A MAN got on the eastbound track at Clementi MRT station and started walking on it, which disrupted train services for almost 10 minutes on Tuesday morning.
According to an eyewitness, the man in his late 30s walked about 200m towards Dover MRT station before he was stopped by SMRT staff and taken back to the station.
The eyewitness, who lives near the track, said he went to his window to check after he heard a 'loud, blasting sound' coming from a train. He saw the man, clad in a red T-shirt and black shorts, on the track.
'He was half-walking and half-jogging. He looked quite calm,' said the 63-year-old, an insurance agent who wanted to be known only as Mr Chan. He next saw SMRT officers hot on the man's heels. The man did not put up a struggle as they escorted him back to Clementi MRT station, Mr Chan added.
An SMRT spokesman said it was a passenger who had alerted staff about the man at about 9am.
The emergency stop plunger - which stops trains from moving - was immediately activated, the spokesman said. Electricity to the tracks was also cut. East- and westbound train services were delayed for seven minutes and nine minutes respectively.
Police arrested the man under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act.
SMRT said there have been 19 cases of track intrusions between January and September this year. There were 31 cases last year and 30 in 2006.
CAROLYN QUEK
Power failure on NEL leaves thousands stranded
THOUSANDS of commuters were affected when North-East Line (NEL) train services between Sengkang and Punggol MRT stations were disrupted by a power supply problem last night.
The fault occurred at about 9pm, and shuttle buses were activated to ferry passengers between the stations.
'The line is still operating between HarbourFront and Buangkok stations. We apologise to all affected commuters for the inconvenience caused,' said SBS Transit spokesman Tammy Tan.
