Latest news with #BPLRTPowerRenewalProject
Online Citizen
04-07-2025
- Business
- Online Citizen
SMRT: Power system fault may have caused three-hour Bukit Panjang LRT disruption on 3 July
SINGAPORE: A nearly three-hour disruption halted services on the Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) line on 3 July 2025, after a fault in the system controlling power distribution triggered a power trip. SMRT Trains' president Lam Sheau Kai stated on 4 July that preliminary investigations indicated the issue may be linked to the Power SCADA (an acronym for supervisory control and data acquisition) system. This system is integral to the BPLRT network's operations, monitoring and controlling power distribution to maintain safety and reliability. According to Lam, the Power SCADA system developed a fault that subsequently affected the Emergency Trip System (ETS), resulting in the traction power being tripped. The SCADA system is part of the BPLRT Power Renewal Project, which is being conducted in collaboration with the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Colas Rail, Schneider Electric, and SMRT. The power disruption began at around 8.50am and affected train services at all BPLRT stations. Train services were progressively restored from 11.30am after the ETS was bypassed to reinstate traction power. Five trains were stalled between stations, while seven others were stationary at platforms during the outage. SMRT staff guided commuters from the stalled trains to the nearest stations safely. In response, regular and bridging bus services were activated to support affected commuters during the disruption. Additional staff were also deployed to man all stations throughout the rest of the day as a precaution. Lam confirmed that LTA and SMRT have launched a full investigation into the incident, which includes a comprehensive design review of the Power SCADA system to enhance network stability. He added that the organisations will continue to monitor the system closely as renewal works progress. On behalf of the BPLRT renewal project team, Lam issued an apology for the inconvenience and thanked commuters for their patience and understanding. This incident marked the second rail disruption in the week. On 1 July, a signalling fault at Orchard station on the Thomson-East Coast Line caused service delays between Napier and Great World stations for two hours. The Bukit Panjang LRT, which spans 8km, has a history of operational issues. The most recent major disruption occurred on 22 October 2024, when service stalled during the evening peak between Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang. Trains did not resume until the next morning. Initial investigations at the time pointed to a fault in one of the train's wheel assemblies. In response, LYA and SMRT announced reduced operating hours from Thursdays to Sundays, starting 14 November 2024 through to 31 October 2025, to accommodate renewal works. These efforts include upgrading the BPLRT's signalling system and testing both new and retrofitted light-rail vehicles. Since 2022, LTA has been progressively implementing a new communications-based train control system to enhance train speed regulation. The full system renewal is now slated for completion by end-2026, delayed by two years due to manpower shortages and supply chain issues stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2024, the LRT network, which includes the Sengkang-Punggol lines, recorded an average daily ridership of 210,000, reflecting a 4 per cent year-on-year increase.
Straits Times
04-07-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Power distribution system may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The Power Scada system plays a key role in monitoring and controlling power distribution across the LRT line. SINGAPORE - A system that monitors and controls power distribution may be linked to the power trip that caused service on the Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) system to be disrupted for almost three hours on July 3. In a post on train operator SMRT's Facebook page on July 4 , Mr Lam Sheau Kai, the president of SMRT Trains, said preliminary investigations found that the power trip could be linked to the Power Scada system . The system plays a key role in monitoring and controlling power distribution across the LRT line, enhancing the safety and reliability of train operations, he added. Mr Lai said the Power Scada system had developed a fault, which then affected the E mergency Trip System (ETS) and caused the traction power on the LRT line to be tripped. The system is part of the BPLRT Power Renewal Project , which is targeted for completion by end 2026. Mr Lam said LTA and SMRT are conducting an investigation to address the issue, which includes a comprehensive design review of the system to enhance network stability. 'We will continue to closely monitor the system as the renewal works progress,' he said. 'On behalf of the BPLRT renewal project team, we apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank commuters for their patience and understanding,' added Mr Lam. On July 3 , a power fault led to a disruption at all stations on the BPLRT line. Train services were stalled from about 8.50am and progressively resumed from 11.30am. As a result of the power fault, five trains were stalled between stations, while seven trains were stationary at platforms, said Mr Lam. Commuters who were on trains stalled on the track were guided by SMRT employees to the nearest station, he added. To allow the resumption of train services, Mr Lam said the ETS was bypassed, which reinstated traction power to the trains. Additional staff were also deployed to man all stations till the end of the day as an added safety measure, he added.
