Serious US-made LRT trains also had cracks

[SNTCK]

The defective China-made MRT trains in the news are not the only ones to have developed cracks here.

The entire first batch of 19 US-made Bombardier trains on the Bukit Panjang LRT also developed cracks during their service here.

The defects, however, were fixed here, unlike the 26 Chinese trains being shipped back to China to have their aluminium bodies recast.

The affected LRT trains belonged to the first batch of automated people movers to arrive here in 1999.

SMRT Trains managing director Lee Ling Wee said the cracks were discovered "during a routine assessment by Bombardier in 2015".

He said the cracks were also examined by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the trains deemed "safe for passenger service".

In total, 19 trains were found to have the defects. Twelve have since been rectified by SMRT, using welding methods.

The remaining seven have yet to be repaired as the cracks on them are said to be less serious.

mtr3.jpg
People at one of the entrances to Central MTR station in Hong Kong in 2010.
Related Story
HK govt 'told about train cracks before it awarded contract'

In all, the Bukit Panjang LRT system has 32 trains - 19 from the first batch and 13 added recently.

Related Story
Qingdao Sifang breaks silence, saying trains were still safe

It is not known what caused the cracks, but an LTA spokesman said they were "due to normal wear and tear". Each crack measured "no more than 12cm", and they were found on the "lateral beams of the underframe". "Cracks may develop over time after years of operations," the LTA said. It added that the defects "are not safety-critical".

Related Story
Consortium that built MRT trains 'had top score for quality'

The Qingdao Sifang MRT trains were found to have developed cracks because of impurities in the aluminium used to cast the chassis.

The Bukit Panjang LRT system has been beset with technical problems since day one. Despite efforts to improve it, the line remains the most problematic rail system here.

The first batch of trains were made by Adtranz (ABB Daimler- Benz Transportation) before it was taken over by Canada's Bombardier in 2001. They were manufactured in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Qingdao Sifang MRT trains were made in Qingdao in China's eastern Shandong Province, in collaboration with Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Qingdao Sifang also has a joint venture with Bombardier.

In a statement released yesterday, Kawasaki-Sifang confirmed the flaws. But it refuted online allegations that the group had falsified test results to meet manufacturing standards.

"There is no way to cover up non-conformity to specifications," it said, adding that the allegations were groundless, and that it reserves the right to take legal action against parties perpetrating them.

SEE FORUM

Train cracks a telltale sign of inferior materials used

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 08, 2016, with the headline 'US-made LRT trains also had cracks'. Print Edition | Subscribe
TOPICS: LTASMRTLRT

 

[xebay11]

The defective China-made MRT trains in the news are not the only ones to have developed cracks here.

The entire first batch of 19 US-made Bombardier trains on the Bukit Panjang LRT also developed cracks during their service here.

The defects, however, were fixed here, unlike the 26 Chinese trains being shipped back to China to have their aluminium bodies recast.

The affected LRT trains belonged to the first batch of automated people movers to arrive here in 1999.

SMRT Trains managing director Lee Ling Wee said the cracks were discovered "during a routine assessment by Bombardier in 2015".

He said the cracks were also examined by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the trains deemed "safe for passenger service".

In total, 19 trains were found to have the defects. Twelve have since been rectified by SMRT, using welding methods.

The remaining seven have yet to be repaired as the cracks on them are said to be less serious.

mtr3.jpg
People at one of the entrances to Central MTR station in Hong Kong in 2010.
Related Story
HK govt 'told about train cracks before it awarded contract'

In all, the Bukit Panjang LRT system has 32 trains - 19 from the first batch and 13 added recently.

Related Story
Qingdao Sifang breaks silence, saying trains were still safe

It is not known what caused the cracks, but an LTA spokesman said they were "due to normal wear and tear". Each crack measured "no more than 12cm", and they were found on the "lateral beams of the underframe". "Cracks may develop over time after years of operations," the LTA said. It added that the defects "are not safety-critical".

Related Story
Consortium that built MRT trains 'had top score for quality'

The Qingdao Sifang MRT trains were found to have developed cracks because of impurities in the aluminium used to cast the chassis.

