Train service on Circle Line restored after cracked rail causes delays for much of Friday
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SINGAPORE – Normal train service on the Circle Line (CCL) was restored on Friday evening, some 17 hours after SMRT discovered a cracked rail, which caused delays for much of the day.
The transport operator said in a 7.30pm update on Facebook that train services at affected MRT stations had been restored.
SMRT said earlier that during a routine maintenance inspection at 2.20am, one of its rail technicians found a crack in a rail, which was located in an area where trains from Promenade station headed to either the Esplanade or Bayfront stations.
“We will be investigating the root cause of this crack at the rail crossing,” said SMRT, apologising to passengers for the travel disruption.
It said it had to replace the affected rail crossing.
Describing the work as “complex”, SMRT said it involved a detailed survey of the affected stretch and movement of heavy rails and equipment to the area using engineering trains.
The work caused delays of about 30 minutes for travellers, as only one train line could be used for services in two directions – from the Dhoby Ghaut to Promenade stations, and from the Marina Bay to Stadium stations, said SMRT.
SMRT advised travellers to take the North-South, East-West and Downtown lines instead of the CCL.
It also made bus services available for affected passengers to travel between Paya Lebar and Dhoby Ghaut stations, as well as Marina Bay station.
Affected passengers can get an e-travel chit as proof of travel via the website smrttravelchit.sg
The train delays coincided with the ongoing Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
When contacted, a Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) spokeswoman said 38,400 pupils were taking the PSLE mathematics and foundation mathematics papers on Friday.
She said SEAB did not receive any reports of candidates who were unable to take their exam on time because of the disruption in the morning.
