North-South Line MRT trains to stop on tracks for testing on 28 March
Trains on the North-South Line of the MRT will be stopped for about 10 minutes starting at 11pm Tuesday night (28 March) to switch over to a new signalling system, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT said in a joint media release Monday. Trains will then resume operation in the new signalling mode.
During the test, an announcement will be made to passengers to inform them of the delay. SMRT will also be deploying staff at stations to provide assistance to commuters.
According to SMRT, there will be no change to the train service hours.
The upgraded signalling system is part of ongoing efforts to spruce up the rail network, which in recent years has seen a number of track faults and train breakdowns that caused delays.
According to the joint statement, moving from the Fixed Block System to a more advanced Communications-Based Train Control System will allow trains to run more closely together, thereby shortening wait times by 20 seconds, resulting in an improvement in peak-hour capacity by up to 20 per cent.
In addition, train doors will open and close automatically under the new system, and commuters have been advised not to rush to board the trains.
LTA and SMRT have been testing the new system during non-service hours since August 2016. The in-service trials will determine the eventual introduction of the new system on the North-South Line.
