On 5 August 1993, a train on the
East West line of the
Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) rear-ended another train that was stationary. It was the MRT's first major incident and resulted in 156 passengers being injured. It was caused by a maintenance vehicle leaking 50 litres (11 imp gal; 13 US gal) of oil onto the tracks.
Background
The
MRT
MRT may refer to:
Transport Rapid Transit Systems
* Mass Rapid Transit (disambiguation)
* MRT (Singapore) or Mass Rapid Transit, Singapore
* MRT (Bangkok) or Metropolitan Rapid Transit, Thailand
* Manila Metro Rail Transit System, Philippine ...
commenced operations in 1987, with the stretch of line from
Outram Park MRT station
Outram Park MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the East West, North East and Thomson-East Coast lines located on the boundary of Bukit Merah and Outram planning areas, Singapore, near the junction ...
to
Clementi MRT station
Clementi MRT station is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East-West Line in Clementi, Singapore. The station will become an interchange station with the Cross Island Line in 2032.
The tracks between Clementi station and ...
opening on 12 March 1988. At the time of the accident, the system had been operating for six years.
Incident
Before the start of service, a maintenance vehicle leaked oil onto the tracks from
Buona Vista MRT station
Buona Vista MRT station is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the East West line and Circle line in Queenstown, Singapore. This station is close to one-north, a high technology business park for the biomedical science, infoc ...
to
Clementi MRT station
Clementi MRT station is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East-West Line in Clementi, Singapore. The station will become an interchange station with the Cross Island Line in 2032.
The tracks between Clementi station and ...
until the junction with
Ulu Pandan Depot. The first 10 westbound trains reported braking difficulties. The eleventh train had to use its emergency brakes to stop at the station. As a result, the train had to stop for a longer time at the station to recharge its batteries. At 7.50 am on 5 August 1993, the 12th train, collided with the stationary
C151 at Clementi while it was recharging its batteries, resulting in 156 injuries.
Investigation
Preliminary investigation showed that the cause of the accident was a oil spill caused by a defective rubber ring on a maintenance locomotive.
Aftermath
In the aftermath of the accident, SMRT said that it would replace the faulty maintenance locomotives and purchase new ones. It also introduced a new policy for station managers to inspect tracks for oil or foreign objects before the start of service. Train services resumed the day after the accident.
See also
*
Joo Koon rail accident
The Joo Koon rail accident, or sometimes referred to as the Joo Koon train collision, was an accident which happened on 15 November 2017, when a C151A train travelling at rear-ended a stationary C151A train at Joo Koon station on the East ...
References
{{1993 railway accidents
1993 in Singapore
Railway accidents in 1993
Accidents and incidents involving Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
Rail accidents and incidents in Singapore
1993 disasters in Singapore