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Tag: Train

  • Japan Optimistic Of Winning KL-Singapore High Speed Rail Project: Minister

    Japan Optimistic Of Winning KL-Singapore High Speed Rail Project: Minister

    Just two days after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Singapore and Malaysia on the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail (HSR) project, Japanese authorities are stepping up on their pitch to both countries to run the highly-anticipated link.

    On Thursday (July 21), Mr Keiichi Ishii, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, met top officials in Malaysia, including Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai.

    On Friday morning, he met with Ms Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State for Transport, before speaking at the 2nd High Speed Rail Symposium, which Ms Teo also attended.

    Speaking to reporters through an interpreter, Mr Ishii was optimistic that a Japan operator could win the bid. “I informed the Malaysia and Singapore governments that Japan will work together (with them) in order to support the project in terms of finance and in terms of human development, and in terms of development of the facilities surrounding the terminal stations,” he said.

    During the symposium, Mr Yuji Fukasawa, executive vice president of East Japan Railway Company (JR East), one of the Shinkansen operators, said that commercial operations for the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur HSR could start in just seven years — in Japanese hands.

    On Tuesday, Singapore and Malaysia signed a seven-point MOU, under which both countries agreed on a target start date of 2026 for HSR services, which will cut land travelling time between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to 90 minutes.

    In the interim, both countries will have to appoint a company to provide and maintain the rail assets such as tracks and trains, and two train operators to run three types of rail services — an express service between Singapore and Kualu Lumpur, a shuttle service between Singapore and Iskandar Puteri, and a domestic service in Malaysia.

    Mr Ishii touted several benefits of Japan’s bullet train system, the Shinkansen, when asked about their advantage over Chinese firms, which have also reportedly expressed interest in making a bid.

    “There are several excellent points of the Shinkansen, there is safety, reliability, not only the low initial cost, but total life cycle cost is very low. The other point is that it is very excellent in project management, meaning that it could deliver the project within the designated time,” said Mr Ishii.

    Japan and China had battled it out last year to build a rail line in Indonesia, with China Railway ultimately emerging with a deal to build the Jakarta-Bandung railway, which will be operational by 2019.

    A spokesman for Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said Mr Ishii had stressed Japan’s track record in safety during his meetings with Singapore and Malaysia officials.

    “The Singapore and Malaysia side didn’t clearly mention which point they are looking at in order to decide the winner of this project. But we just asked them to look (at) the safety and reliability and many points comprehensively,” he said.

    During the symposium, Mr Fukasawa also gave projections and action plans on how JR East would roll out the Singapore-Malaysia project in seven years, if awarded.

    For instance, in the first few years, training of personnel would commence, followed by construction of the test track and all sections, which would start in the third year and end by year six.

    Commercial operations would start in year seven.

     

    Source: TODAY Online

  • Two Trainee Malay SMRT Maintenance Staff Killed In Accident At Pasir Ris Station

    Two Trainee Malay SMRT Maintenance Staff Killed In Accident At Pasir Ris Station

    Two SMRT maintenance staff have died after an accident near Pasir Ris station, the transport operator confirmed on Tuesday (Mar 22).

    “At around 11.10am today, there was an accident involving two SMRT maintenance staff along the track at a servicing point near Pasir Ris station,” said SMRT spokesman Patrick Nathan in a statement.

    “SCDF was immediately activated and they have confirmed that the two SMRT staff have passed away. We convey our deepest condolences to their families and will be providing support to them at this very difficult time,” he said.

    DECEASED STAFF WERE UNDERGOING ON-THE-JOB TRAINING 

    The deceased staff are Nasrulhudin Najumudin, 26 and Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, 24. According to SMRT, both of them “joined the company in January 2016 and were undergoing on-the-job training at the time of the accident”.

    “(They) were part of a technical team that went down to the track to investigate a reported alarm from a condition monitoring device for signalling equipment. Permission to access the track was authorised,” said Mr Nathan.

    “Initial findings indicate that before the accident happened, the team was moving in a single file on the walkway beside the track, on the way to the location of the signalling equipment.”

    The brother of a signals officer who witnessed the accident told Channel NewsAsia that the signals officer was “traumatised”.

