We thank Mr Gabriel Cheng Kian Tiong for his letter “Train delays need to be better managed” (6 June 2017).

In our statement of 2 June, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT Trains had explained the two unrelated signalling faults that occurred on 1 and 2 June. The first incident was caused by a glitch in the server used to manage train schedules. The following day, a signalling equipment known as the Movement Authority Unit (MAU) registered a fault, resulting in slower train movement between Kranji and Admiralty stations.

During both incidents, SMRT Trains deployed about 700 additional staff to assist commuters and to manage the crowd at stations. TransCom officers, Traffic Police and LTA officers managed road traffic so that commuters could quickly resume their journeys using alternative modes of travel.

Under the current state of heightened security alert, security measures have been stepped up. We urge commuters to also stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to our ground staff.

To test our new signalling system, full-day tests on weekdays cannot be avoided. This gives us the opportunity to surface problems with the new system expeditiously and resolve them. We seek commuters’ understanding and patience as we continue testing the new signalling system.

Jeremy Yap
Deputy Chief Executive (Public Transport, Policy and Planning)
Land Transport Authority

Lee Ling Wee
Chief Executive Officer
SMRT Trains