Latest news with #SMRT
Independent Singapore
16 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
'He filmed me on the MRT and wouldn't stop — Am I really powerless to do anything?'
SINGAPORE: A regular day on Singapore's MRT became surprisingly rough for a rail user when a man started recording her continuously, using his mobile phone. 'I told him to stop, but he just kept filming me,' said the commuter. 'I have no idea what he wanted to do with the footage. I know it's technically legal to record someone in a public space, but it still made me really uncomfortable.' It's a situation that triggered a strong reaction online, exposing a grey area between legality and personal limits. Although filming other people in public spaces like the MRT is not against the law, the incident raises more profound questions about harassment and permission, especially when someone expresses distress and embarrassment. Reddit users weighed in with a combination of hands-on advice and some humorous responses. One of the most common recommendations is to report it to SMRT staff. 'Not much you can do, other than maybe just reporting to SMRT staff for them to have a record of the person,' one netizen wrote. Another Redditor prompted the original poster to file an unused exit claim via the public transport app if she alighted from the train precipitately to avoid the guy. 'They'll look over your journey history and will, in all likelihood, refund the difference,' the commenter advised. However, the responses weren't all about officialdom, as some netizens proposed a more forceful tactic. 'Film him back,' one Redditor commented — a suggestion backed by others, who further advised, 'Record him back to assert dominance,' and even, 'Shine your phone torch light back at him.' While these ideas may seem daring (or even a little rude), they demonstrate a fundamental desire for control in a circumstance where one feels disrespected and vulnerable. When does it cross the line? More than a few commenters highlighted the fact that while public filming isn't prohibited, to cause someone anguish through insistent filming can be viewed as harassment, and if the person filming follows you around or shifts positions just to stay near you, the situation could spiral into nuisance, stalking, and aggravation, which are serious legal offences in Singapore. One Redditor proposed a technique to document such behaviour: 'Record him at your initial position, then move to a different location. If he follows and you capture him again, now you have potential proof of stalking.' Another commenter suggested taking a photo of the man as proof, notifying him that his behaviour is upsetting, and seeking help from the station staff or even the police if the conduct continues. Navigating the legal and personal boundaries This MRT incident is a reminder that while public spaces provide inadequate privacy, that doesn't mean improper behaviour should go unchecked. Feeling discomfort when being recorded is valid, and so is speaking up. Whether it's notifying SMRT staff, making a police report, or merely stepping away and recording the episode for your defence, there are steps you can take. In an era when cameras are always on, the most significant lesson to learn is that respect for other people's ease, well-being, and consent still counts, even in public.
Straits Times
19 hours ago
- Straits Times
Bus and train services to be extended on eve of National Day
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Several train and bus services will operate later into the night on Aug 8, the eve of the National Day public holiday. SINGAPORE – Some train and bus services will operate later into the night on Aug 8, the eve of the National Day public holiday, to accommodate commuters heading home from celebrations. The last trains from City Hall MRT station will depart at 12.30am in all four directions – towards Jurong East, Marina South Pier, Pasir Ris and Tuas Link. On the Circle Line, the final train from Dhoby Ghaut station heading to HarbourFront will leave at 11.55pm, while the last train in the opposite direction will depart at 11.30pm. For the Thomson-East Coast Line, the last train will leave Woodlands North station at midnight, and Bayshore station at 12.12am. However, there will be no extension of operating hours for the Bukit Panjang LRT service and the Changi Airport extension. Public transport operator SMRT said that several bus services will also run later that night. The last buses for services 300, 301, 302, 307 and 983A will leave Choa Chu Kang interchange at 1.40am. In Woodlands, services 901, 911, 912A, 912B and 913 will depart from the Integrated Transport Hub at 1.25am. Services 920, 922 and 973A will leave Bukit Panjang interchange at 1.25am, while service 974A will depart from the bus stop opposite Choa Chu Kang MRT station at 1.40am. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Thirty dead, over 80,000 evacuated, following heavy rain in Beijing Asia Thai army accuses Cambodia of violating truce Singapore NDP 2025: Enhanced security measures to be put in place around the Padang Business SIA shares tumble 6.8% after first-quarter profit slide Sport World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro among list of top names for Singapore football coach World Trump says many are starving in Gaza, vows to set up food centres Business BYD tops Singapore car sales in first half of 2025 with almost one-fifth of the market Singapore ST Explains: What we know about the Tanjong Katong sinkhole so far
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
SMRT reports unauthorised post on its X account, says investigation under way
