The cause of the Sep. 17 disruption that left passengers stuck in trains for 30 minutes on the Circle Line was a traction power trip, according to the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The incident occurred from 5:50pm to 6:05pm, affecting 11 trains in the Circle Line tunnels. The trains’ onboard batteries provided partial lighting and ventilation without air-conditioning. SMRT staff manually recovered the trains, driving them to the next station by 6:30pm, resulting in journey delays of about 30 minutes.
Background
The traction power trip on Sep. 17 caused significant disruption on the Circle Line, with 11 trains stalling in the tunnels. The outage lasted for 15 minutes, during which passengers experienced partial lighting and ventilation but no air-conditioning. The incident led to delays and overcrowding at various stations, prompting SMRT to implement standard operating procedures to manage the situation.
SMRT’s response and crowd management
During the restoration of train services, SMRT had to manage the inflow of commuters into stations to avoid overcrowding and ensure safety. Free boarding of regular bus services was provided at designated bus stops along the Circle Line to offer commuters additional options. Announcements were made at MRT stations to inform commuters to use other rail lines, and station staff were deployed to assist affected passengers, especially at interchange stations.
Investigation and future measures
The LTA has stated that it will investigate the cause of the traction power trip and assess the adequacy of SMRT’s service recovery measures. This investigation aims to prevent future occurrences and improve the reliability of train services on the Circle Line. The findings will be crucial in determining any necessary upgrades or changes to the current system to enhance commuter safety and service efficiency.