The Bukit Panjang LRT system has been beset with technical problems since day one. Despite efforts to improve it, the line remains the most problematic rail system here.

The first batch of trains were made by Adtranz (ABB Daimler- Benz Transportation) before it was taken over by Canada's Bombardier in 2001. They were manufactured in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Qingdao Sifang MRT trains were made in Qingdao in China's eastern Shandong Province, in collaboration with Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Qingdao Sifang also has a joint venture with Bombardier.

In a statement released yesterday, Kawasaki-Sifang confirmed the flaws. But it refuted online allegations that the group had falsified test results to meet manufacturing standards.

"There is no way to cover up non-conformity to specifications," it said, adding that the allegations were groundless, and that it reserves the right to take legal action against parties perpetrating them.

SEE FORUM

Train cracks a telltale sign of inferior materials used

Subscribe now and choose from eight amazing gifts! Plus, stand to win a trip to anywhere in the world or a luxurious stay at Resorts World Sentosa! Find out more at bit.Iy/STsuboffer
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 08, 2016, with the headline 'US-made LRT trains also had cracks'. Print Edition | Subscribe
TOPICS: LTASMRTLRT

Aluminium has limited fatigue strength, every repeated stress would bring it closer to failure, the solution is usually to over engineer aluminium parts.

That is why I only ride Titanium and Stainlesss Steel bicycles.

 

[eatshitndie]

everyone has a butt crack. if no crack i worry.

 

[schizo]

usa is different, they got US 2 trillion/RMB 14 trillion bond deposit and can debit from there

 

[tonychat]

Hey sinkie loser, ur mother's vagina also got crack.

 

[virus]

If American trains got failure, so? Did they try to hide this for years?

 

[eatshitndie]

for transit projects in asia bombardier teams up with tiong partners, for example cnr changchun. the downtown line is using their trains. the aluminum material may cum from the same source in china. if the aluminum alloy is problematic every supplier with tiong partners sourcing from the same plant will have issues.

 

[HongKanSeng]

SGP population density will damage trains built by anywhere.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_territories_by_population_density

