been very disturbed by the continuing saga, the flooding tunnel as the most recent, with SMRT. I’m even more disturbed with the deafening silence from all those responsible, no less the Minister himself. What I fear is that eventually the blame game will repeat itself and some minion/s will be the scapegoat. Here I’m referring to how the Director of Control Operations had to be the fall guy for the two fatalities on 22 March 2016.

What I’m writing is hopefully my preemptive take to avert another poor minion casualty in SMRT. I declare that I have never worked nor have friends or relatives working in SMRT. Nor am I associated in any way with SMRT. What I’m writing is purely objective. But I must admit that my letter is somewhat “politically sensitive” as I cannot contain my disappointment any longer. Believe me, I tried to tone down as much as I could. I pray and hope that you will find in your heart a tad empathy for me and those affected to see it to print.

When Teo Wee Kiat as Director of Control Operations of SMRT, was fined $55,000 for the accident on 22 March 2016, I scratched my head. Was he solely responsible, just because he was/is in charge of operations? Shouldn’t the ascending pecking order be similarly held responsible? Ultimately the CEO, and others should be held accountable too. If the CEO had done his job well, no such negligence would have happened.

On the flip side if ever SMRT does well in any one area, who would be accorded the kudos? Possibly a section head would only be mentioned in passing, after the CEO has claimed all the honour. A leader should lead by examples and do the honourable. And I’m not even mentioning the examples in other countries what CEOs do in such circumstances. What’s worse in this case is that the Authorities seemed to agree with this unfair blame game, absolving the one who is most responsible – CEO, and many others. Does justice exist?

Now with the flooding tunnels, I guess the Director of Tunnel Control ( if there’s such a position, from a sudden & quick & convenient creation perhaps ) would be fined $55,000. Again the CEO, if ever he did his job well no such mishap would have come to pass – heaping the many occasions of continuing & unnecessary inconveniences to the many commuters who can ill afford to own & maintain a car. When will this scapegoating end? I urge the Authorities to do what is right and hold accountable all those responsible and show that justice can prevail in Singapore.


continue reading here : http://www.tremeritus.com/2017/10/18...e-authorities/


So who is responsible for the disruption of services at the end of the day ?

[skyleon]

Man arrested for leaving bag unattended at two MRT stations while running errands


By Kelly Ng

Published: 5:35 PM, October 18, 2017

Updated: 5:42 PM, October 18, 2017



SINGAPORE — A 37-year-old man has been arrested for leaving his bag unattended at an MRT station while he ran errands twice in a day, police said on Wednesday (Oct 18).

He is believed to have left a bag at an exit of Farrer Park MRT station at around 12.25pm on Monday. Before police officers arrived, the bag was removed.

Less than two hours later, the police were alerted to a similar incident at Outram Park MRT station, which is five stops away from Farrer Park on the North East Line.

While investigations were ongoing at the station, a 37-year-old man approached officers and said the bag belongs to him.

The bag was found to contain a laptop, mobile phones and computer-related paraphernalia.

Police said in a press release on Wednesday their preliminary investigations suggest the man had intentionally left his bag unattended inside the MRT stations while he attended to some errands.

The man is under investigation for an offence of causing public nuisance. Anyone convicted of the offence can be fined up to S$1,000.

“The police treat all security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against anyone who intentionally causes public alarm,” the police added in its press release.

There have been several similar cases of public nuisance at MRT stations in recent months.

In April, construction worker Wang Jianpo was arrested for leaving a bag unattended at Hougang MRT station while boarding a train to Chinatown to run an errand. Wang was fined S$1,000 in June for his act, which sparked security fears and a brief closure of the station. More than 600 people were evacuated while the contents of the bag were being established.


continue reading here : http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...unning-errands


I wonder why people never learn ???

[skyleon]

Originally Posted by tikoface

Why SMRT still give such horrible service ???

I also don't know why . You must ask Ah Khaw and Ah Kuek .

[ibanezjem555]

Sack the buggers.. without SBF leading me to mothership, i still making heads or tails about which simi LJ tank n tunnel.. fucking cover-up by ST..

Then, these m-fkers prefer to stake-out MPs.. aiya.. journalistic standard so low.. sph no wonder sack.. but upper management never ownself sack ownself !

[bunheng]

Originally Posted by tikoface

Why SMRT still give such horrible service ???

Why why tell me why ???