Siemens C651 - Experimental Programmes

Experimental Programmes

Many experimental programmes have been run on the C651 cars, including the past program.

For the past program, the third and fourth cars, coloured in green were even more radical in the reconfiguration, with all but eight parts of seats, four at each ends of the car removed completely. In its place was standing room with upholstered cushion, in an attempt to provide a degree of comfort to passengers standing in that space. This design proved to be unpopular with the commuters, and it was eventually dropped. The original seats between the 1st and 2nd door, and the 3rd and 4th door on these cars have been replaced. The remaining upholstered seats were reverted to original seats in May 2006. 10 trains from refurbished C151 trains made this standard, and only 14 seats from each car were therefore removed.

For now, some trains of this type were reconfigured to have more standing space in the late 1990s as part of an experimental programme. In particular, the second and fifth cars (the blue cars) were reconfigured to have more standing room on both sides, as 3 seats from some later cars.

More grabpoles were also added. Regular grabpoles in the centre of each car were replaced by grabpoles that branch out into three in the centre, similar in purpose to those on the C151 and C751B trains. In 2011, extra grabpoles were installed on a trial basis. SMRT is also testing special non slip floorings on set 237/238.