Chitchat LRT Hairline cracks - LTA/MOT releases new, panic not expected

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

It goes to show that what other things has this govt hidden over the years. Suddenly the need to release such news, even revealing who did the testing, sending one carriage to Japan to determine cause of cracks.

Looks like the HK New Agency put the fear of god into our Buddhist Minister finally. Note also the joint statement to share the accountability. No more flippant comments like $8 heart surgery, "only one vendor responded to the bike tender", send old people to JB etc.

God only knows how long this shenanigans will last.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...3113730.html11 LRT trains on Sengkang-Punggol Line found with hairline cracks
Posted 09 Sep 2016 15:04 Updated 09 Sep 2016 15:20

SINGAPORE: Eleven first-generation LRT trains from the Sengkang-Punggol line were found with hairline cracks, after SBS Transit's fleet-wide inspection in July this year.

According to a joint press release from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SBS Transit on Friday (Sep 9), the affected vehicles have been in operation since the LRT line started in 2003.



The hairline cracks, which were found on the bogie frames, do not compromise its weight bearing property. One of the core functions of the bogie frame is to support the guidance system of the vehicle, the press release said.

An independent assessor, TUV Rheinland, found the defects were not safety-critical, which was an analysis shared by the manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), it added.

But as a precautionary measure, the 11 vehicles were immediately withdrawn from passenger service for replacement of the bogie frames. Six of them have been restored and returned to service, both parties said.

The remaining five are expected to be reinstated by mid-October 2016. LRT services have not been affected as there are 57 LRVs in the SPLRT fleet, and a maximum of 36 trains are deployed at any one time, they said.

To determine the cause, a sample of the affected bogie frame was sent to MHI for a detailed analysis. Both LTA and SBS Transit are working with the manufacturer to redesign, strengthen and replace the bogie frame structures on all 57 LRT vehicles.

The detailed improvement timeline is being worked out, and MHI will bear the replacement costs, they added.

SBS Transit has also been inspecting all vehicles on a weekly basis for any new defects, according to the press release.


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