A new high-level task force has been established in Singapore to urgently address a recent series of rail service disruptions and improve the overall reliability of the train network. This initiative is a direct response to at least fifteen separate instances of delays and interruptions that have occurred across the MRT and LRT systems over the past three months.
The most recent significant incident involved the full suspension of service on the Thomson-East Coast Line during the morning peak period on September 17. In a joint statement released on September 19, the Land Transport Authority, SMRT, and SBS Transit announced the formation of this specialized group. The task force will comprise technical experts and senior leadership from these key transport organizations.
This new body will be chaired by the Chief Executive of the Land Transport Authority, Ng Lang. It will also include the Group Chief Executive of SMRT, Ngien Hoon Ping, who is the former chief of the LTA, and the Group Chief Executive of SBS Transit, Jeffrey Sim. The team has been directed to report its findings regularly to Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow and is expected to deliver its final recommendations by the end of 2025.
The primary mandate of the task force is to conduct a thorough review of the recent incidents that led to service disruptions. Its goal is to identify specific components within the rail system that may require immediate replacement, upgrading, or an increase in maintenance frequency. One key area of focus will be an assessment of whether the planned renewal program for the North East Line's power system can be accelerated. This follows a major electrical outage on August 12 that affected both the North East Line and the Sengkang-Punggol LRT system for several hours.
Furthermore, the task force will evaluate methods to strengthen the signalling systems on both the North East Line and the SMRT-operated Circle Line. These are considered short-term measures to enhance reliability before a full system renewal is due. Both lines utilize the same signalling system, supplied by the French company Alstom, which is critical for directing rail traffic, maintaining safe distances between trains, and ensuring schedules are adhered to.
In addition to these reviews, the task force will jointly carry out comprehensive technical audits of the maintenance and operations of all critical systems. These audits will assess maintenance processes, staff training and competency, operational and redundancy procedures, and the physical condition of rail assets. The group will also explore ways to minimize the impact of any future service delays on commuters, which includes reviewing service recovery processes and the training regimes for frontline staff.
Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow addressed the public via a social media post on September 19, acknowledging the frustration of commuters. He stated that he has directed the LTA to share more information with the public regarding the ongoing investigations into the recent disruptions. He emphasized the complexity of train systems and the government's full commitment to maintaining a safe and reliable network. This marks the second time in two months that the Acting Transport Minister has publicly responded to concerns over rail reliability, following a separate five-hour disruption on the East-West Line in early August.
According to the latest statistics from the Land Transport Authority for the twelve months ending June 2025, the MRT network's overall reliability had already declined to its lowest level since 2020. The mean kilometre between failure, which measures the average distance travelled before a delay of more than five minutes, fell to 1.6 million train-km, down from 1.98 million train-km in 2024. Despite this decrease, the current performance remains above the government's longstanding target of one million train-km between delays.
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