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SINGAPORE - A thorough fleet-wide inspection of SMRT's trains was conducted only after the second massive disruption on Dec 17, the Committee of Inquiry (COI) into last year's train breakdowns heard on Wednesday.
After the first breakdown on Dec 15, only visual checks were done on trains returning to the Bishan and Ulu Pandan depots.
Subsequently, on Dec 16, these checks were extended to trains at the third depot at Changi, The Straits Times reported of the third day's hearings.
These details were clarified when ASP Roy Lim from the Criminal Investigation Department gave his testimony and was questioned by Second Solicitor General Lionel Yee.
The initial checks showed only five trains to have damaged current collector shoes, but thorough inspections after Dec 17 revealed that 11 trains were affected.
Collector shoes are metal contact devices that glide under the "third rail" of the train tracks, and which pick up electrical power from the rail.
SMRT, who was represented by Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull, clarified that there were plans to conduct the fleet-wide inspections following the first breakdown, but the transport operator was unable to execute them.
Mr Bull said that SMRT's priority was to fix the damaged trains after the first day's breakdown, The Straits Times reported.
The thorough inspections that were eventually carried out took 28 days to complete.
adrianl@sph.com.sg
Photos: 6,500 commuters affected by MRT train breakdowns in Dec
Click on thumbnail to view. (Photos: ST, Stomp, TNP) |
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