Speech by Acting Minister For Transport, Mr Chee Hong Tat on the Completion of the First Phase of the Singapore Rail Test Centre

Ladies and gentlemen

1.     I am very happy to join everyone here today to mark the completion of the first phase of the Singapore Rail Test Centre, or SRTC. 

2.     SRTC is a key piece in our broader strategy for rail expansion and renewal. In my recent speech commemorating the renewal of the 6 core systems on our North-South-East-West Line, I mentioned that our network is expanding and aging at the same time.  An aging network requires more maintenance – and that is where SRTC comes in. 

Challenges of Train Testing 

3.     So far, we have relied on overseas test centres for new assets like trains and signalling systems. But these overseas test centres cannot fully replicate our local conditions. This means we still need to conduct testing on our rail lines when systems arrive in Singapore. Likewise, existing systems that are undergoing renewal must be tested locally as well. 

4.     Testing on our local tracks means less time for maintenance. Every day, we only have three precious engineering hours between 1am and 4am. Time used for testing is time that we could have used to maintain and service our tracks and other rail systems. 

The SRTC Story

5.     To overcome these limitations, we have long wanted to have a dedicated testing facility of our own. LTA engineers were first exposed to a train testing facility back in the early 1990s, when they travelled to Prague to witness the testing of the second fleet of trains for the North-South Line and East-West Line. 

6.     This was reinforced by our experience with the North East Line (NEL), which was the world’s first fully automated underground heavy rail line. Compared to manned lines, it required more comprehensive testing and systems integration. LTA had to travel to Valenciennes [vah-LONG-see-yan] in France, to test the NEL trains at a facility owned by the train manufacturer Alstom. 

7.     The need to have our own testing facility became clearer over the years. 

a.     First, with each new MRT line that we open, we bring in new systems and technologies. System integration and testing becomes increasingly complex, especially with our use of fully automated systems, and it will not be feasible for overseas test centres to replicate our local conditions.

b.     Second, we will need to test more systems, more frequently, as we enter a period of unprecedented network expansion till early 2030s – with the development of the Thomson-East Coast Line, the Jurong Region Line, and the Cross Island Line, as well as the extension and renewal of our existing MRT lines.

8.     But one challenge was: where could we build this SRTC? A rail testing centre requires a substantial amount of land to house test tracks of appropriate lengths for testing different trains and systems – SRTC will occupy approximately 50 hectares. Such a large plot is hard to come by in land-scarce Singapore.

9.     So, when land became available in 2017, LTA made the most of this opportunity. Plans were drawn up for a dedicated rail testing centre, building on LTA’s years of experience with rail testing and what we learnt from other overseas test centres in Asia and Europe. After multiple design iterations, construction began in 2021. 

Features and benefits of the SRTC

10.    I am glad that today, our efforts have come to fruition. In Phase 1, SRTC will commence operations with a straight 3-kilometre high-speed test track, to test the operation of trains at various speeds.

11.    Works are also progressing well for Phase 2, which will add two other test tracks to SRTC – a 3-kilometre endurance track with an uphill gradient for performance testing; and a 2.8-kilometre performance and integration track. 

12.    Once completed in 2025, the SRTC will enable railway testing under conditions that closely mirror those of our local MRT lines, including tracks with various gradients and curvatures. Testing can also be conducted round-the-clock, as the SRTC is far from residential areas. We can free up more hours for maintenance on our operational lines. The SRTC will therefore help us to build stronger capabilities and maintain a high level of rail reliability and performance for our commuters.

13.    Most overseas test facilities are run by private train manufacturers, for their own proprietary equipment. The SRTC is different. It will be a national test centre – this means it can test different rail systems from different rail manufacturers, and therefore serve all our MRT lines in Singapore.

14.    As a national test centre, the SRTC also serves as a strategic asset to achieve our longer-term objectives. One ambitious stretch goal is to deepen the capabilities of our local rail workforce – for example, by enabling new practical training options for the Singapore Rail Academy and operators. It can also support R&D by leading rail OEMs and manufacturers, consultants, academia and operators, who can use SRTC’s facilities to test and pilot new technologies and systems.

15.    As the first facility of its kind in Southeast Asia, and one that can cater to multiple systems, the SRTC also has the potential to become a regional testing centre, to serve the growing rail systems in neighbouring countries. In turn, this can provide our local rail engineers with more opportunities to learn from and engage their counterparts in the region. 

Conclusion

16.    Before I conclude, I would like to express my appreciation to LTA’s engineering leaders, for their relentless pursuit in making SRTC come true. In particular, Deputy Chief Executive Mr Chua Chong Kheng, Senior Advisor Mr Wong Wai Keong, Group Director Dr Samuel Chan and Chief Engineer Mdm Neo Bian Hong.  Thank you very much for your hard work to turn this vision into reality!

17.    I look forward to the full completion of the SRTC, and to see our rail industry in Singapore taking yet another step forward in building a world-class public transport network that all Singaporeans can be proud of. 

18.    Thank you.