EWL services resume after delays caused by stalled train near Tiong Bahru MRT station
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SINGAPORE – Train commuters on a section of the East-West Line (EWL) were delayed on Oct 10, after a train broke down near Tiong Bahru MRT station.
A first-generation westbound Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) train had stalled at about 12.30pm, and all passengers got off safely at Outram Park station, SMRT said in a Facebook post on Oct 10.
The operator said at 1.14pm that the fault was cleared, and train services resumed at 1.22pm.
The incident was related to an electrical fault on the train, which has since been moved to a depot, SMRT said.
Earlier, the operator said on Facebook that commuters had to add 25 minutes to their travel time from Outram Park to Queenstown stations. They were also to add 20 minutes when travelling from Queenstown to Bugis stations.
Free regular bus services were provided between the Outram Park and Queenstown stations.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to your commute,” said SMRT.
Affected passengers at Bugis MRT station.
ST PHOTO: IAN CHENG
Project manager Norman Goh, 46, who boarded the train at Outram Park station, said the train stopped abruptly when it was travelling towards Tiong Bahru station.
“Strangely, the train was tilted when it stopped moving,” said Mr Goh, who was with his wheelchair-bound father. He added that the train then travelled back to Outram Park station.
SMRT said on Facebook that the tilt was because the track was on a slope and at a bend towards Tiong Bahru station.
“The train is stable,” the operator added.
Other commuters The Straits Times spoke to said they did not realise that there was a train disruption, but noticed that the trains took longer to arrive at the stations.
One of them, who gave her name only as Ms Farhana, said she was worried about being late for work. She had left her office at lunchtime and had planned to work from home for the rest of the day.
The 24-year-old, who works in the financial services industry, said she waited for about 10 minutes for a train from Outram Park to Tiong Bahru.
Train services on another section of the EWL were disrupted for six days after a faulty train caused severe damage to the tracks and trackside equipment on Sept 25.
The faulty train was also a first-generation KHI train, with the Land Transport Authority saying on the same day that both the authority and SMRT would do a thorough check on those trains overnight, before they were put into service the next day.
The earlier disruption – one of the worst in the 37-year history of Singapore’s MRT system – affected about 2.6 million commuters, including some students who were late for their examinations.
Announcements were made to advise commuters to expect up to 25 minutes of additional travel time.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Student Thahira Ariska said she waited for about 10 minutes for a train towards Outram Park on Oct 10.
The 16-year-old was also affected by the EWL disruption in September. She said she had to take bridging buses between affected stations whenever she needed to head eastwards, and had to leave her home in Boon Lay an hour earlier.
She said of the delays on Oct 10: “It’s a bit disappointing that this is happening, because I thought the train was back to normal.”
Additional reporting by Vanessa Paige Chelvan, Caelyn Tan and Esther Loi
