[NSL flooding] Reason why KBW is unfit for job
"Said Mr Khaw: 'If it were well-maintained, the reservoir should be empty before rain starts to flow. But it overflowed. The pit had not been maintained properly.'
He later revealed that the Land Transport Authority and SMRT had in fact, on Sep 29, made a decision to replace the pumps."
The fact that LTA was aware that the pump system was so damaged beyond repair (such that LTA agreed to fund/ endorse the replacement) should have prompted LTA to supervise SMRT closely to ensure that the water level detectors and panel readings (alarms) were accurate and functional (and the sump reservoir sufficiently empty) given to the fact that LTA is overall infrastructure owner + govt ministry in-charge of all transport in singapore (SMRT is just a public transport contractor like GoAhead, Comfort Delgro, etc who are contracted to operate the infrastructure).
It is thus primarily LTA which failed to uphold public safety and public transport standards due to LTA unfamiliarity with MRT functional design, red flags and general infrastructure.
Whilst SMRT is contracted to run the infrastructure, LTA has overview and must be farsighted and proactive in guiding their contractor in times of major infrastructure equipment failure as is suggested by LTA acknowledgement that entire pump system is beyond repair and needs expenditure of LTA funds for total replacement.
KBW should not blame SMRT for the lapse because he (vz LTA) is sufficiently cognizant about the 'beyond repair state' of the water drainage pump system as evidenced by LTA agreement to pay/proceed with the major infrastructure (pump system) replacement.
KBW has shown cowardice, lapse in leadership+ownership and scapegoating of contractors and subordinates in the light of the 7th October Braddell MRT flooding incident.
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Pls also see [Braddell MRT]One switch spoilt = change the entire pump system ... KBW must justify use of state funds!!! to see if total replacement of the entire drainage pump system is actually necessary / just a knee jerk, bazooka shot in the dark: i.e. IRRESPONSIBLE SQUANDERING of public funds by LTA under leadership of KBW.
===============
Khaw Boon Wan on NSL flooding: SMRT maintenance team 'failed us'
Singapore
Khaw Boon Wan on NSL flooding: SMRT maintenance team 'failed us'
Train operator SMRT has apologised for the flooding at the Bishan-Braddell MRT tunnel which disrupted services along the North-South Line on Oct 7 and 8. Dr Zhou Yi, a council member at the Institution of Engineers in Singapore, says the situation was preventable.
related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.
By Justin Ong
16 Oct 2017 06:30PM
(Updated: 16 Oct 2017 11:07PM)
SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Monday (Oct 16) said the SMRT maintenance team in charge of the anti-flood system at Bishan station had “failed us”, in his first public address on the major North-South Line (NSL) tunnel flooding incident two weekends ago.
On the evening of Oct 7 - a Saturday - torrential rainwater seeped in at Bishan station, causing the underground tunnel leading to Newton station to be submerged up to waist level.
SMRT had to cut off trackside power supply as a safety precaution, causing service on six stops across the NSL to be disabled for about 20 hours. More than a quarter of a million commuters were affected.
It was Singapore’s first disruption due to flooding and one of SMRT’s worst breakdowns in recent history, prompting much public unhappiness.
The incident was “sad and unnecessary” - but preventable and should not have happened, said Mr Khaw.
“We are all sorry it did ... Whatever follow-up action which needs to be done, has already started. Nothing has been covered up.”
“The incident has pushed back the recovery of public confidence in us,” he acknowledged.
“POORLY MAINTAINED”
Mr Khaw said Singapore’s MRT tunnels were designed to handle local weather and cope with “very extreme storms far more severe than the last few weeks”.
“The bottom line is they should not have been flooded. But on Oct 7, the stretch at Bishan and Braddell stations did.”
“There are standard anti-flooding systems with huge stormwater sump pits,” he explained. “Our findings show that the anti-flooding system there was poorly maintained.”
“In simple terms, the stormwater pit can hold more than 5,000 cubic metres of rainfall ... During that period over the catchment area, rainfall could not have exceeded 700 - let’s stretch it, 1,000 cubic metres.”
Said Mr Khaw: “If it were well-maintained, the reservoir should be empty before rain starts to flow. But it overflowed. The pit had not been maintained properly.”
He later revealed that the Land Transport Authority and SMRT had in fact, on Sep 29, made a decision to replace the pumps.
“So we are late by a few days. Had they proceeded to replace (the pumps) this thing might not even have happened.
"But I suppose that is life."
“WE’VE MADE SERIOUS IMPROVEMENTS”
The Transport Minister said energies had been focused on rails and train signalling systems instead - which he pointed out had improvements to show.
“At the beginning I said to give me four or five years. We are at the mid-point now,” he stated.
“We wanted to close the gap with Taipei’s benchmark of 800,000 km without incident ... We have made serious improvements, we have exceeded next year’s target (of 400,000km) and that’s why I was confident enough to say let’s go for 1 million.
“But I knew Singaporeans couldn’t relate, because they still hear delays here and there because of resignalling.”
The main reason for this, said Mr Khaw, can be traced to two major projects ongoing at the same time - improvements to existing lines and resignalling for the NSL.
“I did say the resignalling would have tonnes of problems. I said so in public, to bear with us,” he said.
“So even when you evaluate our performance in resignalling, we have done well. That’s why I’m concerned when media reports conflate the two projects and draw wrong conclusions.”
