SINGAPORE: Commuters faced significant delays at the Boon Lay MRT station early Monday morning, as reports of a lengthy queue extending into the bus interchange surfaced on local forums. A Reddit user highlighted this issue, noting that those in line could expect to wait between 60 to 90 minutes just to reach the gantry.

The situation at Boon Lay MRT has become increasingly problematic compared to previous weekdays. "The queue starts at the MRT and wraps around into the bus interchange. It’s going to get worse during peak hours, so it’s advisable to avoid the MRT for now," warned the user, who shared a photo of the extensive line.

This surge in commuters stems from previous disruptions on the East-West Line caused by a mechanical fault in a KHI train, which has been in operation for over 35 years. The train emitted smoke while heading to the Ulu Pandan Depot, damaging the power cable and causing a power trip that led to widespread service interruptions. Although train services were slated to resume Monday morning, SMRT announced a delay to ensure commuter safety, with service restoration now scheduled for Tuesday, October 1.

In response to the ongoing delays, the Reddit user recommended using the free bridging bus service as an alternative to the increasingly crowded MRT. Many commuters expressed their frustrations online; one commenter, echoing the sentiments of others, suggested that officials should experience the delays first-hand by commuting during these service disruptions.

"The queue is beyond ridiculous now. It loops around the bus interchange and spills out back to the MRT station," lamented another user. Another commuter, stuck at Beauty World, shared their experience venting that public transport has become a logistical nightmare.

As the city navigates through this transportation crisis, commuters are advised to stay informed via public transport updates or consider alternative routes to avoid the lengthy waits at Boon Lay MRT. Will this chaos lead to a call for major transit reforms? Only time will tell!