The Land Transport Authority (LTA), SMRT and SBS Transit announced the formation of a Rail Reliability Task Force on 19 Sep 2025 to tackle escalating MRT service disruptions across Singapore’s transport network.
The task force comes after MRT reliability dropped to its lowest level since 2020, with the network averaging just 1.6 million train-kilometres between delays lasting more than five minutes during the 12-month period ending June 2025.
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LTA chief executive Ng Lang chairs the task force, which includes SMRT Group CEO Ngien Hoon Ping, SBS Transit Group CEO Jeffrey Sim, and technical specialists from across the rail sector.
The group will report findings regularly to Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow and submit final recommendations by the end of 2025.
Immediate Focus on Asset Renewal and System Audits
The task force will review recent train disruption incidents to identify components approaching end-of-life status that require replacement, upgrading or increased maintenance.
Priority actions include bringing forward the renewal programme for the North East Line power system and reviewing ways to strengthen signalling systems for the North East Line and Circle Line.
Full technical audits of maintenance and operations will cover critical systems including power, signalling, train and track components. The task force will also examine asset conditions, maintenance processes, operational procedures and staff training programmes.
Improving service recovery processes forms a key component of the task force’s mandate to reduce impact on commuters during disruptions. The group will review procedures to improve service recovery speeds, including reducing the number of detrainments that affect recovery time while maintaining commuter safety.
Training regimes will be assessed to ensure ground officers can adequately perform service recovery during incidents.
Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow stated he has tasked LTA to work with train operators to speed up asset upgrades, conduct joint technical audits and improve service recovery procedures.
September Marks Peak Month for Disruptions
Singapore’s rail network experienced at least six major disruptions in September 2025 alone, following four incidents in July and five in August.
Recent incidents included a Thomson-East Coast Line signal fault on 17 Sep that disrupted services for about two hours between Woodlands North and Bayshore stations.
On 16 Sep, a signalling fault on the East-West Line left services unavailable between Aljunied and Tanah Merah stations at approximately 11pm. A train fault on the North-South Line on 14 Sep resulted in a 40-minute delay.
A system fault on SBS Transit’s Punggol LRT on 13 Sep disrupted services across all 15 stations. On 2 Sep, a train fault led to disruption on the North-South Line between Yishun and Woodlands stations.
The Circle Line experienced a train fault on 1 Sep that caused delays between Promenade and Marina Bay stations.
Operator Response and Government Investment
SMRT president of trains Lam Sheau Kai maintains that recent disruptions are “isolated cases, not systemic issues,” stating that staff acted swiftly to prioritise commuter safety and deploy recovery measures.
The company will conduct a detailed assessment of rail assets and strengthen lifecycle management of its rail system.
The government has allocated an additional S$1 billion over the next five years to strengthen rail capabilities, scale up technology adoption and support skills upgrading for workers.
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