“I Was Evacuated from an MRT Train in the NEL Tunnel and Climbed 12 Storeys to Get Out “

When an MRT train in Singapore stops unexpectedly in a tunnel, what happens next? How are commuters safely evacuated?

Recently, Mothership participated in a detrainment exercise organized by SBS Transit, gaining first-hand experience of the emergency procedures. SBS Transit regularly conducts these preparedness drills to ensure staff are well-equipped to handle public transport disruptions and emergencies on the rail network.

This particular exercise included 45 students and teachers from Nan Hua High School, who boarded a train at Outram Park Station at 1 a.m. on a Saturday.

Here’s the scenario: A track fault caused a train to stall between Outram Park and HarbourFront stations, necessitating passenger evacuation onto the tracks. In this exercise, due to overcrowding at HarbourFront station, passengers had to exit the tunnel through an escape shaft.

While the train was halted, an announcement informed passengers that recovery operations were underway. As preparations for detrainment began, power was cut to both the train and the tracks, resulting in dim lighting inside.

Once it was clear that evacuation was necessary, another announcement provided guidance on exiting the train and navigating through the tunnel. Rail staff were dispatched onto the tracks to assist in the orderly evacuation.

The emergency door at the front of the train was then opened, unfolding into a ramp onto the tracks, which created a loud noise as it activated.

During detrainment, power is turned off from the tracks, but emergency directional lights remain functional in the tunnel. The walk to the escape shaft was brief, and despite the poor ventilation, the presence of SBS Transit staff helped ensure an organized evacuation.

The final challenge was a 12-storey climb to reach the outside of the escape shaft. The environment was hot and stuffy, but all able-bodied participants managed the climb without issue. For evacuees with mobility challenges, SBS Transit assured that assistance would be sought from the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

Once outside, bridging buses were available to transport everyone to the nearest transport node. The entire experience, from triggering the emergency door to exiting the escape shaft, took approximately 40 minutes.

Goals of the Exercise
Jeffrey Sim, Group CEO of SBS Transit, explained the dual purpose of the exercise: “First, we want the public to understand our evacuation procedures, ensuring their safety and security during incidents. Second, we aim to evaluate our operating procedures and ensure safe evacuation during emergencies.”

This exercise was only the second time SBS Transit opened a drill to the public, following a previous event with Hwa Chong Institution, which provided valuable feedback that improved current protocols.

Principal Chiew Jing Wen of Nan Hua High School highlighted the educational value of the experience for students, emphasizing that familiarity with emergency procedures equips them to assist others in real-life scenarios.