Circle Line resumes normal MRT service after signalling fault during morning peak hour
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Pictures posted on several platforms show crowded platforms at the Dhoby Ghaut, Serangoon and Buona Vista stations.
PHOTO: ANNE-MARIE SIM/FACEBOOK
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SINGAPORE - Train passengers on the Circle Line faced delays in their journeys on the morning of Feb 11 after a signalling fault caused power trips and trains to be stalled in eight stations.
Posts on social media about the delay started appearing at about 8.20am, with netizens saying that they were in trains that were stalled in stations such as Serangoon, Tai Seng, Kent Ridge and one-north for at least five minutes.
Pictures posted on several platforms show crowded platforms at Dhoby Ghaut, Serangoon and Buona Vista stations.
Mr Norman Lee, who was travelling from Buona Vista station to Expo station, told The Straits Times that his journey to work usually takes 50 minutes, but it became an hour and 10 minutes today.
“There was an announcement about a five-minute delay at Buona Vista,” said the 47-year-old educator, who usually changes to the Downtown Line at MacPherson station.
“The train was moving slowly at various parts of the journey, and we were told that it was due to congestion ahead of our station.”
Mr Lee added that he managed to get a seat at Buona Vista station and was able to work on his laptop while he was stuck in the train.
“Luckily, I didn’t have an early morning work appointment. Otherwise, it would have affected me greatly.”
Mr Ong Wei Jian, who was travelling from Caldecott station to Buona Vista station, said he was late for work by half an hour due to the train delay.
The 30-year-old, who declined to reveal his occupation, said his journey usually takes about 15 minutes, but it became 35 minutes today.
“While I’m not frustrated or upset as such train delays are normal these days, I wished the operator announced it on their socials the moment there was an issue so that commuters like myself could plan our routes in advance to avoid that particular MRT line.”
In a post on Facebook just after 10.20am, two hours after complaints about the delays surfaced, SMRT said that a signalling system fault had occurred between Paya Lebar and Marymount stations, affecting train operations across eight stations at 8.11am.
“The fault caused trains to stop, and power to the affected sector was tripped,” the train operator said, adding that power was restored within five minutes, and train movement resumed at 8.20am.
“However, the central automatic train supervision system was sluggish, affecting the ability of controllers to manage train movements efficiently.”
The train operator added that it took about 30 minutes for the entire Circle Line to return to normal operations.
“During the morning peak, key interchange stations such as Serangoon, Buona Vista, Botanic Gardens and Bishan typically require one to two trains to clear crowds,” it said, adding that the delay took SMRT three trains to ease congestion.
Pictures posted on several platforms show crowded platforms at the Dhoby Ghaut, Serangoon and Buona Vista stations.
PHOTOS: NORMAN LEE, DEWEYE/REDDIT
“In response, station staff were deployed to assist commuters, and public announcements were made at affected stations.”
SMRT apologised for the inconvenience caused.
Systems supplier Alstom has developed a software patch to address this issue.
The software patch will be installed on Feb 15, said SMRT.
The operator added that there will be no disruptions to train services.
On Feb 10, train passengers faced delays on the Nor th East Line,
Journeys on the North-South and East-West lines – operated by SMRT – were held up on Feb 7. This was after an engineering vehicle derailed at Bishan Depot.
