Safety nets to be installed after rail clip incidents: SMRT

After two rail clips broke and fell off the viaducts located along the train tracks near Clementi and Jurong East this week, SMRT will be installing temporary safety nets along the affected stretches of tracks on Friday night.

Rail clips are about 10cm in length, and fasten train rails to horizontal wooden planks that lie below them. They are placed at 0.7m intervals along the train tracks, and are usually checked every evening when passenger service hours end.

In a statement released on Friday evening, the train operator announced its plans to install safety netting along two stretches to allay concerns of public safety along the stretches of tracks near human activity.

Additionally, SMRT will be working with the Land Transport Authority to install wire mesh along stretches of viaducts near human traffic over the coming weeks, and will run checks through its system to replace clips that show signs of wear and tear.

Of the steps taken, SMRT's executive vice president for trains Khoo Hean Siang said, "We take a serious view of these recent incidents of broken rail clips, and are putting all available maintenance resources to look into the matter, to ensure that public safety is not compromised."

He added that both clips that broke and dropped off the tracks will be sent for laboratory testing, on the advice of the LTA, to determine the reasons behind their failure.

According to SMRT, it is "very rare" for broken clips to drop off, having only encountered three other similar incidents in the past four years. The spokesperson noted, however, that broken rail clips do not affect the safety of rail operations as other clips that are intact are still able to secure the track.

The first clip that broke fell off the tracks on Monday from a viaduct near TradeHub21, an area of office buildings near Jurong East MRT station. The second rail clip dropped off the tracks near Clementi MRT station on Thursday evening, triggering greater safety concerns.

The LTA has also requested full reports from SMRT on the two incidents that occurred this week.

The train operator is still reeling from two major train disruptions that occurred over three days in December last year, as investigations by the SMRT and an external independent panel continue.