SMRT to Pay Reduced $2.4m Fine for EWL Disruption; Commits $600k for Service Improvement

SMRT will pay a reduced fine of $2.4 million for a major disruption on the East-West Line in September 2024. This is lower than the initial penalty of $3 million proposed by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in June. The fine will be used to assist lower-income families with public transport costs. Additionally, SMRT is required to invest at least $600,000 to enhance its capabilities and improve service reliability for commuters.

LTA considered the challenges faced by SMRT in planning and executing the overhaul regime for the trains, especially due to global supply chain disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. SMRT Trains president mentioned plans to strengthen engagement with train manufacturers and enhance technical expertise through collaboration.

The revised penalty is the second-highest imposed on a rail operator, following a $5.4 million fine on SMRT in 2015. Investigations revealed that degraded grease caused a part of a train to derail, resulting in extensive damage to the track and equipment.

According to the source: The Straits Times.