East-West Line disruption: Parliament hears timeline of events
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About 850 commuters on board a stalled train near Clementi MRT station safely disembarking on the tracks and being guided back to the station platform.
PHOTO: SMRT/FACEBOOK
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SINGAPORE – It started with a train fault that ultimately caused track damage, crippling train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations for six days from Sept 25 to Sept 30.
This was one of the worst train disruptions to the MRT system in its 37-year history,
It began on Sept 25 morning, when smoke was detected from a faulty eastbound train on the East-West Line (EWL) near Clementi station.
While the train was returning to the Ulu Pandan Depot, its axle box – which connects the wheels and the train – fell onto the tracks, causing the wheels to shift. Within minutes, 2.55km of tracks and trackside equipment were damaged.
Works to repair rail cracks were carried out till the end of Sept 30, before normal train services resumed on Oct 1.
Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat laid out what happened in a statement to Parliament on Oct 15.
Day 1: Sept 25, Wednesday
Around 9am
After the axle box dislodged, the bogie frame fell on the tracks (bottom picture), causing the wheels to shift. The top picture shows how the frame typically looks like.
PHOTOS: LTA, SMRT
A fault is reported on an eastbound train on the East-West Line (EWL) near Clementi station.
Smoke is detected.
SMRT stops the train at Clementi station for passengers to alight, before withdrawing it from service.
To return to the Ulu Pandan depot, the faulty train has to travel further east to turn around at Queenstown station.
During the westbound journey between Dover and Clementi stations, the train’s axle box on its undercarriage falls onto the tracks.
Some time after 9am
(From left) Parts of a damaged point machine, a third rail that supplies power to trains and rail breaks on the tracks between Clementi and Dover stations.
PHOTOS: LTA, SMRT
The train continues travelling west for a few minutes past Clementi station.
This damages 2.55km of tracks and equipment, including point machines that divert trains onto different tracks, power cables, running rail fasteners, and the third rail that supplies power to trains.
Around 9.25am
SMRT staff inspecting the carriages of the affected train outside Ulu Pandan Depot on Sept 25.
PHOTO: ST FILE
When the faulty train reaches the tracks leading to Ulu Pandan depot, a power trip occurs along parts of EWL.
The train stalls between the tracks leading to the depot and the main tracks.
Four other trains between Clementi and Buona Vista stations also stop, including one that stalls about 40m before Clementi station. Passengers on this train had to disembark on to the tracks.
9.58am
An SMRT staff member guiding passengers to bus bridging services outside Buona Vista station on Sept 25 morning.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Bridging buses between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations begin picking up passengers.
3.56pm
Shuttle train services start operating between Queenstown and Buona Vista stations.
4.11pm
Passengers at the Jurong East station platform waiting for shuttle trains to Boon Lay on Sept 25.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Shuttle train services begin running between Boon Lay and Jurong East stations.
Around 9.50pm
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT announce that train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations would not resume the next day on Sept 26.
Day 2: Sept 26, Thursday
5am
Free regular and bridging buses continue to serve commuters, with 80 bridging buses running during the morning peak.
Evening
Recovery works being carried out by engineers at Ulu Pandan Depot late at night on Sept 26.
PHOTO: ST FILE
LTA and SMRT determine that repairs could be completed only over the weekend of Sept 28 to Sept 29.
Around 10pm
LTA and SMRT announce that the resumption of train services is delayed till Sept 30.
Days 3 and 4: Sept 27, Friday, and Sept 28, Saturday
All day
Repair works are carried out on Sept 27 and Sept 28.
Stress and loading tests are conducted in the evening, but 12 new cracks – not visible to the naked eye are detected on 10 unreplaced rail segments along the westbound tracks from Clementi to Ulu Pandan Depot.
Day 5: Sept 29, Sunday
All day
Workers replacing affected rail segments on the tracks between Clementi and Jurong East stations on Sept 29.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
Additional works are conducted to replace the rail segments with the new cracks, including tests and inspections.
4.30pm
LTA announces that more time is needed to replace the affected rail segments and conduct tests, and train services would not resume on Sept 30.
Day 6: Sept 30, Monday
All day
During endurance tests, trains fully loaded with sandbags to simulate packed conditions ran across the tracks.
PHOTO: LTA/FACEBOOK
Affected rail segments are fully replaced, and the third rail is restored.
Testing of the rail and track equipment is done to ensure the integrity of the repaired systems.
Day 7: Oct 1, Tuesday
Start of passenger service
Passengers exiting Jurong East station on Oct 1, when train services fully resumed.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Regular train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations resume.
As a safety precaution, these trains move at slower speeds of 40kmh, instead of the usual 80kmh, till the end of Oct 4.
