Major Disruption for MRT Passengers!

SINGAPORE – An alarming disruption hit the East-West Line (EWL) MRT service on the night of September 16, caused by a fault in the power supply system that triggered a complete signalling failure. This left commuters stranded between Aljunied and Tanah Merah stations.

Caught Off Guard!

As night fell, chaos unfolded around 11 PM when the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system malfunctioned. Commuters on the six affected stations of Tanah Merah, Bedok, Kembangan, Eunos, Paya Lebar, and Aljunied found themselves facing unavailable train services.

A Frustrating Wait!

By 4:30 AM on September 17, SMRT reassured passengers that services were back to normal, but not without a hefty apology. "We apologize for the disruption and inconvenience caused, and thank you for your patience and understanding," said Lam Sheau Kai, the president of SMRT Trains.

Swift Response Amidst Chaos!

Initially, free regular and bridging bus services were provided, but these also came to a halt by 1:01 AM. For travelers needing alternatives, SMRT recommended using the Thomson-East Coast Line, Circle Line, or Downtown Line to continue their journeys.

Travel Tips for Commuters!

For those heading to Pasir Ris or Changi Airport, passengers were advised to take the Downtown Line at Bugis. Earlier in the evening, passengers had already faced delays of at least 20 minutes due to the daunting signalling issue.

A Pattern of Disruptions!

This incident marks the fourth disruption in the MRT network this month alone. Just two days prior, another major issue along the North-South Line delayed trains between Newton and Ang Mo Kio stations for an arduous 40 minutes. On September 2, passengers traveling between Woodlands and Yishun also experienced significant delays due to another train fault.

What’s Next for Singapore’s MRT?

As frustrations mount among commuters, the question remains: What steps will SMRT take to prevent further disruptions? With the MRT system being a vital lifeline for daily travelers in Singapore, it's clear that reliability is paramount.