SMRT CEO says 2024 EWL breakdown could have been prevented with better coordination

The six-day disruption to train services on the East-West Line (EWL) in September 2024 could have been prevented with better coordination among all parties involved, said SMRT group chief executive Ngien Hoon Ping on July 31.

- Kok Yufeng

Setting out the rail operator's view of the breakdown - one of Singapore's worst so far, affecting 2.6 million passengers - Mr Ngien said the right lessons needed to be learnt so that the same mistakes are not made again.

This means working more closely with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and equipment manufacturers during fleet and systems renewals.

"We need robust, forward-looking life-cycle planning, clear roles and responsibilities, and much tighter cross-agency collaboration moving forward," said Mr Ngien during a press conference on the latest financial results for SMRT's train division.

On July 31, SMRT said the 2024 EWL breakdown has prompted "deeper reflections" on the challenges of operating rail assets beyond their intended lifespan.

Noting that MRT trains in Singapore are designed to be operated for 30 years, the operator called for a structured framework to manage ageing trains, suggesting that LTA issue a formal certificate to rail operators if such trains are used beyond their intended lifespans.

Such certificates are already issued for new trains before they enter service.

The 2024 EWL disruption was traced to a faulty part on a 37-yearold, first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) train.