1 Macau (China)[3] 30.4 12 649,100 21,352 55,301 March 31, 2016 Official quarterly estimate
2 Monaco 2.02 0.78 38,400 19,010 49,236 December 31, 2015 Official estimate
3 Singapore 719 278 5,535,000 7,697 19,935 July 1, 2015 Official estimate
4 Hong Kong (China)[4] 1,106 427 7,324,300 6,624 17,156 December 31, 2015 Official estimate
5 Gibraltar (UK)[5] 6.8 2.6 29,873 4,268 11,054 March 21, 2016 Official estimate
6 Vatican City 0.44 0.17 800 1,818 4,709 2012 Official estimate
7 Bahrain 757 292 1,472,483 1,945 5,038 March 21, 2016 Final 2010 census result
8 Malta 315 122 426,149 1,353 3,504 March 21, 2016 Preliminary 2011 census result
9 Bermuda (UK) 53 20 66,449 1,254 3,248 March 21, 2016 Final 2010 census result
10 Bangladesh 143,998 55,598 160,692,430 1,115.94 2,890.26 July 7, 2016 Official population clock
11 Sint Maarten (Kingdom of the Netherlands) 34 13 37,429 1,101 2,852 January 1, 2010 Official estimate
12 Maldives 298 115 317,280 1,065 2,758 2010 Official estimate
13 Jersey (UK) 116 45 97,857 844 2,186 March 27, 2011 2011 census result
14 Guernsey (UK) 78 30 62,431 800 2,072 March 31, 2010 Official estimate
15 Palestinian Territories[6] 6,020 2,324 4,550,368 756 1,958 2014 Official estimate
16 Saint Martin (France) 54 21 36,979 685 1,774 January 1, 2010 Official estimate
17 Taiwan (ROC)[7] 36,191 13,973 23,410,280 647 1,676 September 30, 2014 Monthly official estimate
18 Barbados 430 166 274,200 638 1,652 July 1, 2010 Official estimate
19 Mauritius 2,040 788 1,259,838 618 1,601 December 31, 2013 Official estimate
20 Mayotte (France) 374 144 212,600 568 1,471 August 21, 2012 2012 census result
21 San Marino 61 24 33,028 541 1,401 May 31, 2016 Monthly official estimate
22 Aruba (Kingdom of the Netherlands) 193 75 101,484 526 1,362 September 29, 2010 2010 census result
23 South Korea 100,210 38,691 50,801,405 507 1,313 July 1, 2016 Annual official estimate
24 Lebanon 10,452 4,036 4,966,000 487 1,261 July 1, 2014 UN projection
25 Nauru 21 8 10,084 480 1,243 October 30, 2011 2011 census result
26 Rwanda 25,314 9,774 11,262,564 445 1,153 July 1, 2015 Annual official estimate
27 Tuvalu 26 10 11,323 436 1,129 July 1, 2013 Official estimate
28 Saint Barthélemy (France) 21 8 8,938 426 1,103 January 1, 2010 Official estimate
29 Comoros 1,861 719 784,745 422 1,093 July 1, 2015 Official estimate
30 Netherlands 41,526 16,033 16,937,770 407.88 1,056.41 July 7, 2016 Official population clock
31 Haiti 27,065 10,450 10,911,819 403 1,044 July 1, 2015 Official projection
32 India 3,287,240 1,269,211 1,295,133,660 393.99 1,020.42 July 7, 2016 Population clock based on 2011 census
33 Puerto Rico (US)[8] 8,868 3,424 3,474,182 392 1,015 July 1, 2015 Official estimate
34 Israel 22,072 8,522 8,564,040 388 1,004.93 July 7, 2016 Official population clock[9]
35 Belgium 30,528 11,787 11,316,587 371 961 May 1, 2016 Monthly official estimate
36 Burundi 27,816 10,740 10,114,505 364 943 July 1, 2016 Official annual projection
37 Martinique (France) 1,128 436 394,173 349 904 January 1, 2010 Official estimate
38 Philippines 300,000 115,831 102,669,194 342.23 886.37 July 7, 2016 Official population clock
39 Curaçao (Kingdom of the Netherlands) 444 171 150,563 339 878 March 26, 2011 2011 census result
40 Japan 377,944 145,925 126,960,000 335.92 870 June 1, 2016 Monthly official estimate
41 Réunion (France) 2,512 970 821,136 327 847 January 1, 2010 Official estimate
42 Marshall Islands 181 70 56,086 310 803 July 1, 2013 Official estimate
43 Sri Lanka 65,610 25,332 20,277,597 309 800 March 21, 2012 Preliminary 2012 census result
44 United States Virgin Islands (US) 352 136 106,405 302 782 April 1, 2010 Final 2010 census result
45 El Salvador 21,040 8,124 6,340,000 301 780 July 1, 2013 UN estimate
46 Grenada 344 133 103,328 300 777 May 12, 2011 2011 census result
47 Guam (US) 541 209 159,358 295 764 April 1, 2010 Final 2010 census result
48 American Samoa (US) 197 76 55,519 282 730 April 1, 2010 Final 2010 census result
49 Saint Lucia 617 238 166,526 270 699 May 10, 2010 Preliminary 2010 census result
50 Vietnam 331,212 127,882 88,780,000 268 694 2012 Official estimate

 

[Papsmearer]

The defective China-made MRT trains in the news are not the only ones to have developed cracks here.

The entire first batch of 19 US-made Bombardier trains on the Bukit Panjang LRT also developed cracks during their service here.

The defects, however, were fixed here, unlike the 26 Chinese trains being shipped back to China to have their aluminium bodies recast.

The affected LRT trains belonged to the first batch of automated people movers to arrive here in 1999.

SMRT Trains managing director Lee Ling Wee said the cracks were discovered "during a routine assessment by Bombardier in 2015".

He said the cracks were also examined by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the trains deemed "safe for passenger service".

In total, 19 trains were found to have the defects. Twelve have since been rectified by SMRT, using welding methods.

