SMRT completes Circle Line cable replacement works six months ahead of schedule

SMRT expects fewer train breakdowns on the Circle Line (CCL) after having replaced all 120km of its power cables - at a cost of $15 million. The project replaced older cables to a higher-grade and more water-resistant ones, and was completed last month - six months ahead of schedule - after starting in December 2012.

French systems contractor Alstom, which was responsible for laying the original cables, bore the majority of the project's cost.

MRT tunnels are not watertight, and water that seeps into tunnels is periodically pumped out. The power cables are laid below the tracks, and parts of it were believed to be submerged in water for extended periods - causing them to deteriorate faster and triggering power trips, which led to a number of disruptions. Defective power cables were blamed for several train disruptions two years ago.

In an incident in October 2012, 10,500 commuters were affected for nearly an hour after a power trip at Promenade station caused train services on the entire CCL to be disrupted. A similar fault at Dakota station in September 2011 shut down the entire line.

SMRT Chief Executive, Desmond Kuek, told The Straits Times that this would raise the overall safety and reliability of the system and went on to comment, "Following the CCL power failure in October 2012, SMRT made a strong commitment to the cable change-out programme. I am pleased that our hard work has paid off."

SMRT credits the hard work of its CCL Staff - many who worked extra hours and over the weekends - to the fast completion of the project.

Additionally, SMRT together with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will embark on a billion-dollar plan to renew the two oldest lines by replacing the train signalling system and the power supply third-rail system, among other enhancements. Although the project is expected to complete by the end of the decade - SMRT hopes to complete the programme in no longer than three years.

Lee Der Horng, transport researcher at National University of Singapore (NUS) told the local paper that he was very impressed with the efficiency of the project and hopes improvements to the North-South and East-West lines can be done similarly.