Working to keep buses and trains going

Long after the last commuter taps his card on the card reader, engineers and technicians are still hard at work. Under their charge are trains and buses -these are industriously cleaned and maintained before they return to service the next day.

Cleaning:

Train

A team of five cleaners wipes the windows and poles, and mops the floor of each train that pulls into the depot, making sure that every train is spick and span.

Bus

Every bus is put through the automatic bus wash at the Soon Lee Bus Depot, where giant rollers scrub off a day's worth of grime.

Twenty buses are scheduled for a bumper-to-bumper scrub down by a team of about four cleaners. It takes about 25 minutes to clean a double-decker bus and slightly shorter for a single-deck one.

After hosing down the exterior, cleaners mop the floors inside and wipe the seats and windows. Each bus at the Soon Lee Bus Depot is scheduled for a full cleaning twice a month.

Maintenance:

Train

Technical officer Rahmat Ismail (left), 50, checks track wear using a special gauge. A Rail Grinding Vehicle then reshapes the flattened rails so trains can have a smoother ride in the morning. Back at the depot, technicians check train systems such as the air-conditioning, lighting and public announcement systems.

Bus

The moment they arrive at the depot, buses are topped up with diesel. A full tank will last a full day of service. Pump attendant Osman Omar (pictured), 58, says he refuels more than a hundred buses every night.

Each coin box is dismounted and changed every two days. Depending on the route, the amount of cash in the box varies.

Twelve buses a night are scheduled for preventive maintenance. Some of these checks involve checking the undercarriage. (Above) A 15-tonne double-decker bus is hoisted with a skylift.

This article was first published on March 16, 2015.
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