COLLISION OF MRT TRAINS AT CLEMENTI STATION

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Communications what safety measures he has taken following the collision of two Mass Rapid Transit trains at Clementi Station recently.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Mah Bow Tan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the accident took place at 7.46 am on 5th August 1993, when a westbound train from Buona Vista Station collided into the rear of the preceding train which had stalled at Clementi Station.

After the accident, MRTC engineers conducted comprehensive tests to ascertain that all equipment along the affected stretch were working properly before allowing SMRT to resume train service between Queenstown and Jurong East Stations the following morning on 6th August 1993. However, as a precautionary measure, the resumption of the train service was subject to the restriction of not allowing a westbound train at Buona Vista Station to leave until the preceding train at Clementi Station had moved off. This restriction was only lifted on 8th August 1993 after MRTC had performed a further round of checks on the system.

A three-member Inquiry Panel has been appointed by MRTC to determine the causes of the accident, and to review the existing operating procedures and safety systems of the MRT system. The Inquiry Panel commenced its investigation on 10th August 1993. It expects to complete its task in a month's time.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Newspaper reports have said that the accident may be caused by electronic pollution. Can the Minister clarify on this point?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: I presume the Member is referring to a letter in the newspapers postulating that electronic pollution was the probable cause. The MRTC has assured me that in the planning of the system in the initial phase, electronic pollution was a factor that was taken into account as being a possible danger to the system. Therefore, all safeguards to protect the system from such a possibility were taken. Nevertheless, this is not to be discounted and the Inquiry Panel will, I am sure, look into this, amongst other factors.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, whilst waiting for the Report of the Inquiry Panel to come out, can the Minister throw some light on the possible causes of the accident?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: One of the possible causes was due to oil on the tracks immediately prior to the accident. Precautions that have to be taken by the MRTC and the SMRT to deal with oil spillage have been in the manuals. However, the fact that there was an excessive amount of oil being discovered on the tracks has created the possibility that this was a major cause of the accident. Nevertheless, I would not like to confirm this fact until the Inquiry Panel has had time to go further into this. In the meantime, extra precautions have been taken on how to deal with oil spillage on the tracks.