Chitchat SMRT Smoke Masuk Rosak Train, another milestone

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Smoke at Tanjong Pagar station caused by freon gas leak: SMRT

SINGAPORE: The smoke seen coming from a train at the platform of Tanjong Pagar MRT station on Monday afternoon (15 Aug) was caused by freon gas leaking from the train's air-conditioning system, said operator SMRT.

Social media users posted multiple photos and videos of the incident, which happened at around 3pm, with one witness adding that the smoke appeared when the train doors opened. Another commuter, who goes by the username @tiramishi on Twitter, told Channel NewsAsia that at least half of the station was filled with smoke and it "smelled like fuel".

In a statement issued to the media at 4.35pm, SMRT said the gas was "odourless" and that its staff "switched on the tunnel ventilation system immediately" to disperse the gas.

In its media statement, SMRT said that passengers were detrained from a westbound train at 2:53pm due to a leak of freon gas from the train’s air-conditioning system, and that the discharge of freon into the train tunnel "reduced visibility in parts of the station" when the platform screen doors were opened for passengers to leave the train.

SMRT added that the train was withdrawn from passenger service for its air-conditioning system to be checked.

In a separate media statement, the Singapore Police Force said it is looking into the matter. The police also added that no injuries were reported and that the train has been towed to Ulu Pandan Depot for inspection.

Eyewitness Jeremy Tan, 25, said he first saw the smoke at about 3pm while on board a train travelling towards Joo Koon.

"I was headed to Clementi. When we reached Tanjong Pagar, there was thick smoke filling the cabin. So the passengers rushed out," he told Channel NewsAsia.

He added that an announcement was made that there had been a track fault, and that train station staff were "very efficient (in) getting passengers to safety".

According to a commuter who declined to be named, "huge plumes of smoke" came out from the train when it pulled at Tanjong Pagar “the moment the doors opened”. “It filled the station really quickly as people started to evacuate the train,” she said.

The commuter also said an SMRT staff came onto the platform shortly after, and told commuters to refrain from taking photos and videos.

“The police on train duties started to usher people up,” she said. “The pungent smoke lingered in the station but as the initially evacuated train left the platform, the next train came and everyone boarded it and I did too. The smoke continued to come from the front of the train for the next few stops.”

When Channel NewsAsia visited the station at about 4pm, Singapore Civil Defence Force officers were at the scene. A door on the westbound platform was cordoned off and SMRT staff were seen inspecting the door.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...m/3044536.html


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