AGEING MRT TRACKS AND TRAINS

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AGEING MRT TRACKS AND TRAINS

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(Noise pollution): **

21.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Minister for Transport what measures does the Ministry have in place to monitor and minimise noise pollution from ageing MRT tracks and trains, especially those that are in close proximity to residential housing.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: I would like to assure Members that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has measures in place to limit the noise levels from MRT trains and tracks.

First, all the trains in operation in Singapore have been tested, prior to delivery, to confirm that they comply with LTA's strict noise emission limits.

Second, the engineering design of the MRT tracks helps to minimise noise. Our MRT tracks are ballasted tracks with timber sleepers, which provide cushioning whenever the steel wheels of trains come into contact with the steel rail of the tracks. This system also reduces noise that travel through the track by dampening vibrations that may propagate through the track structure.

Third, to ensure that noise levels do not worsen as our MRT trains and tracks age, SMRT has put in place a programme of regular equipment inspection and overhaul. SMRT officers examine the wheels of trains every three weeks for abnormalities and imperfections that may generate excessive noise. If imperfections are found, SMRT will restore them to the optimal operating condition. In addition, LTA audits SMRT's maintenance regimes to ensure that SMRT carries out regular inspection and overhaul of infrastructure to the required standards. For example, if the rail tracks are found to have corrugations exceeding 0.3 mm, the operator will have to grind down the affected section of rail, so as to reduce the noise such corrugations can cause.

Fourth, LTA has worked together with SMRT to measure the noise generated by trains at selected locations close to major residential estates every three months. Where the noise levels are close to the noise emission limits, SMRT will carry out preventive maintenance.

In our densely built-up urbanised landscape, it is inevitable that MRT tracks are sometimes built close to residential housing. LTA will try to minimise noise as much as possible, but some degree of noise is unavoidable, and we ask for public understanding of the matter.