A Mentally Disabled Boy and Danger on train 035/3351
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A mentally disabled boy and danger on train 035/3351
I took MRT train number 035/3351 (035 is the run number and 3351 is the carriage number, in this case its the first carriage) on 4th August 2006, from Clementi station to Outram Park station. I saw the driver wearing earphones when the train entered the station at Clementi.
The driver sounded the horn several times when train entered Redhill station, after which a mentally disabled boy of around age 14 boarded the train shouting loudly. He even attempted to harass several passengers. In order not to disrupt regular service I decided not to press the emergency button, but to knock on the driver cab door in order to alert the driver of the situation. He did not reply until I alighted at Outram Park, when he came out from the side door, and I told him about the boy and danger it posed to passengers. He agreed to report it to his superiors and in that time the boy had already alighted and walking towards North East Line station.
I feel very sad again, for the boy and for the passengers who got frightened in the scenario. However I am not questioning the existence of these people in our society, but rather if their actions are monitored and if they are well looked after.
Plus, the driver of the train was listening to earphones, presumably a MP3 player at the time when he was driving. I saw drivers of SMRT trains reading newspapers and even playing handphone games and sms-ing while on the line of duty. What type of service is this? We definitely would not want another Clementi Station accident of 1993!
On a side note, I was in Japan for the entire of December last year for vacation and I was impressed by their self-discipline. Train drivers do not read papers or even wander their eyes off the panel and tracks ahead. They are obliged to point at signals and acknowledge them, sound the horn before entering a station (this is very effective in lowering cases of suicide, hence I hope SMRT would adopt this measure). The accuracy of the train stopping at the designated spot is legendary, within centimetres.
This comment would also be sent to SMRT for their reference, and I do hope that forumnites can comment on this incident and give your thoughts. Thank You. -
be a train driver ah. see how boring/easy their job is.
that clementi accident. with or w/o mp3 player(or probably walkman at that time) wud still take place. -
there was no mp3 players in 1993!
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wah...cannot compare japan and sinapore lah...when i was in japan, the train driver make announcement prior to arrival at each station and even the ticket inspector, he will apologise for the inconveniences before commencing to inspect our tickets. And he apologised once more after that, at each carriage.
thats what i call service. Singapore ? pre-recorded messages and sometimes even play the wrong one...bugis when the train is reaching city hall, etc...
Then again, cannot compare lah, train driver in Japan paid more than train driver in Singapore lah....so more motivated to work bah... -
Comparing japan's standard of living, if they get paid any less, they'll be living in singapore.Originally posted by red_amoeba:Then again, cannot compare lah, train driver in Japan paid more than train driver in Singapore lah....so more motivated to work bah...
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What happened in 1993 at the Clementi Station?
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That why Japan is the truly "First World" country. As for Singapore... Singaporean think they are "First World" country citizen but act like a "Third World" country and provide a "Third World" country services. What a shame!
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I think that's the place where The Big Bang occured and Created the Universe.Originally posted by therunawaypig:What happened in 1993 at the Clementi Station? -
1993 train collision incidentOriginally posted by therunawaypig:What happened in 1993 at the Clementi Station?
(Source: Wikipedia)
A collision between two trains took place at around 0750 (SST) on 5 August 1993. It appeared that one train had stopped at the station for longer than usual after experiencing a technical fault, and then a second westward train hit the first. 156 commuters were injured, many of whom were on their way to work. Eight were admitted to three hospitals, while the rest received outpatient treatment.
A four-member independent panel was subsequently formed by the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) to conduct an inquiry into the accident. The panel was chaired by Chua Koon Hoe, deputy director-general of the Public Works Department, with the members Chang Meng Teng, deputy chairman of the Public Transport Council, and Dr. Natarajan Varaprasad, principal of Temasek Polytechnic. Low Tien Sio, MRTC's general manager (project administration) served as the secretary.
