SINGAPORE - A train on the North East Line broke down at Clarke Quay station towards Punggol at 6.20pm Thursday (Nov 16), the latest in a string of rail faults this week.

Operator SBS Transit pushed out a public alert that journey time will be extended by 10 minutes at 6.20pm, then sent out another tweet at 6.32pm that the additional time will be increased to 15 minutes. It is likely to be significantly longer because a 12-car push-out is underway.

This is when another six-car train is used to push the crippled train out of the way so that normal service can resume.

At 6.42pm, SBS Transit announced that there would be free buses available "at designated bus stops" between Outram Park and Farrer Park stations.

Commuters reported crowds swelling at Serangoon interchange, among other stations.

Author Jimmy Chua, 33, said: "I usually drive, but because of the rain, I decided to take the train this evening.

"I started at Buangkok, and it took me 30 minutes to reach Hougang - one station away."

Mr Chua said he decided to get out of the train at Hougang "to wait it out and to get a quick meal". He said many others decided to leave the train there too.

Retiree Kevin Tan, 57, was another motorist who decided to take a train when he got stuck at Kovan. When he decided to give up waiting and left, he said he was charged 77 cents on the way out of the station, "but my wife who was with me wasn't charged".

"The station staff said I could come back within three days for a refund," he said.