The trial will see train services along the North-South Line being put on hold for 10 minutes daily.
Beginning 28 March 2017, SMRT will be launching a trial programme for its new signalling system. For the trial, passenger service on the North South Line (NSL) will be affected during the last hour of operation, which is after 11pm.
The trial begins
To facilitate the changeover, all trains travelling along the NSL will remain stationary at 11pm for about 10 minutes for SMRT’s Operations Control Centre to switch the network system, before service resumes in the new signalling mode.
Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s new system will allow trains to run more closely to each other, helping to shorten waiting time at stations from the current 120 seconds to 100 seconds. This will improve peak-hour capacity by up to 20%.
During the trial, train operations and performance will be closely monitored, with SMRT’s service ambassadors on standby at all NSL stations to provide assistance to commuters. The results of the trial will assist LTA in its plans to extend the trial to longer service hours and eventually the complete switchover to the new signalling system.
Since last August, LTA and SMRT have been conducting trial runs after passenger service hours. Engineers also tested trains at interchange stations between NSL and the East-West Line to ensure a smooth changeover, as the new system has yet to be completed for the EWL.
SMRT director for Station Operations for NSL and EWL Mr Siu Yow Wee said, “We would like to remind commuters not to rush to board the trains, as train doors will open and close automatically on the new signalling system.”
For more updates on the trial, take a look at LTA’s Facebook page.