The results of the inquiry were announced by the MRTC on 19 October 1993. Shortly after the accident The Straits Times had reported that an oil spill on the tracks was responsible for the second train's inability to brake in time. Some 50 litres of oil had spilled from a locomotive doing maintenance work on the track in the pre-dawn hours of 5 August. SMRT staff had been alerted to the spill and had despatched a cleaning crew to the neighbouring Buona Vista station, but approval to access the tracks was delayed. Already ten trains had reported difficulty braking on the track that morning. The 11th train had had to use its emergency brakes upon reaching Clementi station, and while it was waiting for the brakes to be recharged so that it could move off again, the 12th approached the station and could not brake in time to avoid hitting the 11th train.
The Communications Minister at that time, Mah Bow Tan, said that as the SMRT staff followed procedures and none were found to be negligent, so no staff would be punished. However SMRT promised to look into the problem of oil spillage from maintenance locomotives by replacing the hoses and oil seals on all locomotives, checking all locomotives for leaks upon their return to depots, and assigning a station master to inspect tracks for oil. Procedures were also amended so that trains would not move off from stations preceding the spill until it had been cleaned up.
No similar incidents have occurred at Clementi or any other MRT station since. -
And for your info, they are not drivers but train operators. What the operators do are basically:
1. Opening & closing the doors.
2. Make sure no one is stuck at the doors before moving off.
- through the small monitor that is linked to each station's CCTVs; and
- the LED indicators that all train doors are securely closed.
3. Move off the train by the pressing of some buttons (whatever happens after that up until the train stops are all automatic.)
4. Play & rewind the tape recordings. They sometimes have to takeover as broadcaster if the recorder is not working.
5. Press the door chime if the recorder is not working.
6. Sound the horn if there's anyone standing too near the edge (ie beyond the yellow line)
7. Communicate with the station master through the intercom.
8. If there's any problem with the train, the light on the respective indicator on the panel will light up & a buzzer will sound.
9. Do the emergency brake ONLY IF NECESSARY.
I know what's going on inside because I've been into the cabin before. If the train is on the move & nothing goes wrong, what the operators do is really sit in there & stare. Go do that for 10 hours a day everyday & see for yourself before complaining of them finding some little entertainment.
Which is why the new systems are all driverless. (Which also means the train won't wait for you either because there's no one to see you miss the door by a few inches).
The operator DO NOT have any idea what's happening in the train unless someone inform him/her. If you feel that the boy is danger enough to warrant a delay, go ahead & press the button...it's not considered a misuse in this case. The button is called Emergency Communication Button. It is only used to communicate with SMRT staff, & not the emergency stop button like those found on the station platforms. If the train is in the station, it will not move off. If the train is on the move, it will stop at the next station.
If you want to alert the train operator, BANG ON THE DOOR, don't just knock. Thousands of people, accidentally or intentionally, hit/knock/lean on the door everyday. You can't expect them to take a look only to hear a "sorry I didn't mean to" a thousand times right? -
To my understanding, the operations of the trains are not fully automatic. I do agree that the drivers, or operators, do not need to make announcements and so on, but the operation of the train is definitely not automatic
The operator controls the train using a control stick, from P4 which means power 4 to B4, brake 4 and ultimately the emergency brake. It is aligned vertically and against normal configuration, the brakes are at the lower end and power at the upper end.
The train system follows the Japanese system of ATO, Automatic Train Operation. However, do not get fooled by the words, they are simply a monitoring tool to monitor maximum speeds, start and stop. If the train's ATO detector passes by a ATO emmiter which is on the tracks, and emmiting the 'Stop' signal, the alarm would sound. SMRT uses this system's design to install emergency stop buttons on platforms, and hence as the train departs the previous stop, the 'Stop' signal will stop the train. If the train is on its way, then speed limitations will be implemented, all the way to zero.
There are green lights signalling the maximum speed, in increments of 20kph. Hence there is really no automation, it just cannot pass the maximum speed. How do I know that the trains are not fully automated? In very heavy rain, the train might overrun the platform. The driver would be at fault, not the systems then, as the train did not pass over the ATO emmiter, no alarm would be sounded.
