Joo Koon train collision
The second train collision in Singapore MRT
On 15 November 2017, a moving Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train collided with a stationary train at Joo Koon station on the East–West Line (EWL), resulting in 38 injuries. The collision was caused by a signalling fault that disabled the stationary train's protective systems, allowing the second train to approach without detecting it properly when the stationary train was being detrained.
At the time, the EWL was transitioning from fixed block signalling to communications-based train control (CBTC), requiring both systems to operate concurrently. The collision was the second involving two MRT trains after the Clementi rail accident in 1993. Following the incident, the Tuas West Extension (from Gul Circle to Tuas Link) was separated from the EWL to reduce operational complexity, while resignalling works were accelerated before the EWL fully transitioned to CBTC in May 2018.
Background
Joo Koon station was constructed as part of the East–West Line (EWL) Boon Lay Extension, which opened on 28 February 2009. The EWL is operated by SMRT Trains. The signalling systems on the EWL and the North–South Line (NSL) were being upgraded from fixed block signalling to communications based train control (CBTC) to allow shorter train intervals while maintaining operational safety. The project was awarded to Thales Solutions Asia Pte Ltd for S$195 million. The new signalling system was first tested and installed on the NSL in May 2017, which resulted in signalling faults and rush-hour delays in June.
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This entry incorporates text from “Joo Koon train collision” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.