New MRT trains to get tip-up seats and may have on-board Wi-Fi
31 Jan 2015|3,001 views
Singapore may get new trains with tip-up seats and Wi-Fi onboard, similar to those in European cities, in the near future. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has called tender for 12 new trains on the North-South and East-West lines, and stated tip-up seats as part of its design requirement.
Commuters will be able to lock the seats in a folded position via a simple push button. This feature will ensure that seats cannot be folded when locked. While details were not stated, this could also mean that rail operators will be able to control the seats remotely.
With two rows of seven tip-up seats in each of the six train cars, these seats will account for around 30 percent of all seating.
An LTA spokesman told The Straits Times that the intent is to provide flexible seat configuration with the new tip-up seats.
However, Mr. Piers Connor, Managing Director of British firm PRC Rail Consulting, pointed out that these seats will incur maintenance costs as the mechanical parts have to be serviced.
Commuters will also have to play their part for the seats to be used effectively. For instance, commuters will have to give up their seats when the train in crowded, so that more people can enter the train.
The tender also requires bidders to supply trains with mounted brackets and provisions for power supply among other things, to cater for Wi-Fi on trains. The LTA explained that this infrastructure will cater for Wi-Fi on board trains, if it is found "feasible in the future".
In other countries such as Britain and Germany, on-board Wi-Fi is available on selected train routes. Commuters sometimes have to pay for the service.
Currently, free Wi-Fi is offered only at City Hall, Orchard and Raffles Place MRT stations and on the platforms of Bishan, Dhoby Ghaut and Outram Park. This service will be extended to another 32 stations by the end of this year.
The first batch of four trains under this tender is scheduled to enter service by the middle of 2018. All 12 trains are targeted to be put into service by early 2019.
Starting from next year to 2019, a total of 57 new trains will be added to the North-South and East-West lines, which will boost capacity on the lines by about 40 percent.
Singapore may get new trains with tip-up seats and Wi-Fi onboard, similar to those in European cities, in the near future. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has called tender for 12 new trains on the North-South and East-West lines, and stated tip-up seats as part of its design requirement.
Commuters will be able to lock the seats in a folded position via a simple push button. This feature will ensure that seats cannot be folded when locked. While details were not stated, this could also mean that rail operators will be able to control the seats remotely.
With two rows of seven tip-up seats in each of the six train cars, these seats will account for around 30 percent of all seating.
An LTA spokesman told The Straits Times that the intent is to provide flexible seat configuration with the new tip-up seats.
However, Mr. Piers Connor, Managing Director of British firm PRC Rail Consulting, pointed out that these seats will incur maintenance costs as the mechanical parts have to be serviced.
Commuters will also have to play their part for the seats to be used effectively. For instance, commuters will have to give up their seats when the train in crowded, so that more people can enter the train.
The tender also requires bidders to supply trains with mounted brackets and provisions for power supply among other things, to cater for Wi-Fi on trains. The LTA explained that this infrastructure will cater for Wi-Fi on board trains, if it is found "feasible in the future".
In other countries such as Britain and Germany, on-board Wi-Fi is available on selected train routes. Commuters sometimes have to pay for the service.
Currently, free Wi-Fi is offered only at City Hall, Orchard and Raffles Place MRT stations and on the platforms of Bishan, Dhoby Ghaut and Outram Park. This service will be extended to another 32 stations by the end of this year.
The first batch of four trains under this tender is scheduled to enter service by the middle of 2018. All 12 trains are targeted to be put into service by early 2019.
Starting from next year to 2019, a total of 57 new trains will be added to the North-South and East-West lines, which will boost capacity on the lines by about 40 percent.
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