Royston Sim | The Straits Times | Friday, Jan 10, 2014
SINGAPORE - SMRT is moving to a more stringent regime by adopting an international set of standards for the management of its assets, such as train and rail systems.
The transport operator, which has been hit by some major service disruptions over the past few years, said the move will allow it to improve its maintenance procedures.
This in turn will result in safer and more reliable rides for commuters, said its spokesman Alina Boey.
The standard, PAS55, is published by the British Standards Institution and has a 28-point checklist of requirements.
These include the kind of maintenance it needs to do every day, as well as the operation and renewal of assets.
Only Hong Kong's MTR has received PAS55 certification so far. SMRT said the Melbourne Metro is being certified.
Separately, a technical advisory panel of seven experts has met SMRT to give recommendations on improving its rail network.
SMRT chief executive Desmond Kuek last year said he would put in place such a panel to beef up its engineering strengths.
He hosted the experts yesterday and on Monday.
The panel, a mix of local and international experts, is chaired by Professor Alfred Huan, executive director of A*Star's Institute of High Performance Computing.
Its other six members are from the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Imperial College, KCPM Consulting and Sentosa Development Corp.
SMRT also plans to hire more engineers and invest in technology to enable it to better determine the condition of its equipment and when maintenance should be performed.
This includes having more sensors to detect flaws in the rail system, and a new communications system, said Ms Boey.
Prof Huan said it is reassuring that SMRT is looking to enhance its technical departments and invest in technology.
He is confident the initiatives "will benefit SMRT's safety and service operations and thus benefit the commuting public".
Mr Kuek said SMRT's engagement with the panel shows its commitment to strengthening its operational performance.
The panel has brought new insight and ideas, and "we look forward to studying the recommendations in greater detail", he added.
SINGAPORE - SMRT is moving to a more stringent regime by adopting an international set of standards for the management of its assets, such as train and rail systems.
The transport operator, which has been hit by some major service disruptions over the past few years, said the move will allow it to improve its maintenance procedures.
This in turn will result in safer and more reliable rides for commuters, said its spokesman Alina Boey.
The standard, PAS55, is published by the British Standards Institution and has a 28-point checklist of requirements.
These include the kind of maintenance it needs to do every day, as well as the operation and renewal of assets.
Only Hong Kong's MTR has received PAS55 certification so far. SMRT said the Melbourne Metro is being certified.
Separately, a technical advisory panel of seven experts has met SMRT to give recommendations on improving its rail network.
SMRT chief executive Desmond Kuek last year said he would put in place such a panel to beef up its engineering strengths.
He hosted the experts yesterday and on Monday.
The panel, a mix of local and international experts, is chaired by Professor Alfred Huan, executive director of A*Star's Institute of High Performance Computing.
Its other six members are from the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Imperial College, KCPM Consulting and Sentosa Development Corp.
SMRT also plans to hire more engineers and invest in technology to enable it to better determine the condition of its equipment and when maintenance should be performed.
This includes having more sensors to detect flaws in the rail system, and a new communications system, said Ms Boey.
Prof Huan said it is reassuring that SMRT is looking to enhance its technical departments and invest in technology.
He is confident the initiatives "will benefit SMRT's safety and service operations and thus benefit the commuting public".
Mr Kuek said SMRT's engagement with the panel shows its commitment to strengthening its operational performance.
The panel has brought new insight and ideas, and "we look forward to studying the recommendations in greater detail", he added.
