Taxpayers & commuters could bear cost if rail reliability targets are raised, current benchmark still 'valid'

Taxpayers and commuters could bear the cost of raising rail reliability targets, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said in parliament on Nov. 11, 2024, adding that raising it further has to be carefully assessed.

The transport minister was responding to a question by Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh of the Workers' Party.

Singh had asked if the Ministry of Transport (MOT) is considering raising the threshold, since the target of 1 million mean kilometres between failure (MKBF) was set about five years ago.

Chee said the best and most reliable rail operators have managed to achieve the 1 million figure in their systems.

They include operators in Taipei and Guangzhou.

The current rail reliability target of 1 million MKBF remains a "relevant and valid" target, Chee replied.

Earlier, while answering questions submitted by other Members of Parliament, Chee shared that the overall MKBF for the MRT network has increased from about 1.8 million train-km in end-September, to almost 2 million train-km as at end-October.

“If we look at it today, I think it's still a relevant and valid target, something that is useful for us to focus on, and that is something which we will continue to work towards,” he said.

Any change in target will not be cost-free.

“Because there is a trade-off between raising MKBF further and what is the cost incurred, which will then ultimately have to be borne by either taxpayers or commuters,” Chee said.

He added that the authorities will continue to pay close attention to keeping the MKBF above the 1 million target, as commuters look to safety and reliability.

“So, we will study this carefully,” he said.

He added that SMRT has formed a workgroup to review its maintenance practices, as well as systems and processes.

Representatives from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the National Transport Workers’ Union have been invited to join the workgroup, while Guangzhou and Taipei metro operators will also be engaged.

Rail reliability was being discussed in parliament after a major MRT disruption occurred along a section of the East-West Line occurred in September for about six days, as a result of a faulty train having caused extensive damage to the tracks and other equipment.

In October, train services along the Bukit Panjang LRT line were disrupted due to a train fault.

Services only resumed a day later.

Top photo via SMRT