SMRT has a new man helming its entire train operations.
The transport operator announced yesterday that it has appointed its senior vice-president for maintenance and engineering, Mr Lee Ling Wee, as its new executive vice-president for trains.
Mr Lee, 47, took over from Mr Khoo Hean Siang on Monday. Mr Khoo, 65, has retired after serving SMRT for more than 25 years.
He will take charge of all train operations, engineering and maintenance for the North-South, East-West and Circle Lines and for Bukit Panjang LRT.
Mr Lee, who joined SMRT in May this year, was previously head of the air engineering and logistics department at the Republic of Singapore Air Force. He is planning a restructuring of the trains division that includes placing maintenance teams in the units overseeing the North-South and East-West lines and Circle Line.
Previously, SMRT had a separate maintenance unit. SMRT said this will allow each group to "flag and address all maintenance-related issues with immediacy".
A new systems and engineering group has also been created.
It will be headed by Mr Ng Bor Kiat, 56, who was director of corporate development with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. SMRT will also form a new inspectorate to conduct system-wide "checks and balances" on the train group.
With Mr Lee's appointment, the bulk of senior management under former chief executive Saw Phaik Hwa has been replaced.
Mr Lee expressed his belief that the realignment would help SMRT rise to the challenges "posed by a growth in population, an increase in ridership, and an ageing rail infrastructure".
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