    Pasir Ris resident Francis Dorairaj, who was at the scene, expressed shock and disbelief. “Why were maintenance people on the track when the train was operating?” he questioned.

    INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY

    SMRT said it is assisting the Police in their investigations into how the accident happened. The Land Transport Authority has also said that it “will be be assisting with investigation into the incident”.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, the transport regulator said it is “deeply saddened” by the deaths and where necessary, it will extend assistance to the next-of-kin of the deceased staff.

    TRAIN SERVICES RESUMED AT 1.56PM

    Train services along the East-West Line were also disrupted for about 2.5 hours. Free shuttle bus services were available until service between Tanah Merah and Pasir Ris in both directions were resumed at 1.56pm.

    The train disruption on the East-West Line on Mar 22, 2016. (Photo: Diane Leow)

    Social media users reported seeing personnel from the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Singapore Police at Pasir Ris station.

    According to SCDF, it was alerted to the incident at Pasir Ris MRT station at 11.11am. A fire engine, A Red Rhino, two fire bikes, two ambulances, and three support vehicles were dispatched. SCDF confirmed that two men were pronounced dead at the scene.

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Malay Gay Couple Show Public Display Of Affection On Train

    Malay Gay Couple Show Public Display Of Affection On Train

    Lately on my way back home in the train, from Orchard to the northern side of singapore, ive been seeing this very open gay couple.

    2 young malay guys, very slim and pretty tanned. U guys hold hands and hug each other in the train. Acting like how any other hetrosexual couple.

    I applaud for both your braveness to be very open. This is what every other gay couple are looking forward to. Making it more like a norm.

    On Monday, you guys were quarrelling with each other. I find that pretty cute. Its not like everyday u get to see gay couple on the street and what more arguing with each other. Im not saying that u guys are a nuisance and should quarrel more but it makes me happy seeing u guys together.

    im like aww… look at them.. gay couple.. arguing.. soo cute…

    There was a lady beside me with her boyfriend. The boyfriend was looking at you guys and giving that kinda disgusted look but the lady was saying ‘they are quarrelling but that makes them a stronger couple’. Zero homosexual comment. She even jokingly said to her boyfriend, ‘stop staring at them with that look or else im not gonna talk to you!’

    It warms my heart to hear that. Just sharing some stuff… Cheers!

     

    Source: GLBT Voices Singapore

  • The Man Behind The Forklift Coin Trick

    The Man Behind The Forklift Coin Trick

    Operating heavy machinery takes finesse, but one man takes it to the next level. A video of him using a forklift to pick up a 20 cent coin from the floor and transferring it into a container, posted on Labour Chief Chan Chun Sing’s Facebook page, has chalked up nearly 83,000 views and 1,000 likes in just under a month. Impressed netizens lauded the forklift operator for his “hole in one” trick, with some saying “Wow”, and others commenting that that “Singapore’s got talent”.

    In reality, the smooth moves are not a trick, but an activity designed for students who take a course in forklift operations at the NTUC LearningHub – also known as LHUB.

    The man behind it is Mr Ronald Khoo – a trainer with more than 20 years of experience under his belt. He came up with the coin exercise about 10 years ago when he realised that students learned best by applying technical know-how with practical skills.

    “I hope that I can impart all these skills, the correct attitude and knowledge so I can make training and learning fun,” Mr Khoo said.

    Typically, students will exert some pressure on the coin using the fork, in order to flip the coin onto it. Then, students will have to control the speed of the lever in order to move the coin to the edge of the fork, before it can be deposited into the container.

    During a demonstration for Channel NewsAsia, Mr Khoo took it up a notch. Instead of using a 20 cent coin, he used a 10-cent coin – and successfully deposited it into a water bottle, with a much smaller opening. “Yes!” he would shout after each successful attempt, complete with a fist pump.

     

    The aim of the exercise is to help trainees adapt to different types of situations and cargo. “After coming up with this activity, I feel that when participants go back to the practical aspect of their job, subconsciously, they are able to do the job,” he said with pride.

    He also has another exercise called the “Figure 8”, which involves picking up a crate with a ball sitting atop a cone, and then wending around obstacles. Mr Khoo said a “Japanese master” taught him the exercise when he first started as a junior trainer in 1993.

