SBS Transit Found Liable for Passenger Injury During Train Incident

SBS Transit Rail has been deemed fully responsible for a train incident that occurred on June 27, 2022, at Punggol MRT station, resulting in injuries to a female passenger. The ruling, released on August 20, revealed that the company breached its duty of care to the claimant, Ms Ng Lai Ping, who suffered injuries when her head and neck became trapped between the train doors.

At approximately 10:35 a.m. on the day of the incident, Ms Ng boarded a train at Sengkang MRT station, intending to travel to Little India MRT station. After the train arrived at Punggol MRT station, she remained seated as the lights in her carriage were suddenly turned off without warning. Only the lights above the doors remained lit. Ms Ng claimed she heard beeping sounds indicating the doors were about to close before she attempted to exit the train.

According to Ms Ng, she felt an urgent need to leave the train, but as she bent to retrieve her bag from the floor, she tripped and fell. The incident caused her to strike the gap between the platform and the train, resulting in her head and neck being caught as the doors closed. Fortunately, an MRT employee and a bystander assisted her until help arrived.

The Incident and the Legal Proceedings

Ms Ng’s account stated that she heard an announcement about the resumption of service while the train was in transit, but claimed there was no warning regarding the train being taken out of service upon arrival at Punggol. She did not hear any instructions from staff asking passengers to disembark.

SBS Transit contested Ms Ng’s claims, asserting that proper procedures were followed. The company argued that multiple announcements were made to inform passengers that the train would be withdrawn from service, including continuous announcements in four languages at the platform. Staff members were allegedly present to assist with the disembarking process, yet no one entered Ms Ng’s carriage to ensure all passengers exited.

In court, Ms Ng was represented by Mr Gregory Chong from Loo & Chong Law Corporation, who argued that SBS Transit was negligent in its duty of care and failed to provide adequate warnings to passengers. He emphasized that the events were exacerbated by the lack of announcements when the train was between stations.

On the other hand, SBS Transit’s defense, led by Mr Anthony Wee from Titanium Law Chambers, claimed that Ms Ng was aware of the train’s status and should have known to exit promptly. The company maintained that the interior lighting remained operational and that other passengers were able to disembark without issue.

Judge’s Findings and Implications

District Judge Sim Mei Ling examined the incident thoroughly, acknowledging that the probability of a passenger being injured during a train withdrawal was low. Nevertheless, she ruled that this low risk did not absolve SBS Transit of its responsibility. The judge noted that Ms Ng’s testimony about the announcements was consistent with her police report, and the absence of staff intervention in carriage five was significant.

Judge Sim highlighted that SBS Transit failed to provide any warnings or announcements before the lights were switched off, which constituted a breach of their duty of care. She drew adverse inferences against the company for not calling certain staff members as witnesses, further solidifying Ms Ng’s claims.

The judge’s ruling indicates that SBS Transit will need to address the issues of liability and compensation at a later trial. The transport company has expressed its commitment to rail safety and has stated that it has not encountered a similar incident in the past decade.

The case underscores the importance of clear communication and safety protocols in public transportation. SBS Transit is now expected to review its procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.