SMRT, SBS to be fined S$1.65m

SMRT will be fined S$1.6 million for four service disruptions on the North-South and East-West Lines, while SBS Transit will have to cough up S$50,000 for one incident on the North-East Line.

Under the Rapid Transit Systems (RTS) Act, a licensed rapid transit system operator which fails to comply with operating performance standards and regulatory requirements may be penalised by the Land Transport Authority for up to S$1 million per incident (for incidents before March 25, 2014); and up to S$1 million or 10 per cent of its annual fare revenue of a rail line, which is the subject of the licence, whichever is higher (for incidents from March 25, 2014).

In SMRT's case, the incidents occurred due to SMRT's failure to comply with established procedures and processes. On Oct 9, 2013 and Jan 22, 2014, train services along the East-West Line were disrupted after a train passed a red signal light, damaging a track point in the process.