The remaining seven have yet to be repaired as the cracks on them are said to be less serious.

is this cock sucker Lee ling wee trying to detract all the attention from the shit China trains? SO, he is basically saying cracks are common and its no problem, because the first batch of bombardier trains all developed cracks in them too? But then the idiot goes on to mention that the trains have been in operation since 1999, that is 17 years. And the cracks were discovered by Bombardier only in 2015, which means they were in heavy service for 16 years. I would think that is normal wear and there. And it appears to be minor too, as they were fixed on the spot by SMRT technicians which we know are not the best in the world. If you drove your car hard for 16 years, it would develop problems too. that is completely different from these china trains that develop problems after only 3 months in service and were so bad that they had to be shipped back to China.

 

[kryonlight]

What's wrong with cracks? There are so many in the opposition camp. Daft sinkies prefer cracked trains to cracked oppositions.

 

[eatshitndie]

bombardier is known to supply faulty parts to the chicago transit. despite that, bart awarded the latest contract to them for a total of 775 cars to begin mass delivery in 2017. their bid was usd1.54b while alstom's bid was usd1.73b and 3rd place hyundai rotem's bid was usd2.8b. the first set of 260 cars will cost usd2.4m each and the next set of 150 will cost usd1.8m each as critical mass and volume should bring unit cost down further down the delivery schedule. the average cost per car is a whopping usd2.2m which is considered one of the priciest in transit history. bids in other cities are averaging usd1.5m to usd2m a car. the average of usd109k per car for the hk mtr is obviously either a mistake or a joke.

nonetheless, bombardier secured its contract with bart based on 8 criteria and they scored highest overall. one of the criteria involved content and percentage of manufacture in america. while alstom scored highest in this category with 95% of all parts to be made in america, bombardier scored lower with 66% made in america criterion. now, where are the remaining 34% coming from? further research will reveal that a majority of the remaining 34% come from china, as bombardier has partners such as cnr changchun in the prc. a minority of the 34% will be made in canada. this is quite inevitable for bombardier as they are in financial dire straits and they need to win contracts with low bids. where to go to secure lower cost in material and parts except china? it would be a double whammy if a prc company were to acquire majority stake in bombardier. will let you know how tests and trials on the majority of the 34% manufacture and material pan out among the assemblies, panels, parts and components of the 1st 10-car trainset that is sitting in the hayward depot.

my opinion right now to all transit operators is that they need to seriously consider at least two suppliers instead of a sole supplier. for example, bart will be better off with alstom as an alternate supplier for the pittsburg/baypoint - daly city/millbrae/sfo lines as when the shit hits the fan with bombardier, it's all the eggs in one giant basket.

 

[blueRad]

All of a sudden, everyone is an expert on cracks.

 

[tanwahtiu]

Stop making comments on Chinese products. Sinkie PAP has had run train services for 30 years should be able to see to potential of manufacturing own train products.

This showed the bullshit shit of giving 5 years HQ free tax to MNCs in exchange for technological transfer.

PAP are full of bullshit with the Lee running the wayang. Time to replce Lee to Ching, Chang, Tan, Lam and so on.

Fuck the Lee family.

 

[Papsmearer]

Stop making comments on Chinese products. Sinkie PAP has had run train services for 30 years should be able to see to potential of manufacturing own train products.

This showed the bullshit shit of giving 5 years HQ free tax to MNCs in exchange for technological transfer.

PAP are full of bullshit with the Lee running the wayang. Time to replce Lee to Ching, Chang, Tan, Lam and so on.

Fuck the Lee family.

I agree with everything you say. You should copyright a new abbreviation. FTL. Fuck The Lees.

 

[looneytan]

Hey sinkie loser, ur mother's vagina also got crack.

Hey Ng, thanks for reminding me.. I went thru your mother's crack once

 

[Hans168]

for transit projects in asia bombardier teams up with tiong partners, for example cnr changchun. the downtown line is using their trains. the aluminum material may cum from the same source in china. if the aluminum alloy is problematic every supplier with tiong partners sourcing from the same plant will have issues.

in the process of smelting Al alloy, 2 substances must be added to float up the impurities and to de-gas the molten alloy else porosity or air trapped in the alloy will weaken the strength of the metal. Many if not all Tiong smelters use far too much scap materials to make the Al alloy as with makers of plastic parts also use 100% scrap plastics or non virgin plastics resulting in cracks or disintegration in the case of plastic components......
I hv a Al alloy water flask which was ok day one but later water oozes out and upon closer look - I found fine crack! This is another proof of manufacturer using too much scrap material and stinged on de-gassing and purification chemicals during smelting............... many manufacturers will tell you that what happens a few months/years down the road is NOT my problem. Mine is to sell at cheapers price even with hidden quality problems!!
So fucking SMRT better buck up!! Insist that alloys smelted according to specifications and pass ultrasonic tests or dye penetration tests............... just just sit it out till end of the month & collect salary on time!!!

