Singapore public transport operator, SBS Transit, Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, and its subsidiary Metro Consulting Service (MKBF), signed an agreement to strength engineering and maintenance capabilities as it works towards the 1 million train-km mean kilometre between failures target.
The memorandum enables the three organisations to leverage on each other’s competencies and experiences in operations and maintenance through mutual exchanges, study visits, training and the sharing of best practices.
“The partnership we have forged with TRTC and Metro Consulting will help us to leverage on each other’s strengths and experiences in operations and maintenance,” SBS Transit CEO Gan Juay Kiat said.
SBS Transit, whose North-East Line (NEL), Downtown Line (DTL) and the Sengkang Punggol LRT systems (SPLRT) have operated at MKBFs of 663,000 train-km, 650,000 train-km and 115,000 car-km respectively in 2017, has introduced a series of initiatives aimed at further improving the reliability of its rail networks.
It has, for example, invested in predictive maintenance monitoring systems to identify and flag out component deterioration for rectification before they develop into a fault. Power faults are now monitored via a system which continually scans the high voltage power cables for power discharge. In the case of the power transformers, the Dissolved Gas Analysis system is used to detect any thermal or electrical fault by analysing the gas composition in the insulating oil of the transformer. Track faults can also cause delays to rail service. As a first line of detection for track defects or faults, SBS Transit successfully tested and commissioned the Automatic Track Inspection system on the Downtown Line with the Land Transport Authority last year.
Over the next few months, SBS Transit will roll out the systems with funding support from LTA. “We are working hard to achieve the 1,000,000 train-km MKBF for NEL and DTL and will keep pushing ourselves to doing better to improve train reliability,” Gan said.
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