I always take the MRT train during my off days during the weekdays afternoon and weekends. In the weekdays afternoon, my wife and I would have to compete with the horde of commuters during the evening rush hour.
Recently, we noticed that the trains were squeaking more frequently and swaying and jerking incessantly. I think there are a few reasons to it. Firstly, maybe the trains are aging but then again it should not jerk and shudder so badly. Then I thought perhaps the trains could be accelerating much more than recommended by the original manufacturer specifications and if it is true then it could spell trouble. In order to appease the maddeningly and demanding crowd for more frequent and timely train schedule, some wise joker could have suggested to speed up the train and this require the train to accelerate faster with a larger crowd and maybe more cabins attached. This increased weight and the demand for greater acceleration would put immense pressure on the engine and moving parts. I am not sure if it was abiding by the original manufacturers’ recommendations or specifications. I sincerely hope the relevant authorities would look into it before disaster strikes. The increased number of cabins would also stress the tracks, its foundations and other factors contributing towards the swaying and jerking. Even minor subsiding of land would be noticeably translated into stronger gait.
This not only affect the train safety but also the safety and comfort of the commuters. There are not enough handrails near the exits. During peak hours, those stuck between the single vertical bar handrail near the door and the exit have nothing to grasps. The weak, short and elderly are at the mercy of the unsteady accelerating and decelerating motion which had became pretty unbearable. During peak hours passengers simply fall into each other arms but not with loving eyes.
We should learn from the recent bullet train disaster in China when the trains were operating at the maximum capacity. As the trains there age, it could not cope with the stress imposed at the maximum speed. Currently, China had reduced all their train speed by about 20 percent (link). On the contrary we seems to be increasing ours, both speed and acceleration, possibly near the maximum specification - hence the increased gait. This is the first sign of trouble brewing. So we should operate up to 20% below max capacity and not argue that the China’s train were still operating faster than ours. Well their are specifically made to operate at high speed with aerodynamic nose, track and other technologies and in particular, there are enough distance to accelerate and decelerate safely to lessen the stress on human and machine.
Are we “Seconds From Disaster”?
Take Care
Mikey
