MRT breakdown: Learn from other operators, say analysts
Parts of the casing for the third rail as well as the rail itself were damaged between City Hall and Dhoby Ghaut stations on Thursday night. The MRT system has a third rail which is fixed alongside the train track and supplies electricity to passing trains. -- PHOTOS: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
By Feng Zengkun
Train operator SMRT's procedures for dealing with service breakdowns need an overhaul, said transport analysts in the wake of Saturday's disruption, the third in the past week.
They added that it has much to learn from operators in other cities with extensive train networks, such as Hong Kong, New York and Taipei.
Scenes of chaos and confusion played out during the five-hour shutdown at 11 stations on the North-South line on Thursday, and while Saturday's breakdown seemed to have been better managed, commuters were still left feeling upset. Many wished they knew what to do in such situations.
HOW OTHER CITIES PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES
New York
Dr Park Byung Joon, programme head of the Master of Science in Urban Transport Management at SIM University, noted that in Seoul for example, the operator's website has very detailed guides on what commuters can do during service disruptions.
In London, all train station staff have to be familiar with evacuation plans, sign a checklist every six months and take part in a mock evacuation at least annually.
Dr Park said such protocols would do much to avert the confusion that followed Thursday evening's disruption.
'I'm not sure if SMRT has a manual or not, but obviously it didn't work,' he said.
Transport analyst Tham Chen Munn added that openly conducted drills would help to restore confidence in the operator.
'These electrical faults are bound to happen. What we need are empowered staff who can handle such situations with ease, and not the frustrating and chaotic 'waiting for further instruction' approach that happened on Thursday evening,' he said.
Others said that more could be done to adapt the trains for such incidents.
In Hong Kong, train carriages have ventilation windows that can be opened by passengers if they are stuck in a tunnel.
During Thursday's breakdown, commuters trapped in the stalled trains complained of feeling suffocated because of poor ventilation.
Mr Lau Kaiming, 27, an industrial engineer who has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, said emergency doors and clear exit signs in the Hong Kong trains also help to reassure passengers and instil confidence.
Ms Chye Shu Wen, 21, who is studying in London, said staff in the city remind passengers frequently of evacuation procedures.
'Keep calm and carry on, and move out of the tunnel by keeping close to the tunnel walls,' she said of the drill.
She noted that SMRT may be less prepared because of Singapore's relatively untroubled history with trains.
In Singapore, the most common security announcements remind commuters to report suspicious packages.
'But trains in London were actually bombed in 2005, which caused the evacuation reminders to increase by a lot,' Ms Chye said.
Mr Daniel Tinker, 32, a teacher who moved from New York to Singapore three months ago, said trains' power back-up systems are maintained regularly in the Big Apple. During Thursday's breakdown, commuters complained about power supply being completely cut off, leaving some carriages unlit.
Mr Tinker was affected by both breakdowns on Thursday and Saturday. 'I'm quite surprised that this happened again... In New York, I don't think I've ever experienced a breakdown as bad as this one,' he said.
He noted that the problem may be worse in Singapore because of the lack of multiple train lines plying the same routes.
'And if that's the case, then the system has to be even more reliable if people are to take mass transport,' he
Parts of the casing for the third rail as well as the rail itself were damaged between City Hall and Dhoby Ghaut stations on Thursday night. The MRT system has a third rail which is fixed alongside the train track and supplies electricity to passing trains. -- PHOTOS: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITYBy Feng Zengkun
Train operator SMRT's procedures for dealing with service breakdowns need an overhaul, said transport analysts in the wake of Saturday's disruption, the third in the past week.
They added that it has much to learn from operators in other cities with extensive train networks, such as Hong Kong, New York and Taipei.
Scenes of chaos and confusion played out during the five-hour shutdown at 11 stations on the North-South line on Thursday, and while Saturday's breakdown seemed to have been better managed, commuters were still left feeling upset. Many wished they knew what to do in such situations.
HOW OTHER CITIES PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES
New York
- Decals in every train carriage to advise passengers on fire, medical and train-fault evacuation protocols
- Detailed guides and graphics on operator's website on evacuation procedures, such as train-to-train or tunnel evacuations
- YouTube video of live demonstration of evacuation
- Emergency Response Unit stationed across four train depots to fix track problems
- All station staff have to be familiar with evacuation plans, sign a checklist every six months and take part in a mock evacuation at least annually
- Ventilation panels in every window in case trains are stuck in tunnels
- Exit signs point to emergency doors that can be opened by passengers
- One train officer per carriage door at train stations during peak hours
- Emergency exit doors with clear instructions on how to open them
- A centre with a mock train where officers are taught evacuation procedures and which the public can use to simulate emergency exits
- All train employees have to attend an annual evacuation training
- This includes table-top and field drills, and debriefs
- All employees issued with a pocket-size manual for emergency management
Dr Park Byung Joon, programme head of the Master of Science in Urban Transport Management at SIM University, noted that in Seoul for example, the operator's website has very detailed guides on what commuters can do during service disruptions.
In London, all train station staff have to be familiar with evacuation plans, sign a checklist every six months and take part in a mock evacuation at least annually.
Dr Park said such protocols would do much to avert the confusion that followed Thursday evening's disruption.
'I'm not sure if SMRT has a manual or not, but obviously it didn't work,' he said.
Transport analyst Tham Chen Munn added that openly conducted drills would help to restore confidence in the operator.
'These electrical faults are bound to happen. What we need are empowered staff who can handle such situations with ease, and not the frustrating and chaotic 'waiting for further instruction' approach that happened on Thursday evening,' he said.
Others said that more could be done to adapt the trains for such incidents.
In Hong Kong, train carriages have ventilation windows that can be opened by passengers if they are stuck in a tunnel.
During Thursday's breakdown, commuters trapped in the stalled trains complained of feeling suffocated because of poor ventilation.
Mr Lau Kaiming, 27, an industrial engineer who has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, said emergency doors and clear exit signs in the Hong Kong trains also help to reassure passengers and instil confidence.
Ms Chye Shu Wen, 21, who is studying in London, said staff in the city remind passengers frequently of evacuation procedures.
'Keep calm and carry on, and move out of the tunnel by keeping close to the tunnel walls,' she said of the drill.
She noted that SMRT may be less prepared because of Singapore's relatively untroubled history with trains.
In Singapore, the most common security announcements remind commuters to report suspicious packages.
'But trains in London were actually bombed in 2005, which caused the evacuation reminders to increase by a lot,' Ms Chye said.
Mr Daniel Tinker, 32, a teacher who moved from New York to Singapore three months ago, said trains' power back-up systems are maintained regularly in the Big Apple. During Thursday's breakdown, commuters complained about power supply being completely cut off, leaving some carriages unlit.
Mr Tinker was affected by both breakdowns on Thursday and Saturday. 'I'm quite surprised that this happened again... In New York, I don't think I've ever experienced a breakdown as bad as this one,' he said.
He noted that the problem may be worse in Singapore because of the lack of multiple train lines plying the same routes.
'And if that's the case, then the system has to be even more reliable if people are to take mass transport,' he
