Singapore – Daily passenger services will no longer be halted when the Land Transport Authority (LTA) builds its new testing centre that can check trains and railway systems.
On April 24 (Wednesday), the LTA released details on its new Integrated Train Testing Centre (ITTC) which will be located at the former Raffles Country Club.
The ITTC will be able to test trains and other crucial railway processes such as electrical and signaling systems 24/7. The site will also be able to provide training to railway workers before deployment, perform train refurbishments, and conduct research and development for future train technologies.
According to Today, the new centre will be able to conduct train tests before being deployed which means there will be no need to shorten MRT operating hours to allow the engineers to work.
Mr Chua Chong Kheng, LTA’s deputy chief executive for infrastructure and development, said that “This approach frees up precious engineering hours for other activities, such as railway maintenance, and reduces the need for future early closures and late openings.”
Furthermore, Mr Chua added that troubleshooting can be done locally which will speed up the tracing and addressing of issues.
Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan mentioned the realization on the side of the authorities for the need of this centre as “part of the lessons we learnt when we re-signalled the North-South and subsequent East-West lines.”
“To have an on-site testing centre, there are many benefits. Otherwise you are forced to test a new system on a live system with all its attendant risks,” said Minister Khaw. The centre will allow for the testing and R&D to be conducted within the country instead of relying on its original equipment manufacturer usually located overseas.
“Or if you dare not do that, then you do it during engineering hours, but then you are fighting for time for that three to four hours a day,” added Mr Khaw.
Over the next few months, the LTA will commence with the contract and design and of the centre. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2020.
The facility will start receiving trains for Circle Line 6 around end-2022, the LTA added.
Once completed, Singapore will join other countries such as Japan, Korea and Germany who have similar testing centres for their extensive rail networks.