Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport, Mr Khaw Boon Wan unveiled a $100 million Rail Manpower Development Package (RMDP) today at the Public Transport Workers’ Appreciation Day 2019. The RMDP initiative for railway workers is co-developed with the Public Transport Operators (PTOs) and the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU), and aims to expand the rail workforce and accelerate the rail workforce transformation over the next five years. This will prepare our workers to run an expanded and more complex rail system, so as to better serve Singaporeans.
2 Over the next decade or so, LTA will be adding three new rail lines – the Thomson-East Coast Line, Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line. This will increase the length of the rail network by about 130km, bringing the total network length to about 360km in 2030, and about 8 in 10 households within a 10-minute walk of a train station. This expansion will be taking place even as we upgrade ageing rail assets across existing lines to sustain rail reliability, and adopt new operations and maintenance technologies such as remote condition sensors and augmented reality to achieve greater cost efficiencies.
3 The RMDP enhances existing training programmes offered by the PTOs and initiatives supported by Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore. It comprises three key components:
(A) Manpower development incentives to encourage PTOs to expand and accelerate their training in future-relevant technologies and skillsets, in emerging areas such as data analytics and condition-based maintenance. Around 3,000 rail workers will benefit;
(B) New SGRail Industry Scholarships and in-service sponsorships co-funded by LTA and the PTOs to attract and retain talent to become future industry leaders. The SGRail Industry Scholarships for programmes at ITE and Institutes of Higher Learning are open to students who wish to pursue a promising career in the rail industry. Around 400 students and workers will benefit; and
(C) Co-investments in training hardware equipment like simulators or virtual reality equipment that help support more hands-on training in a safe and controlled environment.
Recognising and Showing Appreciation to our Public Transport Workers
4 Themed “Happier and Healthier Public Transport Workers”, the annual Public Transport Workers’ Appreciation Day event at Toa Payoh Hub Atrium is jointly organised by LTA, the NTWU, and the four PTOs[1], with support from the Health Promotion Board (HPB).
5 More information on the activities for PTWAD are available in Annex A.