A pneumatic glitch caused an MRT train to stall at the Woodlands station on Wednesday morning, triggering a delay that affected rush-hour commuters in various parts of the network. Rail operator SMRT said the breakdown of the northbound train happened at 7.50am, just minutes before the busiest hour.

"There was a drop in the main reservoir pressure, which supplies air pressure to the entire train, including our doors and brakes," an SMRT spokesman said. This triggered the train's emergency brakes. Passengers were de-trained at the platform while the train driver rectified the problem by charging up the main reservoir, she added.

SMRT said the incident caused a 12-minute delay, but commuters elsewhere said they experienced a longer disruption.

Equity broker Manoj Kumar, 42, who takes the southbound train from Bukit Gombak to the city, said: "I was 20 minutes late for work. A couple of my colleagues too. As well as a friend of mine. This happens quite regularly." SMRT, which has been grappling with getting its system and infrastructure back inshape since two massive breakdowns in 2011, said the faulty train was removed from service, and will be investigated after operation hours at the depot by its engineers.