Progress of Sleeper Replacements for MRT Tracks

Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for Transport (a) what is the progress of sleeper replacements for MRT tracks; (b) whether there have been any delays to the progress; and (c) when can speeds of trains return to the normal 60-80 km/h from the current safety speed of 40kmh for the Kranji-Yew Tee-Keat Hong track segment.

Mr Lui Tuck Yew: Sleeper replacement for MRT tracks remains on schedule. For the North-South Line, 43% of the sleepers have been replaced and the rest should be completed by the second quarter of 2015. Train speeds will be restored to the normal levels of 60-80 km/h by end-September 2014 for the Kranji-Yew Tee segment, and by the first quarter of 2015 for the segment near Keat Hong. For the East-West Line, the tender is in progress and the sleeper replacement works is scheduled for completion by the end of 2016.