In the news release “Trains on the north-south and east-west
line safe for service”, Land Transport Authority (LTA) (2016) approaches some
of the problems regarding trains that have been the topic of current media and
online dialogue. The website states that the three main problems are hairline
cracks, cover of the battery housing and improper installation of the draughtscreen.
LTA comments that although hairline cracks are found on the surface of
“car-body bolster”, it is still reliable for service. It also discovers battery
and draughtscreen problems which are resolve by the manufacturer promptly. LTA
assures that periodic inspections will be conducted to ensure commuters’
safety. LTA also states that rectifications of 5 out of 26 trains have been
completed and the process will quicken due to arrival of new trains. Despite
the problems that LTA have encounter, I believe that the manufacturer has resolved
the problems before any commencement of train service so that commuters can
travel safely. However, some part of the article is not fully revealed. I believe that profit of this project is on
top of everything, LTA should pay more attention on the list of contractors
tendering for this project before awarding contracts to the winning bidder.
Mass Rapid Transport is one of the main transport system in
Singapore, thus it is important to make sure that trains are efficient and safe
for commuters. Due to the increasing population in Singapore, new trains were
bought.
(LTA.2016) mentions that during inspection, hairline cracks
on the surface of car-body bolster are found due to localised impurity during
manufacturing process. (A.Lim. 2016) states that the problem occurs is because
of the manufacturing process by Longkou Chonglin. It basically just points out
that the problem lies with the manufacturer rather than LTA’s decision making
on who to award for this tender. Even though the manufacturer has reacted to
the situation promptly, the problems cause will need significant amount of time
to rectify, slowing down improvement of the train system.
The hairline cracks are not the only issue. From past
records, (Ho.Yn. 2013) states that during 15 and 17 of September 2011, 4 trains
were stopped operating half way due to power failure. This causes disruption
along the North-South line affecting thousands of commuters.
After news of the train defects were published, LTA still
insist on awarding the contract to Kawasaki Heavy industries and CSR Sifang. In
total (LTA. 2014) states that the Kawasaki-Sifang consortium won a $749 million
tender in 2014 to supply 91 four-car trains for the upcoming Thomson-East Coast
line.
In conclusion, although the news release strives to show that
problems are promptly resolved, I believe that LTA should take all factors into
consideration to ensure that commuters have a safe and efficient railway
system.
LTA. (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
A.Lim. (2016). New MRT trains from China firm to have key part made in Japan. Straits Time News. Retrieved, September 25, 2016, from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/new-mrt-trains-from-china-firm-to-have-key-part-made-in-japan
Ho.YN.
(2013). MRT breakdown expose crisis response gaps. Channel News Asia. Retrieved,
September 27, 2016, from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/specialreports/parliament/news/mrt-breakdowns-expose-crisis-response-gaps-minister/179382.html
LTA. (2014). Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd/Csr Qingdao Sifang Co. Ltd/Kawasaki
Heavy Industries (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. Consortium Awarded Prestigious Contract
Worth $749 Million. Retrieved, September 27, 2016, from https://www.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=f0b205a6-69ab-49b0-b94d-65384ee5e5c0
