Hairline cracks found on 11 Sengkang-Punggol LRT trains

HAIRLINE cracks have been found on 11 trains on the Sengkang-Punggol light-rail transit (LRT) system.

The cracks found on the bogie frames - for supporting the guidance system of the trains - do not compromise ability to bear weight, said the Singapore Land Transport Authority and SBS Transit in a joint news release.

They were discovered as part of SBS' fleet-wide inspection in July.

All 11 light-rail vehicles have been withdrawn from service for replacement of their bogie frames, with six having been restored and returned to service. The remaining five will be reinstated by mid-October.

To determine the cause of the cracks, a sample of an affected bogie frame has been sent to the manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industry's (MHI) research and development centre in Japan for detailed analysis. LTA and SBS Transit said they are working with MHI to redesign, strengthen and replace the bogie frame structures on all 57 light rail vehicles in the Sengkang-Punggol LRT fleet.

The 11 affected trains are first-generation light rail vehicles that have been in operation since the Sengkang-Punggol LRT started in 2003.