Singapore finds defects in China-Made trains

A passenger train operated by SMRT leaves the Ang Mo Kio station in Singapore, July 7, 2016. At least 26 train carriages have been shipped back by local rail operator SMRT Trains Ltd. after defects were found in the structure of the carriages, in particular, the components connecting the car to the train’s undercarriage. According media reports, the train cars were shipped back on June 12 and reached manufacturer CSR Sifang on June 25 in Qingdao, China. The trains are of the C151A series and cost SMRT an estimated S$368 million (US$$274 million) in 2009. A statement from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority has said that the defects are not safety-critical and do not affect the train’s systems or performance. (EPA/mb.com.ph)