SINGAPORE: Land Transport Authority has announced plans to build a metro train test centre on the former site of the Raffles Country Club in Tuas.
The 50 ha site near the East-West Line’s Tuas West depot would include an endurance loop, a performance and integration loop and a straight track. In addition to the tracks, the Integrated Train Testing Centre would have an operations control centre, as well as maintenance and refurbishment workshops.
Testing of electrical, mechanical and signalling components would take place for metro lines already in operation and those being developed. By enabling some testing and repairs to take place away from the running lines, this would reduce the need for line closures and make more time available for infrastructure maintenance, according to LTA.
In the longer term, LTA envisages that the ITTC would be used to ‘develop deeper operations and maintenance competencies and achieve engineering excellence’, as well as provide training to local workers. The site could also be used for R&D activities and mid-life train refurbishment.
LTA expects to call tenders for a contract to design and build the ITTC in the next few months, with construction due to begin in mid-2020. The first rolling stock to be tested at the ITTC would be 11 three-car trainsets that Alstom is supplying for the Circle Line 6 extension. These are due to arrive at the test centre around the end of 2022.