Find out what's new on ST website and app. At 11.08pm on July 27, a photo of a woman in traditional attire was posted on SMRT's official X account, accompanied by the caption 'R'. SINGAPORE – SMRT has reported an unauthorised post to X that appeared on the train operator's official social media account late on July 27. At 1 1.08pm on July 27, a photo of a South Asian woman in traditional attire was posted on the account, accompanied by the caption 'R'. Checks by The Straits Times showed that the post remained online for about 10 minutes before it was removed. During that brief window, it garnered over 2,000 views and was reposted more than 20 times , a figure that is higher than the account's usual engagement rate. SMRT's official X account SMRT Corporation has over 471,000 followers. The page typically posts announcements and update s on disruptions to train services . In response to queries from ST, SMRT on July 28 sa id it was looking into the matter. 'We are aware of an unauthorised post that appeared on our official X account late Sunday night. We have reported the incident to X and are currently investigating this matter,' said Ms Margaret Teo , its group chief communications officer. The post sparked confusion online, with users of online platforms Reddit and HardwareZone sharing screenshots and speculating that SMRT's X account might have been hacked, or that a page administrator had accidentally posted a personal photo. Others questioned if the account had been spoofed. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Singapore MRT platform screen doors at 15 underground stations to undergo renewal Singapore 'Medium risk' of severe haze as higher agricultural prices drive deforestation: S'pore researchers Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose Singapore Police statements by doctor in fake vaccine case involving Iris Koh allowed in court: Judge Singapore Authorities say access to Changi intertidal areas unaffected by reclamation, in response to petition Singapore No change to SIA flights between S'pore and Cambodia, S'pore and Thailand, amid border dispute Singapore Not feasible for S'pore to avoid net‑zero; all options to cut energy emissions on table: Tan See Leng ST has sent further queries to SMRT.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Singapore's SMRT fined RM7.9m for six-day MRT disruption in 2024, down from initial RM9.9m
SINGAPORE, July 26 — Singapore public transport operator SMRT will pay a reduced fine of S$2.4 million (RM7.9 million) over a major six-day MRT disruption on the East-West Line in September 2024, following a review by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The penalty is S$600,000 less than the initial amount announced in June. According to The Straits Times, the updated fine was revealed in an LTA statement yesterday. The regulator said it had considered SMRT's representations and the challenges the operator faced during the incident, including pandemic-related supply chain disruptions that delayed spare parts for train overhauls. The fine will go into the Public Transport Fund to help lower-income households with commuting costs, said LTA. SMRT has also been directed to invest at least S$600,000 within a year to strengthen its maintenance capabilities and submit documented proof of the improvements. 'In reaching this decision, LTA took into consideration the considerable challenges SMRT had faced in planning and executing their overhaul regime for the Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) trains,' the authority said, citing the global delays triggered by Covid-19. The disruption stemmed from a faulty component on a first-generation KHI train that led to a partial derailment between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations on the morning of September 25, 2024. Services were affected until September 30, disrupting about one in six trips each day. Investigations found that SMRT had extended overhaul intervals without a detailed engineering or risk assessment. The root cause was traced to degraded grease, which led to the detachment of an axle box — a key component connecting the train's wheels — near Dover station. One of the train's bogies derailed as a result, damaging 2.55km of track and trackside infrastructure. SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai responded in a Facebook post, saying the operator will 'strengthen its direct engagement with original equipment manufacturers of trains and systems' and invest in technical expertise through deeper collaboration. Lam added that SMRT has long prioritised workforce development and upskilling, and will continue supporting the secondment of LTA engineers — a practice ongoing since 2018. SMRT is also working with LTA and Alstom to progressively roll out the new R151 trains, with all 106 units expected on the North-South and East-West lines by 2026. As of June 29, 61 R151 trains were in operation. The ageing KHI fleet is set to be retired by September. The Straits Times reported that LTA had earlier described the original S$3 million fine as 'proportionate', but also took into account SMRT's financial outlay for emergency bus bridging and shuttle services during the disruption, as well as repair costs. SMRT had submitted its representations on June 6 after receiving LTA's notice of intention to penalise the operator on May 30. The transport regulator reviewed the submission before confirming the revised fine on July 25. SMRT has 14 days to appeal the penalty to Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow. Asked by The Straits Times whether it would do so, Lam said only that SMRT had 'noted that LTA had considered its representations'. The S$2.4 million penalty is the second-highest imposed on a rail operator in Singapore's history. The record fine remains the S$5.4 million SMRT incurred following a 2015 disruption that shut down the entire North-South and East-West lines during evening rush hour.
