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Singapore's MRT System Under Scrutiny: LTA's Rail Reliability Report Highlights Progress and Persisting Passenger Concerns

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Thursday, November 13th 2025 at 23:27 GMT by Asia One

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Singapore’s MRT System Under Scrutiny: LTA’s Rail Reliability Report Highlights Progress and Persisting Passenger Concerns

In a move aimed at transparency and continuous improvement, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) released its latest Rail Reliability Report, drawing attention to both the strides made in Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system and the challenges that continue to impact commuters. The article, published on AsiaOne, breaks down key performance indicators, passenger experiences, and the LTA’s plans to address lingering disruptions.

1. Overall Punctuality: A Modest Improvement, but Still Room for Growth

The report’s headline metric—train punctuality—shows a modest uptick, with the average on-time performance hovering around 99.3% across the network during the reporting period. While this figure is encouraging, it still falls short of the LTA’s 99.9% target, which underscores the persistent nature of service delays. The report attributes the improvement to upgrades in signalling technology and more frequent maintenance checks, yet it also notes that incidents related to signalling faults and rolling stock failures continue to account for a notable share of disruptions.

2. Disruption Statistics: Numbers Behind the Headlines

The LTA’s analysis identifies 1,200 disruption incidents over the year, a reduction from the previous year’s figure of 1,450. These incidents are classified into three main categories:

1. Track‑related incidents – accounting for roughly 35% of disruptions, these include track maintenance work, minor structural faults, and occasional derailments.
2. Signal‑related incidents – making up about 25% of disruptions, these incidents stem from failures in the Automatic Train Control (ATC) system and related equipment.
3. Rolling‑stock incidents – roughly 15% of the total, these include mechanical breakdowns, power failures, and driver‑related issues.

The remaining 25% involve miscellaneous events such as security incidents, weather‑related delays, and occasional equipment failures on feeder buses.

3. Passenger Experience: The Human Cost of Delays

While the numbers paint a picture of gradual improvement, the article emphasizes that the real impact lies in passenger experience. Commuters report increased frustration over missed connections, especially during peak hours on the East‑West Line (EWL) and Circle Line (CCL). The LTA’s own survey, conducted as part of the report, revealed that 48% of respondents cited “repeated delays” as the primary reason for dissatisfaction.

To quantify the passenger burden, the report calculates the average delay time per disruption. The figure comes to 8 minutes for each incident, meaning commuters collectively lose roughly 10,000 hours of travel time annually. The article also points out that this cost is not only monetary—commuters may miss work or appointments—but also psychological, with a growing sense of unreliability eroding confidence in public transport.

4. Technological and Operational Initiatives: Bridging the Gap

In response to the identified shortcomings, the LTA outlines several initiatives aimed at boosting reliability:

• Deployment of the Advanced Train Control System (ATCS): The LTA plans to roll out ATCS across all 13 MRT lines by 2026, which should reduce signalling-related incidents by up to 30%. The system will also enable smoother train scheduling and real‑time fault detection.

• Introduction of Automatic Train Operation (ATO): While some lines already use ATO, the LTA intends to expand its coverage. ATO can standardise train speeds and reduce human error, potentially cutting disruptions caused by driver fatigue or misjudgement.

• Predictive Maintenance Algorithms: By analysing historical data, predictive models will anticipate component wear and schedule maintenance before failures occur. This proactive approach aims to lower rolling‑stock incidents.

• Improved Passenger Communication: New digital displays and a revamped mobile app will provide real‑time updates on train positions, expected delays, and alternate routes. The LTA is also testing a “Delay Notification” feature that alerts commuters via push notifications when a disruption is expected on their route.

• Staff Training and Workforce Development: A renewed focus on driver and crew training, especially for emergency response scenarios, aims to mitigate the impact of unforeseen incidents.

5. Looking Ahead: LTA’s Roadmap and Public Engagement

The article highlights that the LTA has already set a 2028 reliability target of 99.9% on‑time performance, an ambitious goal that will require sustained investment in infrastructure, technology, and human resources. The LTA plans to release an updated report in 2025 to track progress and keep the public informed.

Moreover, the LTA has opened a new feedback channel where commuters can report incidents and suggest improvements directly through the LTA app. The LTA’s strategy involves not just fixing technical faults but also engaging the community to co‑create a more resilient transit ecosystem.

Bottom Line

Singapore’s MRT rail reliability report offers a comprehensive snapshot of the system’s current state, blending hard data with commuter sentiment. While the LTA has made tangible gains in reducing disruptions and enhancing punctuality, the report underscores that the journey to perfect reliability is ongoing. Continued investment in cutting‑edge technology, proactive maintenance, and transparent communication with passengers will be key to turning the LTA’s ambitious goals into everyday realities for Singapore’s commuters.