Decomissioning of the NSEWL 2nd Generation Trains, the Siemens C651, have begun.
A C651 trainset, trainset 203/204, was spotted being transported to a scrapyard in Tuas on the wee hours of Sunday, 6 September.
「電車の最後の花道」
昨晩シーメンスC651形電車の廃車搬入(または"廃車回送"w)について、これまで陸運局から公表されていない。
本人もびっくりしました。最初川崎車だけと思うが、シーメンス車まで廃車はいま事実です。
公道、敷地外撮影します。
Photo taken in public area. pic.twitter.com/3yQanENfZ2— テレンス@Essential Worker™ (@Tx_2171F) September 5, 2020
These second-generation trains first entered service in 1995 on the North-South Line (NSL) and East-West Line (EWL). 19 such trainsets were manufactured from 1993 to 1994 by Siemens AG in Vienna, Austria, with a design lifespan of 30 years.
Mid-life upgrading works were slated for the C651 trains, and was first carried out on Train Sets 217/218 and 227/228 between 2015 and 2018. However, leading up the transition to the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF) in August 2016, the LTA would eventually make decisions on building-up, replacement and upgrading of assets. Coupled with changes in SMRT Corporation’s management structure, the mid-life upgrading of C651 trains was abruptly discontinued, and planned refurbishments to the C151 were thus precluded.
While LTA announced its intention to replace the first-generation C151 trains with brand-new ones in September 2016, no further announcements wer emade with regards to the replacement of the second-generation C651 trains. In September 2020, R151 trains manufactured by Bombardier were confirmed as the replacement for these trains.
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Very sad, what a waste
I think they will just replace the C651 with additional orders to existing CR151, save down further costs with fleet commonality and spare parts cost.
That’s what they will be doing.