PASSENGERS FALLING ONTO MRT TRACKS

PASSENGERS FALLING ONTO MRT TRACKS

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(More preventive measures): **

8.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Transport (a) how many incidents were there of passengers falling onto MRT tracks, whether accidentally or intentionally, in the past 12 months; and (b) whether his Ministry will require the MRT operators to deploy more officers at open platform MRT stations to guide commuters and ensure their safety during peak operating hours.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: Between 1st October 2008 and 30th September 2009, there were 25 track intrusions by passengers on our MRT system. Of these, 15 cases involved passengers retrieving dropped items, or taking shortcuts across the middle track at interchange stations. The remaining 10 cases involved passengers accidentally falling onto the tracks.

SMRT already has put in place a comprehensive set of measures to ensure passenger safety. Recorded voice messages are broadcast regularly at station platforms reminding passengers not to stand beyond the yellow line or rush to catch a departing train. During peak hours, SMRT officers are deployed to patrol the station platforms and to advise passengers to stand behind the yellow line while waiting for their trains to arrive. The number of officers deployed for such patrols depends on station patronage, with more deployed at the busier stations. Moreover, train drivers are trained to keep a lookout for dangerous situations when their trains enter the station and will sound the horn or apply the emergency brakes whenever necessary.

To further enhance commuter safety, the Land Transport Authority will be completing the installation of half height platform screen doors at all the 36 elevated MRT stations along the North-South and East-West Lines by 2012. Work on the three pilot stations, namely Pasir Ris, Yishun and Jurong East MRT stations, are scheduled for completion by the end of this year.

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Safety is a shared responsibility, and passengers are urged to take care of their personal safety by observing safety instructions, standing behind the yellow line, and seeking assistance from the MRT station officers if they feel unwell or if they need to retrieve any item that has fallen onto the tracks.

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