I am not comparing Japanese train systems, as their network is much larger and drivers work shorter shifts, but I am just giving a comparison. I did not want to argue in this topic, but just to give evryone a gauge as to things going along. -
what did u get for your english reading comprehension when u were in school that time?Originally posted by alexkusu:there was no mp3 players in 1993! -
BANG ON THE DOOR, don't just knock. (...............)Originally posted by samtlk:And for your info, they are not drivers but train operators. What the operators do are basically:
1. Opening & closing the doors.
2. Make sure no one is stuck at the doors before moving off.
- through the small monitor that is linked to each station's CCTVs; and
- the LED indicators that all train doors are securely closed.
3. Move off the train by the pressing of some buttons ([whatever happens after that up until the train stops are all automatic.)
4. Play & rewind the tape recordings. They sometimes have to takeover as broadcaster if the recorder is not working.
5. Press the door chime if the recorder is not working.
6. Sound the horn if there's anyone standing too near the edge (ie beyond the yellow line)
7. Communicate with the station master through the intercom.
8. If there's any problem with the train, the light on the respective indicator on the panel will light up & a buzzer will sound.
9. Do the emergency brake ONLY IF NECESSARY.
I know what's going on inside because I've been into the cabin before. If the train is on the move & nothing goes wrong, what the operators do is really sit in there & stare. Go do that for 10 hours a day everyday & see for yourself before complaining of them finding some little entertainment.
Which is why the new systems are all driverless. (Which also means the train won't wait for you either because there's no one to see you miss the door by a few inches).
The operator DO NOT have any idea what's happening in the train unless someone inform him/her. If you feel that the boy is danger enough to warrant a delay, go ahead & press the button...it's not considered a misuse in this case. The button is called Emergency Communication Button. It is only used to communicate with SMRT staff, & not the emergency stop button like those found on the station platforms. If the train is in the station, it will not move off. If the train is on the move, it will stop at the next station.
If you want to alert the train operator, BANG ON THE DOOR, don't just knock. Thousands of people, accidentally or intentionally, hit/knock/lean on the door everyday. You can't expect them to take a look only to hear a "sorry I didn't mean to" a thousand times right?
Hey, bang on the door? Then i suggest knocking down the door instead. Commando Style. (Just kidding!) Either way, we are trying to grab the attention of the train operator, right?
For me: IMHO, I would rather seek the assistance of the other commuters. It appears that other commuters did not help out, as i see from jetabts767400's encounter.
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OMG, is it me, or is it SMRT's standards dropping. First, the buses, now the trains..... -
alamak..........how to compare with other countries.............look at the pay
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The best way is to write in to our 140th media.
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The standards are not dropping...its just the complains are increasing, Singaporeans are getting more demanding.Originally posted by MuLaFlaga:OMG, is it me, or is it SMRT's standards dropping. First, the buses, now the trains..... -
As I've said, I've been into the cabin & watched how he operate. Don't see him touching the control stick at all except at the last station. During heavy rain the train overrunning the platform is because of the water & oil stains causing some of the wheels to lose traction, which is why you sometimes feel the train jerking & shaking when slowing down & even when moving off. That's when the operator has to reverse the train. I've seen trains overshot by more than half a train-length & even totally (esp at Clementi Station).Originally posted by jetabt767400:In very heavy rain, the train might overrun the platform. The driver would be at fault, not the systems then, as the train did not pass over the ATO emmiter, no alarm would be sounded. -
intresting... there's a few knowledge how to drive a train in this thread.. i Do.. i do drive but in a train simulator game.. freakin boring.. i tink realistic operators are more intresting.. aren't their butts get hard sitting there for 10 hrs? ...
hmm suddenly it reminds me in the 'vivid interactive' films.. that is intresting! sitting in the operator's seat plus REAL entertainment...
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[quote]Originally posted by samtlk:
The operator DO NOT have any idea what's happening in the train unless someone inform him/her. If you feel that the boy is danger enough to warrant a delay, go ahead & press the button...it's not considered a misuse in this case. The button is called Emergency Communication Button. It is only used to communicate with SMRT staff, & not the emergency stop button like those found on the station platforms. If the train is in the station, it will not move off. If the train is on the move, it will stop at the next station.
How do we know what sort of situation that warrants us to press the emergency call button? The threat of being fined $5000 is good enough to deter most of us to do anything. Perhaps that was why the threadstarter chose not to use the button.
