Smrt Trains – Case Study

Introduction

The SMRT Group provided public transport services in Singapore, which included Mass Rapid Transmit (MRT) and Light Rapid Transit (LRT) rail services, bus and taxi services. In early 2000, the SMRT Group began to consolidate its backend and internal operations to expand its operations. SMRT focused its attention on increasing and building more capacity by expanding existing networks, adding more stations and bidding for new rail lines. Further, SMRT as well as LTA took steps to increase rail network capacity to cater to the new demand created by new investments in the economy. In late 2011, September, December 15 and 17, SMRT experienced a large-scale breakdown affected nearly 10,000 passengers. The main reasons may include damaged power collector shoes, the dislodged claws of the third rail and the preventive maintenance procedures. SMRT solve the disruptions inefficiently at the second breakdown, which led to negative emotions of customers. After disruptions, SMRT upgraded systems including hiring experts, installing monitor vibrations and repairing trains.

Problem: The first main problem of SMRT trains is their bad total operations management. The corporation focus more on expanding its business but overlook the overall capacity of train system in 2011, which I believe is the fundamental reason of the two disruptions.  Besides, the business had been expended but the related supply didn’t keep upgraded. They carried some measures trying to easy overcrowding and improve maintenance, but the problems were not eliminated totally.

Analysis: From the operating data table, you can easily find that the growth in total route length of 2011 is (109.9-98.6)/98.6=11.5%, compared to the previous year (98.6-92.6)/92.6=6.5%, and the growth of ridership is 12.6%. However, the growth in average car occupancy is only 0.7%, which means it increased a large number of trains. The aim of increasing quantity of trains is to help easy overcrowding, but it didn’t consider the capacity of the platforms of old stations. As the article mentioned, higher frequency of existing train service required updating of the station with new platform to increase the frequency of trains.

Besides, when SMRT enlarge its train system, it didn’t keep upgrading its maintenance, SMRT carried out daily checks of each section of the tracks only once a week, and some damages and destroyed the collector shoes were found after disruptions, we may doubt the performance of its technicians or the technology abilities, as well as the efficiency of personnel management. Other related supply should also be updated like the power system and platforms. Last but not the least, SMRT didn’t pay enough attention to its previous minor stoppages or delays.

Recommendation: When SMRT enlarge its business, it should formulate a complete plan of expansion. The plan should include all of the related business like supply chain, customer service and maintenance system and consider the capacity of the whole train system, calculate the maximal capacity in case of overloading. The company should also take consideration of the risks of implement, like how to deal with the emergency situation. Since SMRT is a comprehensive corporation, it can combine the underground trains and ground transportation system like buses and taxis to help solve the overcrowded problem during the peak hours. For example, SMRT can increase the number of buses trips to help relive the pressure faced by trains among some specific stations at the same time, trying to find a balanced method.