SINGAPORE (ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES) – In a landmark move signalling a new era of collaboration in the rail industry, Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) Trains took a significant step by establishing a strategic partnership with esteemed Taipei Metro operator Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC).
This pioneering agreement, announced on Tuesday, ushers in a promising era of mutual cooperation.
The pact aims to facilitate the exchange of expertise and best practices across various facets of rail operations, maintenance, and engineering, marking a noteworthy milestone in the quest for enhanced rail services.
Taipei Metro has been held up in the past as the benchmark for Singapore’s rail reliability standards, when the Government took steps to raise service levels following a series of major MRT breakdowns in 2015.
SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai said both operators will “share best practices and the use of technology” to enhance rail reliability while being financially and environmentally sustainable, and exchange lessons on keeping commuters, staff and subcontractors safe.
SMRT and TRTC will also learn from each other on how to improve cyber security while preventing service disruptions, as well as about environmental, social and corporate governance-related programmes.
Both operators aim to enhance shopping activities for commuters and promote tourism in each city via this agreement.
On rail reliability, SMRT’s trains travelled 9.9 million and 12.2 million train car-km between delays of more than five minutes across the North-South and East-West lines respectively in 2022.
TRTC performed significantly better, clocking 16 million train car-km between delays in 2022, based on the latest available figures from the Taiwanese operator.
Tuesday’s agreement was signed by SMRT Trains chairman Seah Moon Ming and TRTC chairman Chao Shiao-lien, and witnessed by Mr Lam and TRTC vice-president Yang Chin-heng.
SMRT group chief executive Ngien Hoon Ping was also present at the event, which was held in Singapore.
Mr Chao said that this agreement is a continuation of both operators’ collaboration over the last 33 years, which began in 1990 when TRTC sent its employees to Singapore for training.
Mr Seah said the tie-up would empower SMRT Trains and TRTC to deliver the “best-in-class” public transport services, commuting and lifestyle experiences to their customers.
SMRT’s rival SBS Transit had previously entered a partnership with TRTC and its subsidiary Metro Consulting Service in 2018 to strengthen its engineering and maintenance capabilities.
