{"id":80706,"date":"2026-08-30T11:15:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T03:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=80706"},"modified":"2026-08-30T11:15:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T03:15:01","slug":"tests-on-new-mrt-backup-signalling-system-completed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=80706","title":{"rendered":"Tests on new MRT backup signalling system completed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"text-primary article-summary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->The authorities and rail operator SMRT are evaluating a new backup MRT signalling system that will allow trains to continue running if the onboard signalling equipment fails, after the completion of tests in July.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This new system \u2013 known as the smart automatic train control system \u2013 can provide an \u201cadditional layer of resilience\u201d for train operations, said SMRT on Aug 25, in response to queries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cIn the rare event of the train-borne signalling system coming to a complete failure, train movement may not be possible, potentially leading to significant service disruption,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SMRT said the trial is linked to recommendations made by a task force in February to explore <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/transport\/more-backup-systems-among-rail-task-forces-recommendations-submitted-to-acting-transport-minister?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">more back-up or bypass solutions that can help sustain or restore rail operations during disruptions<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Besides more backup solutions, other areas of improvement flagged by the task force include prioritising the renewal of trains, and signalling and power systems, as well as more comprehensive and standardised condition monitoring across the rail network.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The backup system that underwent tests is not intended to replace the existing communications-based train control signalling system \u2013 which is the main train control system supporting the safe and efficient operation of trains.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai said SMRT works with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and industry partners to explore technologies that can enhance rail reliability, resilience and operational safety.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">It is part of ongoing efforts to evaluate innovative solutions to strengthen Singapore\u2019s rail network, he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SMRT said tests were carried out in stages from April to July, to assess the system\u2019s performance and suitability under controlled operating conditions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SMRT and LTA are evaluating test results, and any future plans to roll it out will depend on the outcome of the evaluation and subsequent approval processes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">As for funding, SMRT said any discussion will depend on the test results because this is a proof of concept that is jointly assessed by LTA and SMRT.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A proof of concept is a small test or trial that will show if an idea or product can work in the real world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The smart automatic train control system that was tested is made by Chinese signalling system firm CASCO.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">CASCO, in a Facebook post on July 13, said: \u201cEquipped with three core capabilities \u2013 autonomous positioning, autonomous perception, and safety protection, the smart automatic train control system enables trains to accurately detect the distance to preceding trains, assists drivers by intelligent recognition of red signal aspects.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SMRT said these capabilities help to provide additional situational awareness and can help maintain operational safeguards when the signalling system onboard fails.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The system was tested in Bishan Depot, which has a dedicated test track equipped with signalling infrastructure and provides a controlled environment for testing new technologies without affecting passenger service.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/transport\/tests-on-new-mrt-backup-train-control-system-completed-findings-to-be-evaluated\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 The authorities and rail operator SMRT are evaluating a new backup MRT signalling system that will allow trains to continue running if the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":80707,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=80706"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80706\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/80707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=80706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=80706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=80706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}