On the other hand, SMRT reports that 3-5 times a day the call button is misused causing some schedule delays. Dunno if that's true.
Am not sure if others in the carriage did anything. Perhaps could be us singaporeans being typically impassive. -
Only during heavy rain, is the train operated under Coded Manual. During heavy rain, you see the orange lights above the emergency exit lighted up. That's when the trains are under Coded Manual. This is when the driver operates the train, but it will not be completely under his control. Computers will still limit the maximum speed.Originally posted by samtlk:As I've said, I've been into the cabin & watched how he operate. Don't see him touching the control stick at all except at the last station. During heavy rain the train overrunning the platform is because of the water & oil stains causing some of the wheels to lose traction, which is why you sometimes feel the train jerking & shaking when slowing down & even when moving off. That's when the operator has to reverse the train. I've seen trains overshot by more than half a train-length & even totally (esp at Clementi Station).
Sometimes, if it starts to rain heavily all of a sudden, the train might stop between stations and the driver has to switch to Coded Manual himself.
And it is in this situation, the drivers give rubbish driving! There was once, when approaching a station, the driver released and applied the brakes 9 times, causing so much jerking! And in the end, still didn't stop properly... -
LOL!Originally posted by Manager433:The best way is to write in to our 140th media.
And you must somehow link to politics... The drivers get low pay because XXX eats up all the money, with its leader earning $160k a month. -
I shall not argue furthur here, but the operations of trains that require operators are the same world wide.Originally posted by samtlk:As I've said, I've been into the cabin & watched how he operate. Don't see him touching the control stick at all except at the last station. During heavy rain the train overrunning the platform is because of the water & oil stains causing some of the wheels to lose traction, which is why you sometimes feel the train jerking & shaking when slowing down & even when moving off. That's when the operator has to reverse the train. I've seen trains overshot by more than half a train-length & even totally (esp at Clementi Station).
How did you get into the cab? Practically even off-duty employees are not allowed into the cab during operations. And it is too dependant on what train you are on, the Kawasaki/Nippon Sharyo/Tokyu Car Corp. or the Siemens train, as different trains have different systems or different modes of operations. The one you witnessed might be the abnormal all-automatic operation, which I do not think they will use frequently.
As to other forumnites, if you are in the first carriage the next time you take a train, do try to hear the cracking sound as the operator pushes the stick forward, which powers up the train. -
dont complain ok? keep it to yourself.
its a vicious cycle.
you complain of poor service
they investigate
the driver complain of low pay
they increase his salary
their cost increase
they increase the fare
we complain again
WHEN WILL THE FARE HIKE END?????
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How do we know what sort of situation that warrants us to press the emergency call button? The threat of being fined $5000 is good enough to deter most of us to do anything. Perhaps that was why the threadstarter chose not to use the button.
Totally agree with you, you read my mind
We will never know when we should press it, mindful of the consequences. An old lady/man fainted, press it? A kid fell down and got injured, press? A plastic bag that seems suspicious, although there are condensation on the outside and the bag is new, you press it and security comes along, finds frozen fish and other food inside, although you are adamantly sure you saw wires sticking out and meanwhile holding thousands of commuters back, is that fair?
Yes, but we must be sure that it is a life-threatening affair then we press it. As to the button being abused several times a day, I do not agree. Personally I did not encounter this and neither did any of my 'informers' did. We are just too kind, being labelled by our 'fellow citizens' as 'typical Singaporeans'. Are not you typical too? You complain (not anyone here) and you are typical.
If I pressed the button on 4th of August on train no.3351, I would be accused as being 'typical Singaporean', but are not my accusers 'typical Singaporeans' too, those who are 'selfish' and 'un-caring'? It is all relative in all means. Ask Albert Einstein that, please, all people of Singapore who label others as 'typical Singaporeans'. -
2 years ago i accidentally knocked the driver's door with my waterbottle and the driver opened the door and looked at everyone in the cabin curiously... while the mrt was still moving haha and i was quite scared because i thought the mrt wasnt automatic back then.