https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/co...stigations-disruption-services-east-west-line
Published Wed, Oct 2, 2024 · 07:27 PM
The disruption to East-West Line services over six days beginning from Sep 25 affected not only a large group of commuters, but also caused substantial damage to rail infrastructure which required extensive repairs. PHOTO: BT FILE
LTA will look at the root cause of the axle box failure by undertaking a forensic study into the nature of the failure, and identify any other potential contributory factors that led to the incident.
The fault detection and incident handling procedures will also be examined, to determine if appropriate actions were taken. This comprises reviewing existing procedures, and proposing measures to improve the detection of such faults, minimise service disruptions and prevent damage to rail infrastructure.
Lastly, it will review service recovery and disruption mitigation efforts, to assess the timeliness and comprehensiveness of the responses taken by the operator. These include the speed of deployment of the bridging bus services; effectiveness of announcements on the disruption; clarity of guidance to commuters on alternative travel options; and overall crowd management.
LTA said the investigations are expected to be completed in a few months, and its findings will be made public.
The disruption to East-West Line services over six days beginning from Sep 25 affected not a large group of commuters, but also caused substantial damage to rail infrastructure which required extensive repairs.
Services along the four-station stretch between Jurong East and Buona Vista were disrupted on Sep 25 when a faulty first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries train, which had been in service for more than 35 years, encountered a fault near Clementi station at about 9 am.
As it was being taken out from service to Ulu Pandan Depot, a defective component on the train’s undercarriage – known as an axle box – dropped onto the tracks near Dover station.
This caused the wheels of the undercarriage to run off the rail. The severe damage triggered a power trip that stalled other trains and crippled rail services.
Among the equipment that was damaged were three point machines that divert trains onto different tracks, stretches of the third rail that supplies power to trains, and power cables.
Extensive repairs and replacement work had to be done, followed by tests of the track and trackside equipment for passenger safety, before services could be restored.
Beyond the affected four-station stretch, commuters travelling between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, and between Jurong East and Boon Lay stations, experienced longer commute times for the past six days as shuttle trains there were operating at longer intervals of 10 minutes.
The disruption affected more than 2.1 million passengers from Sept 25 to 29. No figure for affected commuters was available for Sep 30.
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LTA begins investigations into the disruption of services on East-West Line
It says investigations are expected to be completed in a few months, with the findings made publicPublished Wed, Oct 2, 2024 · 07:27 PM
The disruption to East-West Line services over six days beginning from Sep 25 affected not only a large group of commuters, but also caused substantial damage to rail infrastructure which required extensive repairs. PHOTO: BT FILE
- Severe disruption of train services on the East-West Line between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations in late September, the agency said in a media statement on Wednesday (Oct 2).
LTA will look at the root cause of the axle box failure by undertaking a forensic study into the nature of the failure, and identify any other potential contributory factors that led to the incident.
The fault detection and incident handling procedures will also be examined, to determine if appropriate actions were taken. This comprises reviewing existing procedures, and proposing measures to improve the detection of such faults, minimise service disruptions and prevent damage to rail infrastructure.
Lastly, it will review service recovery and disruption mitigation efforts, to assess the timeliness and comprehensiveness of the responses taken by the operator. These include the speed of deployment of the bridging bus services; effectiveness of announcements on the disruption; clarity of guidance to commuters on alternative travel options; and overall crowd management.
LTA said the investigations are expected to be completed in a few months, and its findings will be made public.
The disruption to East-West Line services over six days beginning from Sep 25 affected not a large group of commuters, but also caused substantial damage to rail infrastructure which required extensive repairs.
Services along the four-station stretch between Jurong East and Buona Vista were disrupted on Sep 25 when a faulty first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries train, which had been in service for more than 35 years, encountered a fault near Clementi station at about 9 am.
As it was being taken out from service to Ulu Pandan Depot, a defective component on the train’s undercarriage – known as an axle box – dropped onto the tracks near Dover station.
This caused the wheels of the undercarriage to run off the rail. The severe damage triggered a power trip that stalled other trains and crippled rail services.
Among the equipment that was damaged were three point machines that divert trains onto different tracks, stretches of the third rail that supplies power to trains, and power cables.
Extensive repairs and replacement work had to be done, followed by tests of the track and trackside equipment for passenger safety, before services could be restored.
Beyond the affected four-station stretch, commuters travelling between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, and between Jurong East and Boon Lay stations, experienced longer commute times for the past six days as shuttle trains there were operating at longer intervals of 10 minutes.
The disruption affected more than 2.1 million passengers from Sept 25 to 29. No figure for affected commuters was available for Sep 30.
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