SMRT Corp Ltd : SMRT Internal Investigation Team to extend its inquiries

SMRT Corporation Ltd

251 North Bridge Road

Singapore 179102

Tel : [phone]

Fax : [phone] www.smrt.com.sg

9 February 2012

SMRT INTERNAL INVESTIGATION TEAM TO EXTEND ITS INQUIRIES

The Internal Investigation Team, set up by the Board of SMRT Corporation Limited to review the causes and handling of train disruptions on the North-South Line on 15 and 17 December, will extend its inquiries to allow for a specialist review into rail vibrations to be completed.
The Board had originally asked the Team to report by 10 February 2012. Following consultations between the Team and the Board, the Team will now present its report to the Board in early March, to allow time for this technical review to be completed and assessed. Specialist assistance is being provided to SMRT from an overseas consultant; and which involves repetitive testing and measurements in the MRT tunnels.
Since announcing its formation in early January, the Team has met hundreds of SMRT staff who played a role managing the disruption events in December. The public has also been asked to share its views with the Team - particularly those who were affected by the disruptions. Since early January, over 60 emails have been received from the public, with more than half coming from people who were directly affected by the disruptions.
Leader of the Investigation Team, and Independent Board Director of SMRT Corporation, Mr
Ong Ye Kung, thanked the public for being so forthcoming in sharing views.
"Each letter from the public contains individual perspectives and observations, as well as some suggestions. A very common subject is communications - that commuters in the disrupted trains and stations should be given clearer directions on alternate routes, and that the commuting
public should be alerted not to head towards the affected stations.
"People give a range of suggestions for SMRT to improve its communications; from cutting edge social media to more simple things, like clear signs, announcements and instructions. Another common issue relates to the effectiveness of bridging buses.
"The feedback from the public is helping the team form concrete and realistic recommendations about improvements SMRT can implement to address the real concerns the public have
about the management of disruptions," said Mr Ong.
Members of the public with views on the incidents - particularly those who were involved - are invited to write to [e-mail] provide any views they wish to share with the Independent Investigation Team.
"Identifying the cause of the December incidents is important, and is why we need to give more time for the specialists to complete their work. The twin focus of our recommendations will be to help prevent a recurrence of such disruptions, and also strengthen the emergency preparedness of the organisation," Mr Ong said.

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