Serious LTA/SMRT grossly overpaid for faulty CSR SIfang trains, more incompetence at work?

[Papsmearer]

Reports are now going around the world the crappy quality of CSR SIfang trains and the unsafe nature of them. It turns out that other mass transit operators have also purchase from CSR. I am comparing the prices that SMRT and LTA paid versus these other operators and the price difference is huge. Granted that the models of trains are probably different then what SMRT bought, but still its a very large price difference.

LTA bought 22 trains initially in 2009 for SGD $368 million.

Hong Kong's MTR paid USD $77 million for 93 8-car metro trainsets

Boston paid USD$567 million for 284 subway cars from the same China company

Chicago paid USD$632 million for 400 train cars.

Seems like LTA got seriously conned once again.

 

[Papsmearer]

Re: LTA/SMRT grossly overpaid for faulty CSR SIfang trains, more incompetence at work

[h=2]Hong Kong MTR orders 93 eight-car trains at CSR Qingdao Sifang[/h]

Hong Kong's metro operator MTR has awarded a HK$6bn ($77m) contract to CSR Qingdao Sifang for the delivery of 93 new eight-car metro trainsets.
The new trains will replace all of the first-generation trains currently operating on the Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, Island and Tseung Kwan O lines.
Equipped with more modern operating systems and equipment, the new trains are scheduled to be delivered to Hong Kong between 2018 and 2023.
"We will be working very closely with CSR Sifang to bring our passengers a new generation of high-quality trains that meet our requirements for safe and efficient operation."
MTR will also be responsible for the additional management and implementation costs of the replacement programme.
The contract was awarded following a rigorous tendering process, in which tenders from internationally renowned suppliers were thoroughly reviewed.
MTR chief executive officer Lincoln Leong said: "This is the largest-ever order of new trains in MTR's history and it represents a critically important investment to maintain our railway service at world-class levels to ensure that our passengers in Hong Kong continue to enjoy safe, reliable and convenient train services well into the future."
"Originally, we had planned to replace 78 eight-car trains, which have been in service for about 30 years.
"But in view of the competitive tenders received and after weighing the benefits of having a uniform train fleet equipped with more up-to-date systems, we decided that it would be better value for money to exercise the option included in the tender to replace all 93 first-generation eight-car trains in one go."
The new trains will also feature dynamic route maps, improved lighting, double-branched handrails and soft material straphangers.
They will also be fully compatible with the new signalling system to be installed on the Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, Island and Tseung Kwan O lines in the coming years.
As part of the deal, the supply, manufacture, testing and commissioning of the 93 eight-car trains will be carried out in accordance with MTR specifications, and under the rigorous design and manufacturing standards of MTR.
MTR operations director Jacob Kam said: "We will be working very closely with CSR Sifang to bring our passengers a new generation of high-quality trains that meet our requirements for safe and efficient operation.
"Following delivery of the trains to Hong Kong, rigorous testing and commissioning will be conducted before they are certified by the electrical and mechanical services department to enter service.
The first train is expected to enter passenger service by the end of 2018.

 

[Papsmearer]

Re: LTA/SMRT grossly overpaid for faulty CSR SIfang trains, more incompetence at work

The Chinese companies have been aggressively pursuing contracts in the US and other markets outside China, and winning huge deals in part because of low bids.
In March, the Chicago Transit Board awarded CSR Sifang’s US joint venture a contract to make its “next generation of metro cars,” as Mayor Rahm Emanual said at the time. CSR Sifang will initially make 400 cars for Chicago for $632 million, but could supply 846 overall, for a total value of $1.3 billion.
The Chinese company was the lowest bidder, beating competitor Bombardier by $226 million, Railway Age reported. As part of the contract it will build a factory on the south side of Chicago to assemble the cars, which will employ 170 people.
In October 2014, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority awarded CRRC a $567 million contract to build 284 subway cars for Boston. The project included building a $95 million factory in East Springfield, Mass. The bid was 50% cheaper than competitor Bombardier’s bid, the Boston Globe reported.
Neither Boston nor Chicago have received any train cars yet from the contracts.

 

[scroobal]

Re: LTA/SMRT grossly overpaid for faulty CSR SIfang trains, more incompetence at work

Looks like we are getting screwed big time. I like to see how LTA explain the pricing.

Reports are now going around the world the crappy quality of CSR SIfang trains and the unsafe nature of them. It turns out that other mass transit operators have also purchase from CSR. I am comparing the prices that SMRT and LTA paid versus these other operators and the price difference is huge. Granted that the models of trains are probably different then what SMRT bought, but still its a very large price difference.

LTA bought 22 trains initially in 2009 for SGD $368 million.

Hong Kong's MTR paid USD $77 million for 93 8-car metro trainsets

Boston paid USD$567 million for 284 subway cars from the same China company

Chicago paid USD$632 million for 400 train cars.

Seems like LTA got seriously conned once again.

 

[po2wq]

Re: LTA/SMRT grossly overpaid for faulty CSR SIfang trains, more incompetence at work

... Granted that the models of trains are probably different then what SMRT bought, but still its a very large price difference.

LTA bought 22 trains initially in 2009 for SGD $368 million.

Hong Kong's MTR paid USD $77 million for 93 8-car metro trainsets

Boston paid USD$567 million for 284 subway cars from the same China company

Chicago paid USD$632 million for 400 train cars.

Seems like LTA got seriously conned once again.

sinkielan is world crass, world bestest, world lumpar 1 ... evry coy oso gif bestest quality 2 sinkielan ... so, dey haf 2 charge sinkielan mor ... dey dump lousy quality stuff 2 other cuntries, datz y others r chippa ...

 

[johnny333]

Re: LTA/SMRT grossly overpaid for faulty CSR SIfang trains, more incompetence at work

With so much money involved one has to wonder if any corruption is involved i.e. kickbacks to those involved from the Spore side

 

[eatshitndie]

Re: LTA/SMRT grossly overpaid for faulty CSR SIfang trains, more incompetence at work

for a better apples for apples comparison it's better to break them down to cars instead of trainsets. the number for smrt is in trainsets which is typically 6 cars per trainset for the n-s and e-w lines. other smrt lines use less cars per trainset. other operators in the world use different number of cars per trainset on various lines. the lowest denominator is based on number cars not trains or trainsets. please get the unit of measure rightly aligned first.

 

[eatshitndie]

Re: LTA/SMRT grossly overpaid for faulty CSR SIfang trains, more incompetence at work

usd77m for hk mtr 93 8-car trainsets? that's usd103k per car. something is wrong here. a car is at least a usd1.5m to usd2m each.

 

[eatshitndie]

Re: LTA/SMRT grossly overpaid for faulty CSR SIfang trains, more incompetence at work

the 2009-2012 lta-smrt total contract of sgd368m was for 210 cars or 35 trainsets. it was 22 trainsets in initial shipments followed by 13 more after a few years.