SINGAPORE - The North-South and East-West MRT lines achieved 144,000 train-km before breakdown in the first 10 months of this year, the best recorded performance for the two lines in recent years.

This was announced by SMRT chief executive officer Desmond Kuek at the first Singapore Rail Technology Conference, held on Friday (Nov 18) at the InterContinental Singapore.

The Circle Line, which began operations in 2009, clocked 233,000 train-km before breakdown of more than 5 minutes.

The North-South and East-West lines started operating 29 years ago.

However, Mr Kuek noted that this is still some way off from the 2018 target of 400,000 train-km before breakdown for the rail network here, reiterated by Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan in Parliament last week.

"We are working hard to achieve this, and are encouraged by the steady progress already made," said Mr Kuek, pointing to efforts such as the ongoing renewal of the North-South and East-West lines, and the professional upgrading of its engineering and technical workforce.

In rail reliability figures provided by the Land Transport Authority last week (Nov 9), there was one disruption per 158,000 train-km travelled for the entire MRT network here in the first six months of this year.

The East-West line was the worst performing line with four major breakdowns of more than 30 minutes in the first half of the year.

The conference, organised by SMRT is being attended by more than 200 delegates, including representatives from international metro operators. In attendance was Minister for Education (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport Mr Ng Chee Meng.