Mean Kilometers Between Failures (MKBF) for Singapore’s MRT crosses the 1.4 million km mark with the East-West Line achieving 2.5 million km as announced by Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan in a Facebook post this morning (15 May 2020).
This is no easy feat. Success is not built overnight and so is our MRT’s reliability. Investments made in asset renewal and constant maintenance have definitely paid off. Let’s take a look below at some of the key renewals made:
Sleeper Replacement Works
Completed in 2017, the sleeper renewal works saw the change out of 188,000 wooden sleepers used on the North-South East-West Lines (NSEWL) since it’s opening to concrete sleepers citing durability and to ensure a smoother commute.
Third Rail Replacement
Critical in supplying power to the trains, these rails were replaced in 2017 for the NSEWL.
Resignalling
The NSEWL has its legacy signalling system upgraded in 2018. This allows trains to run at closer intervals, and provides multiple redundancies to improve reliability.
Power Supply Renewal
Power supply renewal work is currently in progress on the NSEWL. Slated to be completed by 2023, it will replace 1,300 km of electrical cables, 206 transformers, 172 switchboards and equipment in 171 substations.
SMRT Press Release The Straits Times News Article
Introduction of New Trains
Since 2015, 99 trains were added with new features such as brighter interiors using LED lights, electric doors, upgraded travel information systems as well as an improved air-conditioning system. With these upgrades, the reliability of trains and passenger comfort are expected to improve significantly.
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