    “This trains us on speed control, on the position of the vehicle, and on the correct time to turn the steering wheel,” he revealed. “It can also train a participant with no driving knowledge on how to turn left, right, and how to make a U-turn.”

    “If you use the old-school methods of teaching, they may feel bored. This will make it fun and enjoyable,” said Mr Khoo, adding that he has also trained ex-offenders, who find this approach useful.

    BEING A TEACHER IS A ‘DREAM COME TRUE’

    Mr Khoo’s colleagues said he is always jolly and incredibly passionate about his job.

    Describing himself as a “humble kampong boy” who was “born next to a drain”, Mr Khoo said his passion stems from a driving instructor whom he felt did not teach him in a way that was applicable. As a result, he needed to take 10 driving tests before obtaining his licence. From then on, he wanted to be a teacher, so others would not have to endure the same agony.

    “My mum said no, you come from a humble village background, you don’t have a chance to become a teacher, especially if you don’t study hard,” he said. “I don’t like studying. When I study, I get a headache.”

    Despite not completing his O-levels, Mr Khoo said Workforce Skills Qualifications courses gave him the opportunity to become a trainer. “I enjoy doing all of this because I partially take it as a passion, and partially I fulfilled my mum’s dream for me to be a teacher,” he said.

    “I am grateful to everyone who supported my training. It makes a difference in my life,” Mr Khoo said. “When my students go out there, they can earn a living, so I feel even better.”

    As for the praise for his skills on Facebook, Mr Khoo said it was unexpected. He also did not know that the video was a hit to begin with.

    “I don’t have Facebook,” he admitted, followed by a huge belly laugh.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • DAP: Toll Hikes Reap Exorbitant Profits for Malaysia Resource Corporation Sdn Bhd

    DAP: Toll Hikes Reap Exorbitant Profits for Malaysia Resource Corporation Sdn Bhd

    Toll concessionaire Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) will reap “exorbitant profits”, Malaysia’s opposition said on Monday after the government revealed that 1.5 million paying vehicles crossed the Causeway in August after a toll-hike that has begun to hit Johor’s economy.

    Malaysia’s works ministry revealed in Parliament last week that in the month following the August 1 hike, 729,657 paid the toll to enter Singapore while 721,384 shelled out the increased fare going the other way.

    Malaysia added RM6.80 (S$2.63) each way to the existing RM2.90 to enter Johor from Singapore for cars, while buses saw a RM5.50 increase in both directions on top of the RM2.30 already paid heading north.

    According to opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP), this totals close to RM11 million per month, the same as the compensation paid by the government to MRCB since 2012 when the toll hike was to come into effect but was delayed ahead of last year’s closely-fought general elections.

    DAP assistant publicity chief Teo Nie Ching said yesterday this would mean that the government-linked MRCB would rake in RM4.3 billion by the end of its 34-year concession, despite the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) highway – which terminates at the Johor Baru immigration complex – only costing RM1.2 billion.

    “The profit that they are going to make from toll collection is still exorbitant and astronomical,” the Johor-based MP said, adding that this was before taking into consideration future toll hikes written into the concession deal and increasing traffic volume over the next three decades.

    Singapore matched Malaysia’s collection on Oct 1, bringing the cost of a roundtrip to $13, from just $2.35 as recently as July.

    The double hike caused alarm over the chilling economic impact especially to the Iskandar region – crucial to both nations – in Johor, which has just begun booming in the past two years after a quiet start.

    Even Malaysian ruling party leaders were critical of the hike, such as Public Accounts Committee chief Nur Jazlan Mohamad who told The Straits Times “both governments have to decide if they want Iskandar or not because instead of promoting it, they are imposing a de facto tax.”

    MRCB has insisted that the financing cost incurred to build the EDL – an elevated highway connecting the Johor Baru immigration complex to the North-South Expressway – alone is RM11 million a month, with an additional RM1 million needed for operations and maintenance.

    It also claims that it only collects RM6.80 upon exit and entry at the immigration complex (and not the existing RM2.90) but that up to 200,000 motorists use the EDL for free within Johor without crossing the border.

    Ms Teo added that Kuala Lumpur “should immediately declassify concession agreement with MRCB so that Malaysians will know if our government has again abused its power to enrich its crony.”

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