Major East-West Line disruption: A timeline of what happened on Sept 25
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Work being done on the affected train and train track outside Ulu Pandan Depot at around 6.30pm on Sept 25.
ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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SINGAPORE – A power fault on the East-West Line (EWL) brought train services between Boon Lay and Queenstown MRT stations to a standstill for a large part of Sept 25.
A faulty train damaged track equipment as it was being withdrawn from service on Sept 25, triggering a power trip at about 9.25am. This downed services along the nine-station stretch of the EWL),
In an update 12 hours later at 9.20pm, train operator SMRT said its engineers will be working through the night and throughout Sept 26 to restore service to the line.
It said there will be no regular train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations in both directions on Sept 26.
SMRT said the faulty train had been in service for more than 35 years.
Here is how events unfolded:
Around 9am: An eastbound train on the EWL develops a fault near Clementi MRT station. Passengers disembark at Clementi station and the train is withdrawn from service.
9.25am: A power trip occurs during the faulty train’s withdrawal to Ulu Pandan Depot. The power trip causes a train near Clementi station to stall.
There are about 850 people on board, who are later “safely detrained”, SMRT said. Guided by SMRT staff, the commuters walk on the tracks back to the Clementi station platform.
9.28am: Free regular buses begin operating between affected stations.
9.46am: Free bridging buses begin operating between affected stations.
9.52am: SMRT alerts the public to the disruption between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations on its Facebook page.
12.20pm: SMRT says the faulty train – made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries – has been in service for more than 35 years, and emitted smoke while returning to Ulu Pandan Depot.
On its Facebook page, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) says that, based on an early assessment, the faulty train, while being withdrawn, “caused damage to the tracks, including the running rails and the third rail supplying power to the train”.
2.43pm: SMRT announces that shuttle train services will operate between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, and between Boon Lay and Jurong East stations, from 5pm to cater to travel during the evening peak period.
“The safety of our staff is our topmost priority. In view of the wet weather conditions near Clementi station, we are taking every measure to ensure the safety of our engineers when going on-site to assess and rectify the fault,” it says.
2.49pm: LTA says that normal train services will not be available on the EWL between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations for at least the rest of the day, due to the extent of the damage to the tracks.
The authority adds: “More time may be required for repair works. During engineering hours tonight, SMRT and LTA will make further assessment whether passenger service can resume on Sept 26.”
4.28pm: SMRT apologises for the “significant disruption”.
In a Facebook post, chief executive Ngien Hoon Ping and chairman Seah Moon Ming say the operator is “working relentlessly to restore service quickly”.
“We fully understand the inconvenience, frustration and delays this disruption has caused, and we deeply regret the impact it has had on your journey,” they add.
They also explain the cause of the power fault, saying it was due to “an unforeseen issue” during the withdrawal of the faulty train.
They add: “A defective train axle box on one of our first-generation trains dropped and caused the wheels of a bogie to come off the running rail and hit track equipment, including the third rail and point machines, leading to the power fault.”
5pm: Shuttle train services between Buona Vista and Queenstown MRT stations and between Jurong East and Boon Lay MRT stations start.
People boarding a bridging bus to Boon Lay at the bus stop opposite Queenstown MRT station at 5.52pm on Sept 25.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat says LTA will thoroughly investigate the incident “to ascertain what happened and identify areas for improvement”.
In a Facebook post, Mr Chee says that normal train services may not resume on Sept 26. “The team from SMRT and LTA will assess and confirm during engineering hours tonight,” he writes.
6.15pm: The Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board says pupils sitting the Primary School Leaving Examination written papers starting on Sept 26 will be given the full duration to sit the paper if they reach the examination centre before the end of the paper.
The board adds that candidates will not be penalised for being late for the examination
9.20pm: SMRT announces that there will be no train services between Buona Vista and Jurong East stations in both directions on Sept 26.
“To restore service on the affected sector, where point machines and the third rail have been damaged, our engineers will be working through the night and throughout tomorrow,” the operator says in an update on Facebook.
Shuttle train services will continue to run between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, and between Boon Lay and Jurong East stations at 10-minute intervals.
SMRT says that free regular bus services will be available between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations, while bridging bus services will run between Buona Vista and Jurong East stations.
9.51pm: LTA says SMRT’s and its engineers started recovery works on the afternoon of Sept 25 after the rain stopped and will continue into the night. But, as the damage to the tracks is extensive, more time is needed for the necessary repairs and replacements.
A thorough check of all the first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries trains will also be done overnight, before they are put into service.