The rot has begun and still micro cracking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hans168]

is this cock sucker Lee ling wee trying to detract all the attention from the shit China trains? SO, he is basically saying cracks are common and its no problem, because the first batch of bombardier trains all developed cracks in them too? But then the idiot goes on to mention that the trains have been in operation since 1999, that is 17 years. And the cracks were discovered by Bombardier only in 2015, which means they were in heavy service for 16 years. I would think that is normal wear and there. And it appears to be minor too, as they were fixed on the spot by SMRT technicians which we know are not the best in the world. If you drove your car hard for 16 years, it would develop problems too. that is completely different from these china trains that develop problems after only 3 months in service and were so bad that they had to be shipped back to China.

e
Lee spoke from his anus......... I hv given my explanations for the cracks & I stand by them.Sun will rise from the
As long as builders buy cheap cheap Al from Tiongs, the problems will surface sooner or later without exception - sure like the East tomorrow. I am surprised that all those high salaried bums in SMRT n LTA are clueless and anyhow hantum till th problem goes away!!!

 

[eatshitndie]

in the process of smelting Al alloy, 2 substances must be added to float up the impurities and to de-gas the molten alloy else porosity or air trapped in the alloy will weaken the strength of the metal. Many if not all Tiong smelters use far too much scap materials to make the Al alloy as with makers of plastic parts also use 100% scrap plastics or non virgin plastics resulting in cracks or disintegration in the case of plastic components......
I hv a Al alloy water flask which was ok day one but later water oozes out and upon closer look - I found fine crack! This is another proof of manufacturer using too much scrap material and stinged on de-gassing and purification chemicals during smelting............... many manufacturers will tell you that what happens a few months/years down the road is NOT my problem. Mine is to sell at cheapers price even with hidden quality problems!!
So fucking SMRT better buck up!! Insist that alloys smelted according to specifications and pass ultrasonic tests or dye penetration tests............... just just sit it out till end of the month & collect salary on time!!!

The rot has begun and still micro cracking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that's why tiongs are poor apprentices of western masters who have perfected techniques a long time ago based on engineering experience and science. these tiongs would rather take short cuts and cut corners to get products to market quickly to make a quick buck.

 

[scroobal]

You might know this. National Iron and Steel in its early years bought war scrap from Vietnam and ran into so much of trouble as they did not know how to handle it. Soon customers were rejecting their products including simple things like nails that bent easily. They also ended with live ammos within the scrap heap and faced a number of incidents.

in the process of smelting Al alloy, 2 substances must be added to float up the impurities and to de-gas the molten alloy else porosity or air trapped in the alloy will weaken the strength of the metal. Many if not all Tiong smelters use far too much scap materials to make the Al alloy as with makers of plastic parts also use 100% scrap plastics or non virgin plastics resulting in cracks or disintegration in the case of plastic components......
I hv a Al alloy water flask which was ok day one but later water oozes out and upon closer look - I found fine crack! This is another proof of manufacturer using too much scrap material and stinged on de-gassing and purification chemicals during smelting............... many manufacturers will tell you that what happens a few months/years down the road is NOT my problem. Mine is to sell at cheapers price even with hidden quality problems!!
So fucking SMRT better buck up!! Insist that alloys smelted according to specifications and pass ultrasonic tests or dye penetration tests............... just just sit it out till end of the month & collect salary on time!!!

The rot has begun and still micro cracking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AlGhofran]

Hey sinkie loser, ur mother's vagina also got crack.

Assalamualaykum Tony,

Tsk tsk tsk you sounded so frustrated you must be a loser all your life anyway since you got banned now must be damn free come back to your own thread to play lah? Here's the link please come back home to play http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.p...-not-crucified