SMRT - Your Journey Matters

YOUR JOURNEY MATTERS
Smoother, safer train rides on the North-South and East-West Lines with SMRT
Updated as at: 15 February 2017

Introduction
To provide the best service to commuters, SMRT has embarked on a multi-year, multi-project effort
of upgrading Singapore’s oldest, longest and most heavily utilised MRT lines – the North-South and
East-West Lines (NSEWL).

© Copyright SMRT Corporation Ltd. 2017. All rights reserved.

This multi-year, multi-project effort consists of various programmes:
●  Sleeper replacement,
●  Re-signalling works,
●  Third Rail replacement.
Besides these rail renewal projects, there are other works in progress to bring commuters better
journeys:
●  Upgrading of older trains,
●  Increasing passenger capacity,
●  Maintenance of escalators,
●  Maintenance of Platform Screen Doors,
●  Maintenance of air conditioning,
●  Escalator Refurbishment Programme.

Keen to learn more about how these projects will beneﬁt you?
Join us, as we explain the work being done through this presentation.

Introduction

The key engineering projects are:

Improving the North-South and East-West Lines
Result: A better railway system that will
allow SMRT to serve you better.

A timeline of the work in progress:

SMRT is also working to address the rail network’s future power needs and minimise the
inconvenience resulting from power-related faults by:
●  Renewing power components nearing the end-of-life stage,
●  Increasing the power capacity of the network,
●  Improving the design of the power network.

Sleeper Replacement
SMRT has worked closely with LTA and rail contractors
for the replacement of wooden sleepers on the NSL
and the EWL with concrete sleepers. The concrete
sleepers are more durable and have a lifespan double
that of wooden sleepers.
The Impact:
Journey times on
the NSL have been
reduced by 10%.

The Aim: Ensuring reliability and
better availability of train services for
our commuters.
Resleepering has been
completed for NSL in
April 2015 and EWL in
December 2016.

Sleeper Replacement
Here are some fun facts!

Re-Signalling
The new signalling system uses advanced communications technology on trains. This will update the
traffic management system on the identity, location and speed of every train.
Progress of re-signalling efforts:
●  85% re-signalling completed on the EWL
●  Re-signalling is expected to be completed on the NSL in 2017 and on the EWL in 2018.

The Impact: This will
improve the capacity of
the NSEWL to run trains
at shorter intervals.

Third Rail Replacement
The Third Rail passes along the rails, and supplies
power to the train. The Third Rail Replacement
project marks the ﬁrst network-wide replacement
for NSEWL.
This project involves:
•  Turning off the power,
•  Unbolting the old Third Rails,
•  Replacing them with new ones,
•  Re-connecting the rails to the electricity
network.
.
The Impact: This will increase the reliability of the electrical system.

The Third Rail

Upgrading Older Trains
The C651 Siemens was introduced in 1994. SMRT is
upgrading the 19 C651 trains as they have logged more
train faults than other models.
When completed in 2018, the upgraded C651 Siemens
trains will have:
●  New air conditioning,
●  New electric doors, brakes and propulsion systems,
●  Sensors that furnish the train’s state of health,
●  A makeover for the cabins.

Increasing Passenger Capacity
30 new C151B trains for the NSEWL have been delivered to Bishan and Tuas Depots where they are
being ﬁtted out and tested extensively and are designed to operate with the new signalling system.
More new trains are on their way to Singapore.
The Impact:
There will be a
total of 57 new
trains,
allowing more
trains to be
run on the
NSEWL.

Maintaining Our Escalators
In January 2016, SMRT awarded OTIS
Elevator Co. (S) Pte. Ltd the contract to
refurbish 233 escalators from August 2016
to August 2021.
The main objectives are:
●  To replace worn-out parts – traction
machines, handrail drive, lubrication
system and safety switches,
●  To add new safety features – Dual
Speed Controller, Variable Speed
Device and Balustrade Panels
Securing Mechanism.

SMRT and OTIS jointly commenced the ‘Pre-Start Escalator and Site Survey’ exercise in February
2016, with the objective of assessing and reporting the pre-existing conditions of each escalator.
The challenge:
This is the ﬁrst escalator upgrading project to be carried out during service hours. It is being prioritised
to speed up work and minimise the impact to commuters.
Maintaining Our Escalators
The Impact: More
reliable and safer
escalator rides as part of
commuters’ daily
journeys once all 233
escalators are fully
refurbished.

Your safety is important! When using escalators, remember:
Staying Safe on Escalators

Keeping Screen Doors Functioning Smoothly
As a safety feature, a train cannot depart the station if
any of the 24 screen doors in a platform are detected as
open.
Preventive maintenance of PSDs is done from the
platform. It involves:
●  Checking all 24 screen doors,
●  Replacing worn-out parts such as the rubber nose
or guard,
●  Cleaning and removing debris,
●  Testing the emergency release lever,
●  Testing the opening and shutting of doors,
●  Observing how the doors interact with incoming
trains.
Did you know that there are 2,880 platform screen doors (PSDs) across the NSEWL?

Corrective maintenance
on faulty doors requires
the team to access the
track as the work has to
be done on the train-
facing side of the doors.
A project to replace
ageing parts in the doors
started in 2015 and is
scheduled to complete in
early 2017.
Keeping Screen Doors Functioning Smoothly

Improving Our Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is crucial in keeping trains cool and comfortable.
Here are some facts about the air conditioning in NSEWL Trains:

Why do aircon faults happen?

What happens when an aircon fault is detected?

We are working towards a better air conditioning system for you!

Coordinating Our Maintenance Efforts
To help serve our commuters better, SMRT has set up a Maintenance Operations Centre (MOC).

Strengthening Our Workforce
Alongside upgrading of our trains and rail
lines, we are working towards strengthening
our workforce.
•  Reinforcing Our Engineering
Workforce – Increasing the number of
staff for good working order.
•  Engineering Maintenance Manager
Role – Upgrading skills of middle
management to lead effectively.
•  Professional Education – Introducing
initiatives to nurture current and future
rail professionals.

Caring For Our Commuters
In the quest to improve and provide outstanding customer service to our passengers, SMRT has
launched several programmes since 2014:
●  Care Stickers: To identify passengers who would appreciate a seat
●  Priority Queues: At elevators, for passengers with needs
●  Charging Points: For quick charge of mobile devices
●  Escalator Safety announcements: For the safety of passengers
●  Care Zones: To allow quick responses to passengers who need help


The transformation of
NSEWL is making steady
progress. Passengers will
be able to enjoy
smoother, safer and
faster journeys on a
modernised rail network
with higher levels of
reliability and increased
capacity.

Your Journey Matters to Us...
And each journey is important to us.
Did you know that
over 2 million
passenger trips are
made on the SMRT
rail network every
day?

We seek the continued support of our commuters, as our team works
diligently and carefully to deliver a rejuvenated NSEWL that
Singaporeans will be proud of.
Your Journey Matters to Us...
Check out this cool ‘doodle video’ on the SMRT rail renewal programme!

SMRT - Your Journey Matters

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