Netizens concerned with new ‘Made in China’ quality MRT trains in S’pore to replace 35-year-old fleet

The first batch of the new MRT trains has arrived in Singapore, which will replace the 35-year-old fleet.

“The first two of the new North-South and East-West Line trains are home!” said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a Facebook post on Monday (Feb 21).

LTA said the new trains are a part of the fleet of 106 new trains scheduled to replace the ones that started operating in 1987.

The new trains come with an integrated suite of condition monitoring features to aid pre-emptive maintenance and commuter-friendly features such as refreshed LCD screens displaying train travel information.

These trains are also “international citizens,” said LTA.

“The design was conceptualised in Germany before they were manufactured and assembled in China, and their parts were sourced from various countries including the United Kingdom, France and Germany.”

The new trains are decked out with green and red stripes, symbolising the NSEWL and LTA’s livery.

LTA noted that the trains are currently undergoing a series of rigorous testing and commissioning works before they’re ready to serve the public at the end of 2022.

Although many from the online community aired their excitement for the upgrade, others expressed their concerns regarding the quality.

“Made in China again, have we not learned our lesson from the other time SMRT had to secretly ship back faulty trains to China in the middle of the night,” said a netizen, referring to the 2018 incident when 11 defective trains were sent back to China for repairs.

A total of 26 out of the 35 trains delivered by the manufacturer were found to have cracks in the structure, despite being barely five years old.

It was reported that all 26 trains would be repaired by 2023.

“Quality of the work is more important for the safety of all passengers. But China-made is always a question mark. iPhone is (for) personal use. (The) train is public transport,” added another netizen.

Meanwhile, others hoped that the upgrade would not lead to a corresponding fare increase.

“They will upgrade the trains and will do upgrade the cost of pricing fare too,” said a Facebook netizen while another said to “prepare for another price hit.” /TISG

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