Train services between Kranji and Yew Tee stations on the North-South line resumed at about 2.10pm on Saturday, almost two hours after a power fault was detected.
The Straits Times understands that when the power outage occurred, one train had already reached the Kranji station platform, but another was still some distance away, and passengers on the latter had to get off to walk on the tracks to the station.
Rail operator SMRT said earlier at about 1pm that they had detected a "loss of traction power" and train services between Kranji and Yew Tee stations were disrupted.
Bridging bus services were deployed to ferry commuters between the stations but many commuters complained that they could not get on them because of the weekend crowds at the stations.
One of them was Madam Hon Hui Chim. The 70-year-old said she had to walk over from Kranji station road to the Yew Tee station after failing to get on any of the free shuttle buses, public buses, or cabs, to continue her journey from Choa Chu Kang to Ang Mo Kio. "They just told us no train, and I have waited one hour or taxi," she said. "But because the buses were full, I can't squeeze on board."