Train service disruptions on three MRT lines and Bukit Panjang LRT due to power fault: SMRT

People walking in the dark at Tiong Bahru MRT on April 25, 2016. PHOTO: MATTHEW CHAN
A "traction power fault" has caused train disruptions on parts of the East-West Line and North-South Line. PHOTO: SUE-ANN TAN
A screen at City Hall station depicting the affected stations. ST PHOTO: IAN CHENG
A blackout at Boon Lay station after a power fault on the MRT system, on April 25, 2016. PHOTO: PAULINE WONG
Commuters waiting inside Botanic Gardens MRT station, after a power fault caused service to be suspended, on April 25, 2016. PHOTO: MCRHON BANDERLIPE
Passengers exiting Jurong East MRT station due to a power fault. ST PHOTO: YEO KAI WEN
People walking in the dark at Tiong Bahru Station on April 25, 2016. PHOTO: MATTHEW CHAN
Passengers waiting at City Hall MRT on April 25, 2015 after train services were disrupted. ST PHOTO: IAN CHENG
Signage at Choa Chu Kang LRT saying that train services are interrupted. PHOTO: DIOS VINCOY JR FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
A sign saying that bus services are free due to the Bukit Panjang LRT breakdown. PHOTO: DIOS VINCOY JR FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
A TV monitor indicating that services in the East-West Line has resumed. PHOTO: DIOS VINCOY JR FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
A monitor at Jurong East station informing passengers of a disruption in the Bukit Panjang LRT. PHOTO: DIOS VINCOY JR FOR THE STRAITS TIMES

SINGAPORE - Train services on three MRT lines and the Bukit Panjang LRT were disrupted at peak hour on Monday (April 25) night.

The affected parts of the lines were Buona Vista to Joo Koon stations on the East-West Line, Jurong East to Kranji stations on the North-South Line and Caldecott to HarbourFront stations on the Circle Line.

More than 30 affected stations were without power except for emergency lighting.

SMRT said that all affected commuters can seek a refund of their fares in the next 14 days from passenger service counters at any of its MRT stations.

At 7.53pm, a power dip at Buona Vista power intake station caused a power trip, SMRT said.

A power intake station takes power supply from the power grid to power sections of the MRT network. There are five such power intake stations along the North-South and East-West Lines, as well as the Circle Line.

Free bus services were activated at 8.15pm.

Services on the North-South and East-West Lines resumed at 8.23pm, and services on the Circle Line resumed at 8.48pm, SMRT said in a statement.

Services on the Bukit Panjang LRT resumed at 9.47pm.

Four trains on the LRT were stalled between stations and 150 passengers were asked to disembark, SMRT said.

"We are still investigating the cause of the power trip... We deeply apologise for the inconvenience caused," SMRT said.

It added that "checks will be done overnight especially on the Buona Vista power intake station, during engineering hours".

This was how events unfolded earlier in the night.

At about 8.10pm, SMRT said that more than 20 stations across two MRT lines were hit by a power fault.

SMRT said in a tweet then, that was no train service between Joo Koon and Bugis stations on the East-West Line, and between Woodlands and Jurong East stations on the North-South Line.

It attributed the disruptions to a traction power fault.

Free regular bus services were then made available between Joo Koon and City Hall stations, and between Kranji and Jurong East stations, SMRT added.

It also tweeted an online guide to alternative bus services.

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Some MRT stations also experienced blackouts, reports from Straits Times readers and on social media indicated.

Ms Pauline Wong, who was at Boon Lay station, said that passengers were asked to take a free bus service.

The train was "not moving"and there was "no air con in the carriage", she told The Straits Times in a Facebook message.

There was also a blackout at the Boon Lay MRT station , and the shops were dark, she added.

Twitter user Darryl Kang wrote: "SMRT power trip. This is at Dover MRT station."

He posted a photo of a darkened train platform where a train had stopped at 8.06pm.

An ST reader reported intermittent power at the Fajar LRT station.

The power was "on and off for around 10 mins", said Ms Stella Poh.

Mr McRhon S. Banderlipe said that he was in Botanic Gardens MRT station when the power tripped and his train stopped.

Commuter Keith Yeo tweeted: "uh oh. Circle line is also affected already."

Meanwhile, Mr Shou Karasuma said his train on the North-South Line towards Jurong East had been travelling at a slow speed.

"Expect crowding at some stations and congestions as trains are travelling at a slower speed," the transport operator tweeted at 8.34pm.

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