Source: CNA/am
Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...oding-smrt-maintenance-team-failed-us-9315666
"Said Mr Khaw: 'If it were well-maintained, the reservoir should be empty before rain starts to flow. But it overflowed. The pit had not been maintained properly.'
He later revealed that the Land Transport Authority and SMRT had in fact, on Sep 29, made a decision to replace the pumps."
The fact that LTA was aware that the pump system was so damaged beyond repair (such that LTA agreed to fund/ endorse the replacement) should have prompted LTA to supervise SMRT closely to ensure that the water level detectors and panel readings (alarms) were accurate and functional (and the sump reservoir sufficiently empty) given to the fact that LTA is overall infrastructure owner + govt ministry in-charge of all transport in singapore (SMRT is just a public transport contractor like GoAhead, Comfort Delgro, etc who are contracted to operate the infrastructure).
It is thus primarily LTA which failed to uphold public safety and public transport standards due to LTA unfamiliarity with MRT functional design, red flags and general infrastructure.
Whilst SMRT is contracted to run the infrastructure, LTA has overview and must be farsighted and proactive in guiding their contractor in times of major infrastructure equipment failure as is suggested by LTA acknowledgement that entire pump system is beyond repair and needs expenditure of LTA funds for total replacement.
KBW should not blame SMRT for the lapse because he (vz LTA) is sufficiently cognizant about the 'beyond repair state' of the water drainage pump system as evidenced by LTA agreement to pay/proceed with the major infrastructure (pump system) replacement.
KBW has shown cowardice, lapse in leadership+ownership and scapegoating of contractors and subordinates in the light of the 7th October Braddell MRT flooding incident.
---------------
Pls also see [Braddell MRT]One switch spoilt = change the entire pump system ... KBW must justify use of state funds!!! to see if total replacement of the entire drainage pump system is actually necessary / just a knee jerk, bazooka shot in the dark: i.e. IRRESPONSIBLE SQUANDERING of public funds by LTA under leadership of KBW.
===============
Khaw Boon Wan on NSL flooding: SMRT maintenance team 'failed us'
Singapore
Khaw Boon Wan on NSL flooding: SMRT maintenance team 'failed us'
Train operator SMRT has apologised for the flooding at the Bishan-Braddell MRT tunnel which disrupted services along the North-South Line on Oct 7 and 8. Dr Zhou Yi, a council member at the Institution of Engineers in Singapore, says the situation was preventable.
related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.
By Justin Ong
16 Oct 2017 06:30PM
(Updated: 16 Oct 2017 11:07PM)
SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Monday (Oct 16) said the SMRT maintenance team in charge of the anti-flood system at Bishan station had “failed us”, in his first public address on the major North-South Line (NSL) tunnel flooding incident two weekends ago.
On the evening of Oct 7 - a Saturday - torrential rainwater seeped in at Bishan station, causing the underground tunnel leading to Newton station to be submerged up to waist level.
SMRT had to cut off trackside power supply as a safety precaution, causing service on six stops across the NSL to be disabled for about 20 hours. More than a quarter of a million commuters were affected.
It was Singapore’s first disruption due to flooding and one of SMRT’s worst breakdowns in recent history, prompting much public unhappiness.
The incident was “sad and unnecessary” - but preventable and should not have happened, said Mr Khaw.
“We are all sorry it did ... Whatever follow-up action which needs to be done, has already started. Nothing has been covered up.”
“The incident has pushed back the recovery of public confidence in us,” he acknowledged.
“POORLY MAINTAINED”
Mr Khaw said Singapore’s MRT tunnels were designed to handle local weather and cope with “very extreme storms far more severe than the last few weeks”.
“The bottom line is they should not have been flooded. But on Oct 7, the stretch at Bishan and Braddell stations did.”
“There are standard anti-flooding systems with huge stormwater sump pits,” he explained. “Our findings show that the anti-flooding system there was poorly maintained.”
“In simple terms, the stormwater pit can hold more than 5,000 cubic metres of rainfall ... During that period over the catchment area, rainfall could not have exceeded 700 - let’s stretch it, 1,000 cubic metres.”
Said Mr Khaw: “If it were well-maintained, the reservoir should be empty before rain starts to flow. But it overflowed. The pit had not been maintained properly.”
He later revealed that the Land Transport Authority and SMRT had in fact, on Sep 29, made a decision to replace the pumps.
“So we are late by a few days. Had they proceeded to replace (the pumps) this thing might not even have happened.
"But I suppose that is life."
“WE’VE MADE SERIOUS IMPROVEMENTS”
The Transport Minister said energies had been focused on rails and train signalling systems instead - which he pointed out had improvements to show.
“At the beginning I said to give me four or five years. We are at the mid-point now,” he stated.
“We wanted to close the gap with Taipei’s benchmark of 800,000 km without incident ... We have made serious improvements, we have exceeded next year’s target (of 400,000km) and that’s why I was confident enough to say let’s go for 1 million.
“But I knew Singaporeans couldn’t relate, because they still hear delays here and there because of resignalling.”
The main reason for this, said Mr Khaw, can be traced to two major projects ongoing at the same time - improvements to existing lines and resignalling for the NSL.
“I did say the resignalling would have tonnes of problems. I said so in public, to bear with us,” he said.
“So even when you evaluate our performance in resignalling, we have done well. That’s why I’m concerned when media reports conflate the two projects and draw wrong conclusions.”
Source: CNA/am
Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...oding-smrt-maintenance-team-failed-us-9315666
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