New centre features staff initiatives on productivity, safety

The depot has replaced its overhead cranes with a fleet of 11 rail-guided vehicles (RGVs), or autonomous robots, which are used to move heavy train components such as bogie frames and can each carry loads of up to five tonnes.

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A bogie is the undercarriage of a train. Each train car has two bogies, so a six-car train has 12.

Previously, these bulky parts often sat idle in queues till a crane was available to lift them.

The RGVs' height-adjustable platforms allow staff to work more comfortably on the frames, reducing strain and the likelihood of back injuries, SMRT said. The robot's controlled movements also improve safety by reducing the risks of manual lifting and overhead operations.

Another addition is the new bogie disassembly and assembly system, which automates the labour-intensive process of separating bogie frames from wheelsets and reassembling them.

Previously, the task relied heavily on the overhead cranes, leading to delays as engineers waited for access. The work also required repeated manual adjustments to align wheelsets with the frame.

The new system links directly to the RGVs, which deliver bogie frames to workstations and collect them once the process is complete.