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SINGAPORE: The Committee of Inquiry (COI) to look into last December's major train breakdowns on the North-South Line has opened its public hearings, even as commuters face new rounds of train disruptions.
More than 200,000 commuters were affected by the service disruptions on December 15 and 17, which saw trains stuck inside tunnels and thousands of commuters having to walk on rail tracks to get out via the nearest stations.
The COI hearings on Monday began with Second Solicitor-General Lionel Yee giving an opening statement that detailed the disruptions.
Mr Yee said that reports received so far did not attribute the breakdowns to the floating slab track or to the newest of fourth generation trains which were put into service by SMRT in the middle of last year.
He added that the focus of inquiry must be on fact finding and problem solving.
The COI, which is expected to last eight weeks, is being held at the Subordinate Courts. It will hear from 108 witnesses, including witnesses of fact, experts and commuters who have been identified to appear.
Three of the witnesses are commuters affected by the December 15 disruption, including one who fainted on a stalled train.
The first witness to take the stand was ASP Roy Lim, lead investigator for Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Representing SMRT is law firm Drew & Napier, while the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is being represented by Allen & Gledhill.
Andrew Yeo from Allen and Gledhill said the inquiry is not to apportion blame. It is to investigate causes and evaluate incidents and to understand how to improve the system.
He said the maintenance regime of transport operator SMRT, as reviewed by LTA, was deemed comprehensive and satisfactory. But he said there are some areas that can be improved on.
Monday's session will also hear testimonies from train drivers, SMRT duty officers, station managers and commuters.
Leading the inquiry is Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye.
Also present are Professor Lim Mong King from the Nanyang Technological University's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Mr Soh Wai Wah, Director of Prisons.
Before the public hearings, the COI reviewed documents including those from SMRT and the LTA, and carried out site visits.
The visits included stretches of rail that supplies electrical power to trains in tunnels, as well as SMRT's Operations Control Centre and the Bishan Depot.
After the inquiry, the COI will prepare a report of its findings and recommendations for submission to Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew.
The documents will also be made public.
Besides the COI, the LTA and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have been conducting investigations of their own into the breakdowns and delays which have been continuing.
The latest delay occurred on the West-bound train service towards Joo Koon on Monday morning, due to a track fault.
Trains on the South-bound service were also moving slowly for a while.
On Friday, evening train services between Tanah Merah and Pasir Ris were delayed in both directions due to a train fault.
-CNA/sf/ir
More than 200,000 commuters were affected by the service disruptions on December 15 and 17, which saw trains stuck inside tunnels and thousands of commuters having to walk on rail tracks to get out via the nearest stations.
The COI hearings on Monday began with Second Solicitor-General Lionel Yee giving an opening statement that detailed the disruptions.
Mr Yee said that reports received so far did not attribute the breakdowns to the floating slab track or to the newest of fourth generation trains which were put into service by SMRT in the middle of last year.
He added that the focus of inquiry must be on fact finding and problem solving.
The COI, which is expected to last eight weeks, is being held at the Subordinate Courts. It will hear from 108 witnesses, including witnesses of fact, experts and commuters who have been identified to appear.
Three of the witnesses are commuters affected by the December 15 disruption, including one who fainted on a stalled train.
The first witness to take the stand was ASP Roy Lim, lead investigator for Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Representing SMRT is law firm Drew & Napier, while the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is being represented by Allen & Gledhill.
Andrew Yeo from Allen and Gledhill said the inquiry is not to apportion blame. It is to investigate causes and evaluate incidents and to understand how to improve the system.
He said the maintenance regime of transport operator SMRT, as reviewed by LTA, was deemed comprehensive and satisfactory. But he said there are some areas that can be improved on.
Monday's session will also hear testimonies from train drivers, SMRT duty officers, station managers and commuters.
Leading the inquiry is Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye.
Also present are Professor Lim Mong King from the Nanyang Technological University's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Mr Soh Wai Wah, Director of Prisons.
Before the public hearings, the COI reviewed documents including those from SMRT and the LTA, and carried out site visits.
The visits included stretches of rail that supplies electrical power to trains in tunnels, as well as SMRT's Operations Control Centre and the Bishan Depot.
After the inquiry, the COI will prepare a report of its findings and recommendations for submission to Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew.
The documents will also be made public.
Besides the COI, the LTA and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have been conducting investigations of their own into the breakdowns and delays which have been continuing.
The latest delay occurred on the West-bound train service towards Joo Koon on Monday morning, due to a track fault.
Trains on the South-bound service were also moving slowly for a while.
On Friday, evening train services between Tanah Merah and Pasir Ris were delayed in both directions due to a train fault.
-CNA/sf/ir
