RESEARCH AND TRAINING
Beyond supporting testing and maintenance, there are also aspirations for SRTC to play a strategic role in developing Singapore’s rail expertise, she said.
Unlike many overseas test facilities, which are owned by private train manufacturers for proprietary use, the SRTC is also a national test centre.
“This means that it was designed to be able to accommodate different rail systems from multiple manufacturers, supporting all MRT lines across Singapore – both existing and future,” Dr Khor said.
The centre can be used to deepen the capabilities of Singapore’s rail workforce, with the facility serving as a training ground for rail engineers and operators, providing hands-on experience with real-world scenarios.
The test centre also provides a platform for research and development for leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and industry partners.
They can use the facilities to test and pilot new technologies and systems, and this helps to “anchor more expertise in Singapore”, she added.
The SRTC also has the potential to serve as a regional centre for rail testing.
While the needs of the local rail network will be prioritised, the SRTC could potentially provide specialised testing services to regional operators, fostering “greater collaboration and knowledge exchange between our local rail engineers as well as their regional counterparts”.
“This too can help us to improve our local capabilities,” said Dr Khor.
