Land Transport Authority
Polytechnic | Land Transport Authority

Moving Onward and Upward

Land Transport Authority
For any modern city to thrive, it needs to stand on a world-class transport system to drive the efficiency of its people and economy. Singapore’s labyrinth of rail lines, roads, and bus routes looks seamless, but it is the fruit of the labour of the dedicated and talented team at the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Two project engineers, Tang Choy Ting and Shahjahan, show us what it takes to be the movers and shakers of our transport system.

As Choy Ting and Shahjahan continue to move forward with LTA, they have big aspirations for their careers. “I look forward to more challenging roles and a wider arena for me to perform in. That is why I took up a part-time degree in Civil Engineering at NUS, in hopes that I may leverage on these added knowledge and skills in my work,” Choy Ting chimes.

Shahjahan, on the other hand, appreciates the LTE scheme where diploma holders have the opportunity to advance to positions that require a degree. “This scheme has allowed me to progress from a Higher Principle Engineering Officer to a Project Engineer. Moving forward, I will continue to upgrade myself in both technical and project management aspects so I can contribute to the new and innovative projects underway at LTA,” he declares.


Tang Choy Ting
Principal Assistant Project Engineer
Diploma in Civil Engineering with Business
Singapore Polytechnic

Tang Choy Ting

To have a career where I had the position and privilege to serve the community was the key motivator behind my decision to join LTA. The talks presented by LTA staff at career fairs when I was still in school left a deep impression in me. I was excited by the on-going projects they shared about, and was certain I wanted to be part of the change.



Tang Choy Ting

LTA’s work is highly driven by technology and innovation. Our site utilises tablets to conduct on-site reports on a regular basis to check on the projects’ progress and safety. Technology has greatly improved information sharing, which in turn enables us to approach problem solving in a more efficient, effective, and timely manner.



Tang Choy Ting

Since I have joined LTA, opportunities to grow and mature professionally have been abound. I have been rotated to two different sites in the past four years of my career. Through this, I gained a better understanding of the challenges and problems of MRT construction. It has built my confidence and competence in engaging and working together with people to benefit future commuters.




Shahjahan Bin Md Salleh
Project Engineer
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Shahjahan Bin Md Salleh

I have always wanted an opportunity to build Singapore’s transit system. As a public transport user myself, the plans by LTA were exciting and relatable. For example, the Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP), which was unveiled in 2013, mapped out new initiatives that would improve Singapore’s transportation system and drive it towards a peoplecentred land transport system.

After joining LTA, I felt motivated as we are a close-knit team that works towards a common goal to make our rail network safer, better, and cost-effective. The sense of achievement and fulfilment is immense, especially when the projects that I have completed make a positive difference to commuters and operators, like myself.

Shahjahan Bin Md Salleh

I was charged with the design interface of LTA’s Depot Equipment and Maintenance Vehicles. To excel in this role, I need sound foundational knowledge. The guidance by my management provided these necessary knowledge and skills, which accelerated my professional development as an engineer.

Apart from local exposure, I was given overseas opportunities to perform factory acceptance tests for LTA’s locomotive. I gained deep insights into various manufacturing processes and interacting with design engineers enhanced my understanding of design methodologies.

LTA ensures its staff receives regular learning and development. Hence, we have a full suite of in-house and publicly run courses ranging from engineering to soft skills, which have been highly beneficial to me.

Shahjahan Bin Md Salleh

We constantly strive to be forward thinking and innovative. One such development is the Automatic Vehicle Inspection (AVI) system deployed at Tuas MRT, the first of its kind to be implemented in Singapore’s rail network. A fully automatic system, the AVI utilises lasers, cameras, and sensors, and performs real-time measurements and defect detections of train components when it returns to depot.

Shahjahan Bin Md Salleh

Implementation of the AVI has greatly reduced inspection time from six hours to a mere two minutes, eradicated possible human errors, and increased accuracy. Its added features include measurement data trending, which provides predictive maintenance capabilities and improved visibility of the train’s health status to operators. Overall, the AVI has improved the reliability and availability of the train fleet.