The Star
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Singapore rail operator to pay lower fine of S$2.4m for line disruption; must invest at least S$600k to boost reliability
SINGAPORE: Rail operator SMRT will pay a lower fine of S$2.4 million (US$1.87 million) for a major six-day disruption on the East-West Line in September 2024, after it submitted representations to the Land Transport Authority (LTA). This is down from the financial penalty of S$3 million that LTA intended to hand out in June when the investigation findings into the incident were released. Announcing the updated penalty in a statement on July 25, LTA said the penalty will go to the Public Transport Fund to help lower-income families with their public transport expenditures. The authority added that it had directed SMRT to invest a minimum of S$600,000 to strengthen its capabilities, and address areas for improvement from the incident, so as to improve service reliability. 'In reaching this decision, LTA took into consideration the considerable challenges SMRT had faced in planning and executing their overhaul regime for the Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) trains, particularly in procuring the necessary spare parts for the overhaul due to global supply chain disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.' The incident, which involved a faulty part on a first-generation KHI train, downed MRT services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations and affected about one in six train trips daily from Sept 25 to 30 in 2024. An LTA spokesperson told The Straits Times that SMRT will need to channel S$600,000 towards improving its capabilities within a year, and submit a declaration and documented proof of this. In a Facebook post shortly after LTA's statement, SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai said the operator will strengthen its direct engagement with original equipment manufacturers of trains and systems. The operator will also deepen its technical and engineering expertise through closer collaboration with these companies. On LTA's directive to invest a minimum of S$600,000 in beefing up its capabilities, Lam said the development and upskilling of its workforce have long been SMRT's priorities. In addition, the operator will continue supporting the secondment of LTA engineers to SMRT – an initiative introduced in 2018. It will also work closely with LTA and Alstom, the manufacturer of the new R151 trains, to roll out the fleet progressively. By 2026, there will be 106 R151 trains on the North-South and East-West lines. As at June 29, 61 of these trains were in service. The last of the KHI trains will be phased out by September. Investigations into the disruption showed that SMRT had extended the interval between overhauls for the faulty train without a detailed engineering and risk assessment. On its part, the operator had flagged supply chain disruptions arising from the pandemic, which delayed the delivery of new trains meant to replace the first-generation models and spare parts needed for overhauls. LTA had originally notified SMRT of its intention to impose the S$3 million penalty on May 30, and gave the operator two weeks to submit its representations. SMRT did so on June 6. While the details of SMRT's submission were not disclosed, representations may include reasons why the operator believes it should not be penalised as well as other applicable mitigating factors. LTA reviewed SMRT's representations before a notice of the penalty was sent to the rail operator on July 25. SMRT has 14 days to appeal to the transport minister if it wishes. If that happens, the final decision lies with the minister, who can opt to reject the appeal, or allow it and change LTA's decision. Responding to ST's query, Lam did not say if SMRT would lodge an appeal with Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow. But he said the company had received LTA's notice to impose the penalty and noted that LTA had considered its representations. LTA reiterated that Singapore's rail system continues to be one of the most reliable worldwide. Since 2019, the mean kilometres between failure of the MRT network has remained above the one million train-km target, it noted. This means MRT trains travelled for more than one million kilometres between delays of more than five minutes. The revised S$2.4 million penalty is the second-highest to be levied on a rail operator, after the S$5.4 million fine that SMRT incurred over a 2015 disruption that crippled the entire North-South and East-West lines for more than two hours during the evening peak period. In June, LTA said a S$3 million penalty for the September 2024 disruption was 'proportionate' to the circumstances surrounding the incident. The authority said it also considered the cost that SMRT had borne from the repairs, and from providing free bus and shuttle train services at the affected stations. Investigations pointed to degraded grease as the likely cause of the incident. This led to a faulty part of the train's undercarriage falling out on the morning of Sept 25, 2024. The part – an axle box, which holds the train's wheels to the axle, a rod connecting a pair of wheels – was dislodged near Dover station while the train was being withdrawn from service to Ulu Pandan Depot. This caused one of the train's 12 bogies – a structure below the train carriage – to derail. The six-carriage train could continue travelling, as the other 11 bogies remained on the rails. But the derailed portion of the third carriage caused extensive damage to 2.55km of track and trackside equipment, such as power cables and the third rail, which supplies power to trains. Associate Professor Walter Theseira, a transport economist at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, told ST that in the context of rail operations, the $600,000 requirement for improvements is not a very significant amount. It could fund reviews and process improvements, but would not suffice for any substantial engineering work. He also said new trains are 'not a cure for reliability by themselves', as they will result in better reliability only after teething issues have been sorted out. Prof Theseira also believes LTA should examine its own capability to judge the quality of a maintenance regime. 'While the operator is on the ground and has first-hand knowledge, it may also be that the regulator should have a well-formed second opinion.' - The Straits Times/ANN
