Measures to Handle Accidents where Passengers Fall onto MRT or LRT Tracks
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the safety protocols and public education measures for handling accidents involving passengers falling onto MRT or LRT tracks. Mr Leon Perera inquired about the specific actions commuters should take and the mandatory emergency procedures rail operators must follow during such incidents. Second Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng highlighted preventive infrastructure like platform screen doors and safety barriers, as well as the use of emergency stop plungers. He explained that operators must shut off traction power and dispatch trained personnel to provide first aid until the Singapore Civil Defence Force arrives. Additionally, the Land Transport Authority is trialling video analytics for incident detection while working with operators to increase public awareness through enhanced station communications.
Transcript
17 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Transport what measures are in place to handle accidents where passengers fall onto MRT or LRT tracks in terms of (i) educating commuters on what they should do in the event of such an accident, whether they are victims or bystanders and (ii) the safety protocols that rail operators are required to conform to if such incidents occur.
The Second Minister for Transport (Mr Ng Chee Meng) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, the safety of commuters is our top priority. To prevent passengers from falling onto the tracks, we have installed screen doors on every Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) platform. We are also installing safety barriers on all Light Rail Transit (LRT) platforms. Works for the Bukit Panjang LRT have been completed, and that for the Sengkang-Punggol LRT will be completed next year.
In the unfortunate event that a passenger falls onto the tracks, the passenger should immediately alert anyone nearby. Fellow commuters can raise the alarm by pushing the brightly coloured emergency stop plungers located at every platform to stop the trains from entering or leaving the platform. This will simultaneously alert the station's Passenger Service Centre and the Line's Operations Control Centre. When alerted, rail operators will immediately shut off traction power to the trains and dispatch trained personnel to the scene to provide assistance and first aid until the Singapore Civil Defence Force arrives.
Currently, rail operators are required to inform commuters about safety practices through prominent signs and regular announcements at train stations. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the rail operators will do more to raise commuters' awareness. LTA and the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit are also jointly trialling the use of video analytics to alert train operators to incidents on the tracks.