Rover that spots 'invisible' cracks among tech aids for MRT track inspections

Cracks invisible to the human eye can be detected by a rover used by SBS Transit for track maintenance on the Downtown Line (DTL).

- Vanessa Paige Chelvan Correspondent and Esther Loi

As it moves over the rails, the rover provides real-time data to engineers on internal cracks or flaws in the tracks or any anomalies detected. It also monitors the tunnel itself, checking for cracks, water leaks or other structural anomalies.

Conceptualised in 2013 and put into service the following year, the rover has been upgraded over the years, including a major revamp in 2022 to add 3D cameras and laser sensors to allow it to inspect the third rail, which provides power to trains.

The latest version of the rail rover, which The Sunday Times saw in action on Oct 10, was rolled out for use in March on the DTL. It will be deployed on the 22-year-old North East Line (NEL) at the end of 2026 or early 2027. The NEL has about 44km of tracks.

With rail reliability in the spotlight, and a task force convened to look into rail disruptions over the past few months, technological solutions such as the rover are vital to ensuring the system continues to work well without interruptions.